Boyce Thompson Arboretum

 Our reno project is coming along and the outside should be complete by Tuesday or Wednesday.  Then we can move inside.  We are hoping the flooring will be installed by the 1st week of January and furniture delivery shortly after.  Will keep you posted.

A few weeks ago we went to Boyce Thompson Arboretum for our first time this year.  We got memberships so we will be making a few more visits before the winter is over.  The following pictures are just a few shots from our brief visit.  

BTA sports a little rose garden which is 
pretty much at its seasons end.
Still a few good blooms left.

A crested Saguaro in the background.

This tree seems to shed its bark.

This tree has a very smooth bark the colour of copper.  

Eucalyptus trees are massive with very smooth white bark

There seems to be a theme: BARK.  Or perhaps more accurately the texture found in some of the trees found at BTA.  

I've got pictures from a few hikes we have done so those will be coming up next.  

Till then. 

Picket Post Hike

 A little 9.5 km hike today plus a trip to Superior for lunch.  

Picket Post is one of our favourite hikes as it takes us through a canyon with beautiful views when looking up the canyon walls plus a stream running through the canyon floor and lots of large trees.  Unfortunately the fires of this past summer took its toll on this area plus the river bed was bone dry.  While not as lush as usual it was still a great day shared with friends. 

Lunch after a hike at Porters in Superior is always a favourite but in January Porters was bought out and is now a smokehouse.  Food was still great and they fixed the place up a bit but I did miss their Superior hamburger and the atmosphere wasn't quite the same.  We did notice a Porters sign down the street so perhaps they have moved to a new location.  We will check it out on our next trip to the area.  

No progress on the construction today as I was plum tuckered out after our hike and the beer at lunch had me ripe for a nap as soon as we got home.  Hoping to get some of the siding up tomorrow and then things should start to take shape.

Here are some shots of our walk today. 

The sun rising behind the mountains made for excellent light.  

Our motley crew

The fire did a number on this saguaro.  
The ones higher up the canyon seem
to have fared better

The fire burned hot and fast.  
The bark is black and crispy but the inside
trunk looks untouched. 

In the midst of a burned out section this plant is thriving,
complete with beautiful white flowers. 

The foreground would usually be filled with
shrubs and small trees blocking the view.

A few pools of water fed by underground streams provided Chewie
with his favourite activity.  Brings back memories of Charli, sob.  

So glad the fire didn't take all the large cottonwoods and ash trees.  
The small shrubs and grasses will recover in a few years but
these beauties would take decades to replace

Met this group near the end of our hike.  
They are all from different states and bring their
horses with them for the winter.

First hike under our belt.  Many more to come.  In fact we have one scheduled for Monday and possibly a visit to Boyce Thompson Arboretum set for Tuesday.  

Till then.  

Riparian Preserve

 We have been here 3 weeks now and our first desert hike is scheduled for Friday.  Don't think we have ever taken that long to go for a hike but we have been busy.  The fridge and kitchen cupboards are starting to fill up and the liquor cabinet/fridge is well stocked.  We have purchased a couch, picked out some flooring and got a good start on the construction project.  Our long awaited delivery from Lowes containing lumber, windows and doors arrived today so tomorrow we can move ahead in earnest.  

Weather has been great.  Lows at night dipping into the 50s and highs touching the 80's most days.  Phoenix broke a long standing record for most days over 80 in Nov  at 25 days. 

Last winter we ordered 2 e-bikes.  Lori found them a bit big and heavy so we brought one down with us for me to use and she ordered a smaller e-bike for herself.  We will keep them down here which leaves me the other bike to use when at home.  We will probably get more use of them down here anyway.  Her bike arrived Monday and we are ready to hit the road which will be a nice supplement to our 6 KM daily walks.  

Yesterday we took a drive to Gilbert and took a walk around the Riparian preserve.  The preserve is a water reclamation project with numerous ponds and the feathered population can be quite a sight.  

Here are a few of the preserves residents. 

Log rolling competition is about to start.  
My monies on the duck.

It appears we hit siesta time.
Many of the animals were pretty sedate.
Next time we will have to arrive a little earlier. 

This guy saw us across the pond and made a beeline for us.
I think he figured we had treats.
Made quite the wake. 

Hike on Friday so hope I will have some shots of that plus perhaps some construction updates.  

Till then.