The San Pedro River (after Sunday's rain)

We got heavy rains Sunday evening, our best rain yet this season.  I had just gotten back from Tucson. Yesterday I spent two hours gardening to plant more trees in the damp soil.  I stopped when the humidity got too high for me. Today I opted to take Zana and Gretel to the river to check the water flow.  If there was any water across Ramsey Road, it would be dried up by now.  That last mile of Ramsey road is a narrow dirt road that crosses the Big Wash.

The dogs were eager to get out and run.  Zana was due a walk anyway (so is Hansel) and both girls did great staying close.  They seem to understand "stay with me!"

The rain brought out some color and some wildlife.  I counted at least ten millipedes on the trail, as many red velvet mites, darkling beetles, and on our return walk, a nesting box turtle!

There was no flowing water in the San Pedro river, but the mud in the wash and then at the tributary was proof that there was a bit of a flashflood Sunday evening.

I started out walking south in the wash, but the soft mud got too treacherous.  The mud was taking over my Keens and making walking difficult.  We turned around to walk north instead, and stopped only when we came to our first mudhole just past the big log jam.

The mudhole was ideal for Zana, who didn't hesitate to roll around in the cool refreshment.  Gretel was more refined and only jutted her snout in the mud

At least they got two miles on the return hike to dry up some.  And then once home, I forced Zana in the back yard so that she could jump in the trough and get some of the mud off her. 

Total distance was just under 4.3 miles

High winds and rain

I had a Yelp event I was invited to at a small chocolate shop in Tucson.  Today was the last day for me to attend.  I had been holding off all week due to the triple-digit heat.

High winds and heavy rain were forecasted for 6pm on the Weather channel.  I took this forecast seriously and knew I needed to leave for Tucson and be back home before any rain fell.  I left all dogs at home so that they wouldn't suffer in the heat.  I tend to eat out while in Tucson to try something new in town.

Everything went well.  The chocolate shop was two blocks from a recycling station I use near Speedway avenue.  I didn't have much, but I did have bottles from dogs walks that I had picked up that needed to be dropped off.

The chocolate event went well.  The chocolate treat was very good, but very filling.  I only ate half the cup and saved the rest for the next day.

I stopped at Opa's Best Greek for a late lunch and then drove back home.  It was too hot to even walk the perimeter of Reid Park.

Neither the chocolate shop nor the Greek restaurant had plug-ins for my dying phone.  My camera phone was dead by the time I took off for the drive back.

The sky to the southeast was clouding up on my return drive home.  It was 5:45pm.  I could see a bright area in Sulphur Springs Valley thinking it was light shining on an area.  It was, but the area was a dust storm moving in.  I found that out an hour later.

I stopped at Walmart to look at plants and get some chicken for the dogs.  My phone's emergency alert system went off at 6:20pm warning about high winds and rain.  By the time I left Walmart at 6:29pm the winds were blowing hard but I ran to my Honda as fast as I could to avoid getting stuck in any rain.  I wanted to get home before Moson road was closed to flooding.

The dust darkened the sky a light, then dark grey. It began raining just as I was getting ready to turn south on Moson.

There are three dips on Moson Road that can cause flooding.  The first one is a half mile on Moson and the second one, an actual wash, a mile farther.  I drove the speed limit carefully.  A work truck with its lights flashing red was ahead of me.  I followed it closely until I turned on my street.

The area around my mailboxes was flooding.  There was one more dip before I got home.

The rain by now picked up in intensity.  I parked by the front door and waited for a lull in the rain before going inside.

The dogs were happy to see me as shortly after my arrival, the storm broke out with lightning and thunder and this rain persisted for 45 minutes.  I was glad that at least I was home for the dogs during the worst part of the storm.

And all this without being able to photograph any of it.  Later I saw friends' posts of dust clouds moving over the valley.

Drive-thru rabies clinic

I opted out of a hike with the hiking club up Miller Peak to instead drive to Tombstone with Gretel for her rabies vaccine.  She was the last dog that needed a current vaccine.  The Tombstone Small Animal Shelter sponsored a drive-thru, cash only rabies clinic and I figured that would be perfect to my very reactive Gretel. 

I walked Wolfie at 7am to the mailbox and back (two miles), had an iced coffee, and drove off at 8:20am to Tombstone with an excited Gretel. I was expecting a long line of cars, but the four cars ahead of me went surprisingly fast.  The workers manning the stations were fast, efficient, and friendly.  I filled out paperwork while waiting and I quickly made it to the front.  The DVM gave Gretel her vaccine from the passenger side as she leaned into the car.  I held Gretel's head and comforted her.  And then we were off.  What a deal for $20.  My certificate is hand-written, though, so if I lose this original, I won't be able to retrieve proof online.

