Pics from the desert

[gregt]

Well, Dick is a whole lot better at this than I am so you'll get the real deal when he gets back, but here's some pictures I took last week in Southern Az:









More coming after they upload....

[Alice]

I think they look great Greg, but maybe breathing canned air brings out the best in you

[Doug1]

"Canned Air" I love it
Nice flowers

[gregt]

Gee thanks.

Here's what I got from getting up at 4 am for the sunrise.

[gregt]

Here's some desert scenes:

[Alice]

I'm just teasing you, Greg

Gorgeous pics....not much color in the sunsets but the sky is that gunmetal color that lets you know the day is going to be hot and the contrast with the buildings is striking.

[gregt]

Ok, and here's the bonehead move of the trip.

A little background first. I grew up in West Texas and AZ, so I know a little about hiking in the desert. I've had my share of run in's with prickly pears and other cactus. But I've always treated chollas (jumping cactus) with respect and I've never gotten tagged by one....

....until this trip. I forgot that I wasn't wearing jeans and cowboy boots like I always did when I was a kid. I managed to brush up against a jumping cactus pod with my sneaker and it "jumped" in nice and deep....



.... Then, knowing how nasty they were, I very carefully took one needle at a time out, until my hand slipped and WHAM, the thing jabbed me a dozen times in the hand....



.... at this point I got smart and used a rock to yank the main pod off (still managed to get two needles deep into the thumb of the other hand. No pics of that because I was out of hands to hold the camera ) When I say deep, I'm talking down to the bone deep. Thank goodness none of the needles broke and with some yanking and pulling I got them all out. Hurt like the dickens too.

Here's the bugger to avoid Dick. Even a light wind can push it over and once one needle grabs you it only gets worse....

[gregt]

Here's some snake pics for Chris. Unfortunately, these aren't natural, I took them at the museum. I love rattlesnake hunting though. Don't think I didn't look for one.

[gregt]

Dick, the museum has an aviary with thousands of hummingbirds. If you can get a shot of one in there you're better than me. I did manage to get shots of a hummingbird in Tucson though.

[gregt]

More blossoms:

[Alice]

Wow! Breathtaking shots there...

Dang, that cactus is vicious!

[cath]

Wow, Greg! Beautiful pix, as usual!

[FishDaddy]

HOLY JUMPING DESERT URCHINS!!!!

What a story, Greg! Trying to get un-stuck from that cactus is like Brer Bear trying to get loose from the Tarbaby!!! That hurts thinking about it!!

I spent lots of time in the deserts when I lived in SoCal and have a great respect for the cacti. This reminds me to train the girls in Cholla Avoidance!

Those are really superb photos, Greg! I'm hoping the desert flowers will still be blooming this next week but I'm told some of them will be on the wane as Summer heat sets in. We've set aside a day for the Desert Museum and Saguaro.

Beautiful sunrise silhouette of that church, especially the one with the sun 'twinkling' through the arch.... Western sunsets seem more colorful with most mornings clear and clouds building in the afternoon. Great series of that Hummer, too.

Quite a fine gallery of fine photographs, Greg. Hope I can get some half as good.

This just whets my appetite to hurry up and get out there!

Thanks for sharing the photos and story of pain!

Dick

[tims]

Wow really great shot greg..

[gregt]

I have faith you'll find a way to upstage me Dick. Your skills will outmatch my luck any day. LOL You're right about the timing though, you probably won't have as much to choose from as far as blossoms go.

I'm looking forward to the fruits of your trip.

If you can, try to time it so you can be up at gates pass for the sunset on the day you are in the park. You won't regret it. I had other "duties" at sunset every day I was there, so I didn't have an opportunity.

Also, the sunrise was at San Xavier mission on the indian reservation. You might want to stop by, it's pretty interesting if not terribly photogenic right now. (They are restoring the outside of the building)