Friday, January 13, 2006
Trees!!!
Zaph had spent the previous two days in the trailer so we decided that today he was coming with us — that meant we had to find places where they allowed dogs. The first stop was Mission San Xavier Del Bac, unfortunately one of the towers was covered in scaffolding. The Mission is known as one of the finest examples of mission architecture in the country. The interior is covered with recently restored hand painted frescos — incredible. Zaph enjoyed walking around the grounds.
Leaving the mission we continued southeast heading into the Coronado National Forest and Madera Canyon. The mountains in this area reach over 10,000 feet – the parking lot at the end the Madera Canyon was at greater than 5,000 feet. The drive started in desert progressed through desert grassland ending in mountain woodlands. The most incredible part of the drive was when we started seeing trees — of the normal non-desert types, we hadn’t see any for awhile. While we were walking on a nature trail we noticed many dry stream beds and some prickly pear cacti amongst the trees. It’s a beautiful area and deserves more time — who knows maybe go back next year.
Leaving Madera Canyon we followed Box Canyon Road, a dirt road that eventually leads back to Tucson. At first this was a normal dirt road through the desert grassland — there were cattle grates and signs indicating that there was free ranging livestock , and eventually we saw some cattle. As the road preceded across the hills it became narrower, windier, rougher, clinging to a steep mountain wall, with no guard rails — in fact it reminded us of the road into Telegraph Creek — yeah Ed had fun driving. As we left the hills the road became a normal dirt road again and then a paved road. The remainder of the drive was on good road but through some beautiful countryside.
the mission San Xavier Del Bac
Some views from inside the mission
The bell tower
Looking down on the mission from a near by hill
This mozaic is at the interchange at I-10 near the mission
Real trees (just like Ontario) in Arizona....
mixed types of plants, catus and trees
The fields look more like what we saw in Montana.
Leaving the mission we continued southeast heading into the Coronado National Forest and Madera Canyon. The mountains in this area reach over 10,000 feet – the parking lot at the end the Madera Canyon was at greater than 5,000 feet. The drive started in desert progressed through desert grassland ending in mountain woodlands. The most incredible part of the drive was when we started seeing trees — of the normal non-desert types, we hadn’t see any for awhile. While we were walking on a nature trail we noticed many dry stream beds and some prickly pear cacti amongst the trees. It’s a beautiful area and deserves more time — who knows maybe go back next year.
Leaving Madera Canyon we followed Box Canyon Road, a dirt road that eventually leads back to Tucson. At first this was a normal dirt road through the desert grassland — there were cattle grates and signs indicating that there was free ranging livestock , and eventually we saw some cattle. As the road preceded across the hills it became narrower, windier, rougher, clinging to a steep mountain wall, with no guard rails — in fact it reminded us of the road into Telegraph Creek — yeah Ed had fun driving. As we left the hills the road became a normal dirt road again and then a paved road. The remainder of the drive was on good road but through some beautiful countryside.
the mission San Xavier Del Bac
Some views from inside the mission
The bell tower
Looking down on the mission from a near by hill
This mozaic is at the interchange at I-10 near the mission
Real trees (just like Ontario) in Arizona....
mixed types of plants, catus and trees
The fields look more like what we saw in Montana.
If you wish you can sign our guest book
We have added a web page with a map of our current location and route to date