The day was early and I used my time in Tombstone to walk around with Gretel.  We walked the main street up and down (a half-mile), I looked at some of the outlaw merchandise for sale, then stopped in at the Undertaker Espresso Bar.  I had always wanted to try this place out.

The building indeed was once a morgue and one can request views of the backrooms when it's not busy.  It was busy inside so I sat down on a velvet blue couch and chilled a bit while looking at the menu.  I wanted something non-caffeinated and iced.  A local recommended a refresher, a basic seltzer with flavored syrups.  I had the strawberry-kiwi.

Across from me under the wall menu were two locals.  One was dressed in 1880s regalia, the other was a visibly gay man who had transitioned into a woman.  Her boobs were bigger than mine! She talked loudly to the unwitting customers and gave them recommendations for local gay bars.  She was in a wheel chair as she was missing her right foot.  She wore heavy underliner and her face was covered in tattoos. You could tell from afar she was trans. Her name is Rachel.

But transgendered people have interesting stories to tell and I enjoy hearing them.  What made them want to transition?  How has life been since transitioning?  What made them realize they were gay?  While I didn't ask her anything along those lines, I simply sat back and listened to her loud narratives.  To say she was not proudly gay is an understatement. 

I learned a bit about her just from what she volunteered to announce to all the customers.  She served in the US Marine Corps 1970-1974 as a combat medic. She never finished high sch\ool and went right into the Marines.  She retired two years ago at age 65 and settled here in Tombstone.  She knows all the local gay bars.  She told me Tombstone was a haven for lesbians.

"Tombstone?" I asked, dumbfounded. "It's so MAGA!" I added.

"Oh Honey, This place is full of lesbians!" And then Rachel rattled off the gay bars in the area.  I didn't take note of the one in Tombstone as I don't frequent bars and definitely not gay bars.  The one in Bisbee is well-known, the one in Sierra Vista is not.

I would have enjoyed a longer conversation with her.  I find the lives of the LGTBQ people fascinating as it takes courage to come out, let alone transition. But I had to get back home, drop Gretel off, and then head out to Tucson for a Yelp Event.  I ended up stopping at the San Pedro River and walked the mile along the trickling creek to the graffiti bridge. That's a two-mile easy jaunt that's half-shaded.  This way Gretel could jump into the water when the hot sand got too much for her paws.

Water level here was low so hopefully the rain forecasted for Tuesday and Wednesday next week will help.

Gretel got to walk 2.6 miles today.

A year in my new home

July 9th, 2024 is when I took possession of my new home.  It's been quite a year since.  There are pros and cons with living out in the desert, away from town.

Con 1: Lack of privacy. My 4.4-acre lot sits on the corner of two streets.  The pavement to my street ends there.  What I don't like is how open my lot is; passers-by can easily see my property and watch me garden.  I hate that lack of privacy, so I planted oleanders and pines along the front in March.  In a few years they will be tall enough to block out some of the view.  I will continue to plant more trees to add variety to the otherwise mundane mesquite and catclaw acacia (which I really don't like!)

Con 2:  Lack of camaraderie.  Neighbors here want to be left alone.  They live out here to grow food, raise livestock, tinker in workshops.   I wave at  other dog walkers in the morning, but I haven't had a real conversation with any of them.  The only neighbors I know are Kim and Ken across from me, and people living on the short road behind me since we share the well.

Con3: I suspect my street is a known dumping ground for unwanted animals.  It's also a busy area for coyotes and javelina and rattlesnakes.  I wanted to grow a cactus garden in my front yard, but the javelinas destroyed the various prickly pear there in March.  I want to replant that garden but need a 4-foot fence first around the area to keep the javelina out.  They like to uproot cacti and leave a mess.

Con4: Home deficiencies.  All homeowners have to maintain their property and it can get expensive. The front door seal came undone shortly after I moved in. Within a few months I discovered that the electrical outlet underneath the sink, to which the dishwasher is attached, does not work.  The laundry room's light switch is at the exit door to the backyard and not the entrance door.  I have to turn on the hallway light to use the washer. The white trim facing the west side of the home is peeling.  One of the wooden trims is also warped.  That one is going to be hard to replace because it's right along the front porch.  And, most concerning, the LVP by the back patio is already warped in three planks!

Con5: Missing Willie.  There is no way I could take Willie from the home he's known all his life and move him to my new place.  He would fall prey to coyotes.  I do miss his mew.  I try to leave food for him whenever I stop by the old place.  I hadn't seen him since the house got demolished.

But the good outweighs the bad. Pro 1: Beautiful sunrises and sunsets.  I see the sun rise from my kitchen and patio, and the sun set from my living room.  It's quiet here at night.  I hear distant dogs bark, and when it rains, the croaks of frogs nearby in the puddles.  I'm a mile away from a busy road but don't hear any traffic.   I love the solitude.

Pro2:  It's a shorter drive into town by two miles, with fewer traffic lights to stop me. The only time the drive is an issue is when the main road into town floods after heavy rain and the road is closed for the duration.  It's a two-mile detour south and then west to get to town this way. 

Pro3: The extra acreage.  I want to grow some fruit trees on the southern section of the lot.  Plums and apricots grow well here. I also want to experiment with more gardening.  I want to plant some palo verde from seeds taken from the trees I planted in my old lot.  Palo verde bloom dramatically with their yellow flowers  in the spring and the blooms last a few months.  Right now I have three different varieties  in seed propagating as I write this, along with some mimosa.  Yes, they are messy with their dropped pods, but it's food for the animals here.  At night during my walks I see kangaroo rats and mice flit across the roads.

I went to my old lot to pick up some more stuff, mostly focusing on palo verde seeds and cacti  I might as well as take cacti from my own lot than buy them.  I still have a lot of other work to do on this lot to declare it completely cleaned up of my presence.

I was thinking about Willie as I was collecting seeds, missing his soft mew whenever I called him.  I called out his name a few times but didn't hear anything.  But then he showed up underneath the big palo verde tree!  He is alive!  He's gotta be going on 14 years old now.

Willie stood still.  He didn't mew back when I called him, but he stayed still long enough for me to photograph him. He's starting to look his age,  with some grey in his snout.  His right eye seems to be partially blind now.  It's not as round as the left eye. I'm now going to have to keep some food for him at the old place.  I hadn't left any out for him on my last few visits because I didn't know if he was still around.

Seeing Willie cheered me up for the day.

Garden Canyon Linear Park

The Garden Canyon Linear Park is a 3.5-mile connector trail built by mountain bikers to get from Brown Canyon Ranch House to Buffalo Soldier Trail and SR90.  It's mostly flat.  The views of the Huachucas is the selling point here, with open views in all directions.

I've been on this trail several times now.  It had been a year since I was last on it with Fritz that morning, when I still lived with CC.  I spent last summer house hunting and I had already found the place I eventually settled on by then.

The trail starts out following a wash between two neighborhoods.  It had always been popular with neighborhood kids taking their BMX bikes to practice jumps.  Part of the trail was then "upgraded" with some pavement, benches, and trash bins. 

Bill and I met at 5am by the canal. We didn't see anyone on the trail for the first two miles. We hit the boundary gate with Fort Huachuca and I was blocking the narrow path from a mountain biker who waited quietly behind me before I noticed his presence.

The lack of any rain made this a boring hike as there were no flowers blooming anywhere.  Rain brings out the desert sunflowers. That made me curious about the duckpond off the Nature Trail by the ranch house.  Would there be water in it?

We made the ranch house our destination point, resting just briefly by the windmill to let Hansel jump into a water trough to cool off.  He also  jumped into the duck pond that had been filled with water. The reeds that normally hide the pond had also been cut back. A squadron of javelina darted into the tall dead grass to evade us.

We walked back the way we came.  I cut through the hidden cholla grove to see if the desert wren from last year was again nesting in a cholla.  She wasn't there, but the nest was.  There was another nest nearby.

This eight-mile walk took us three hours.

The San Pedro River

 I have been wanting to check out the San Pedro river level at the Big Wash for a while.  Today was that day.  I had wanted to take Wolfie since he was due a walk, but Fritz was more convenient as he was already alone in the backyard, so I took him.

The trailhead off Ramsey Road is the closest access to the river for me.  Here I can take in a short hike and take in the views with no people around.  The river is 1.9 miles away, but the views east toward the Mule Mountains in the morning light is worth it.  The terrain is on high ground for the first mile, then descends into the riparian area of desert willows and tall grasses.

The fires in Cananea, Sonora are still burning, creating a smokey haze for the past week.  Both sunrise and sunsets are beset with that haze.  It was no different this morning.

There was no water at the Big Wash where it flows into the San Pedro. The river floor was dried, cracked mud with weeds poking through.  Yesterday's short storm at 5pm made no difference.  I wasn't expecting it to, as we are in a serious drought. I had to walk another 0.45 miles south in the wash before reaching water.  I know this is predator hunting time but I had Fritz watching out for me.  He never strays far.

I knew there was water somewhere close as I spotted a red Vermillion Flycatcher near the remaining water pool.  Birds never are far away from a water source. Fritz immediately went into the shallow pool and sat in the muddy water.  I'm sure that pool of water is full of bacteria, but I could tell that Fritz was enjoying this dip.  The water was illuminated by the morning sun.  I was surrounded by cooling shade.

I made this pool my turn-around post at the 2.38mile mark.  It was still very cool and shady here, but I knew the walk back away from the river would be warm.  I didn't want to make it uncomfortable for Fritz as it was already in the upper 70s.

Sure enough, once away from the wash and on the exposed trail, we felt the warmth of the rising sun.  Interestingly, a nighthawk flitted by us several times.  Were we disturbing a nearby nest?  Normally those birds fly at dawn, dusk and at night. 

This morning hike took us two hours and 4.8 miles.

South Perimeter loop

Distance: 7.8 miles, clockwise

Elevation: 5143' to 6056'; gain 1197.'  All the gain is from the 3mile to 5.16 mile mark

I had always wanted to hike this loop.  This section is the newer extension of the Perimeter trail in the Huachuca mountains, starting at Lower Miller Canyon and hiking south to Hunter Canyon.   It's just under eight miles and most of the elevation is the connector trail between Hunter and Miller Canyons.

I met Bill shortly after 5am in the Lower Miller Canyon parking lot.  I was seven minutes late but was ready to go as soon as I got out of my Honda.  I brought Hansel along, who seems to enjoy Bill's company.

The first three miles going south were breezy and cool.  There are three drainages that would have running water in the monsoon, but it was dry.  Once we got to Hunter canyon, the heat began.  The first mile is under the canopies of emory oaks, but once we got to the official Hunter Canyon trailhead, the exposure began.

We took a short break by the mine.  The trail to that mine is now "closed" with branches, but Bill went to look at the shaft anyway while I gave Hansel some water.  I had to rest here because shortly after the mine the trail takes a steep ascent.  It leaves the shade and is exposed until the trail reaches the saddle.  It's about a half mile but feels longer than that.  Views to the south, however, are expansive.

The first of several hikers passed us by, a shirtless trail runner.  Once back on the Miller Creek trail we met a few mountain bikers.  By now Hansel was looking for  water.  He found a small pool of stagnant water another half mile downhill.  This was the only water along the entire loop.

He was now back onleash for the rest of the hike as we passed a few more people hiking uphill.

Once back at the car, Hansel took a back seat and rested for the rest of the drive home.  He limped a bit once home, but then rested the rest of the day. I'm not sure what caused the limping as he had no visible injuries or stickers on him that may have caused pain.

I would love to do this trail again after some heavy rain.  Flora is suffering from drought and many of the trees were dropping their leaves.  It's going to take a lot of heavy rains in the next few months to give the desert and mountains much-needed relief.

Carr Peak with Bill and Zana

Hiking the peak was Bill's proposal and I was all for it.  I hadn't done the peak all year (!) and the last time was last September when I did it with Bill and a few days later with Ellen for the aspen glow. Getting settled in my new home had been my focus all year.  Now that my fence is up and I can "let the dogs out," I have no excuse to not hike anymore.

Bill came promptly by my place at 5am. We drove together to the Sawmill trailhead. The sun rose at 5:15am behind a smokey haze from two wildfires that have broken out in northern Sonora.  It made for a gorgeous sunrise that I didn't capture with my camera.  

I had Zana as my canine companion. I enjoy hiking with her as she doesn't stray.  We started at 5:45am as the only car in the parking lot.  We ended up having the trail all to ourselves.

I had enough water for Zana and me but one bottle ended up having a leak and got my shirt wet.  The Sawmill springs was bone dry and the lack of  spring rains voided any wildflowers save for a few above 8000.'  Even the common mullein were stunted and only a few had stalked with white flowers.  They easily grow over six feet tall, but this time none were taller than Bill.

The drought was visible all throughout the drive up the mountain. The oaks have dropped their leaves. I didn't see healthy pines and oaks until we got near 8000' and here is when i noticed a spike in the growth of the post-2011 fire trees.  Lots of young pines and firs are sporting healthy candles! So not all is lost.

The trail had been trimmed back in the upper portion, making it easier to walk through the aspen. The migrant trash we saw last year had also been removed.  Last year the trail was so overgrown, that branches from young aspen were tickling us on either side.

I fed Zana a can of dog food on the peak and gave her the rest of my water.  I ate a few tangelos but after that snack we were on our descent.  There were no ladybugs on the peak, nor much of a wind save for a gentle cooling breeze.  We really lucked out with the weather, ranging from 73F at the start to a good mid 80s when we got back to the truck.

The total hike took us 4:40 hours. I was back home by 11am but I also felt exhausted from the hike in the sun.  Zana was out the rest of the day and that's ok as she can be a real pistol when she's wound up.

We have a good chance of rain next Tuesday.  I hope we really get hit with hard rain.  The flora and fauna need it and I still have trees and shrubs to plant in my yard.

Walking Bisbee's stairs with the HHC

I finally joined the guys from the Huachuca Hiking Club on a stair climb in Bisbee.  Doug B hosted this walk.  We met in front of the St Elmo's bar in lower Brewery Gulch at 7am.  The three guys, Doug, Steve A and Barry D, all drove in Steve's van and were ten minutes late because of road construction east of town on SR90. Doug was the only member not wearing a "goofy straw hat." His words.

We started up the art alley, turned around and continued heading toward the first stairs by the City Park.  The rest of the route was the same as the official route.  The only difference is that at 7:10am it was already quite warm at 75F.  This is why I kept all dogs at home.  I had walked Gretchen and Hansel at 4:50am for three miles but I could already feel the heat reflecting off the asphalt.

The pace was much slower than what I'm used to with Bill, But what I did enjoy was the camaraderie. It had been over a year, maybe two, since I hung out with these guys on a hike.  I've always enjoyed our post-hike meals and conversations.

We hadn't even finished the first mile when we stopped at the new coffee shop in the renovated Warner Hotel.  I walked into that place and was immediately impressed with the high ceilings, live plants, and water fall in the back room.  Despite the warmth, I had a large vanilla cappuccino.  The guys had smaller portions of plain espresso.  It was quite good.  I'll definitely be back at this place as the cafe is dog friendly.

By now it was past 8am and warmer.  I felt the heat getting to me.  While I did ok on the third set of stairs, which is the first of the longer sets. I was worn out by the end of the 5th set.

Doug stopped briefly at the Circle K for another drink.  We talked to the owner of a 7-month old mudi pup, a small Hungarian herding dog with pretty merle marking.  The pup, Cosmo, was a bit nervous of me.  This was the highlight of today's walk

Bisbee was in bloom.  Cacti were flowering.  Flowers were everywhere.  I wish the prickly pear in my yard would bloom.  My entire property is a dull brown and black

We stopped for  a second time at the Bisbee Coffee Company.  I had my iced tea which I carried in my pack.  We chatted some more.  From there it was a quarter mile back to our cars by 10:30am.  

We drove back to Sierra Vista via SR92, avoiding the construction on SR90.

And yes, I felt exhausted when I got back.

Reef Townsite overlook

Ellen texted me early to ask if I were interested in hiking around Reef Townsite after she got off work at 4:30pm.  Hoping for some cooler temperatures at 7700 feet, I agreed to meet her at the lower Carr Canyon parking lot and drive in separate cars to the Reef

I took Zana and Hansel. They were both happy to get out and run offleash, especially while in the shade.  But once we got on the old ATV trail that takes one to the overlook, they quickly tired from the direct sun.  It was still intense heat.  We have had a triple digit heatwave all week

I noted the many new pines coming up, many now two and three feet tall.  These are all post 2011 fire growth.

We made the overlook our resting spot.  The dogs got their water but they quickly drank most of the quart I had brought for them.  I sat on the group to rest while Ellen stood.  The heat --88F-- was still hot despite it being cooler than the 94F in town. The dogs ran through the low manzanitas to keep shaded.

We came across a suspicious man on our descent.  The dogs were on alert but didn't bark.  They simply went into standby mode by standing still and staring the man down, who quickly retreated and waited for us to pass him.  He didn't look us in the eyes, either, as we walked past him. A white Nissan pickup was parked just outside the gate by the trailhead, with three pillows in the back bed.  Hmm.  Ellen reported that vehicle later as a suspect lookout vehicle.

We continued on the shaded road to the group campsite, then continued on the trail to the waterfall, where luckily Zana found a pool of water that surely was left from the recent rain.  Both dogs splashed around in the cool delight

The sun was now behind us and we had little daylight left. We climbed back up to the road and returned to our cars. It was a mere 3.5 miles but well deserved.  

On the drive down we saw the near full Strawberry moon rise over San Jose Peak in Mexico.  The official full moon is tomorrow.  We stopped briefly to photograph it and agreed to have a late dinner at Culvers. where each dog got a pupcup.