We are ready for some quiet time out in the desert far from neighbors and the noise of town.  About 10 miles north along the Colorado River BLM land might provide just such an escape.  We head out to Mittry Lake Wildlife Area.  The drive winds through acres of truck farm fields jammed with broccoli and romaine looking ready for harvest.  We have been out this way before, gallons of precious Colorado River water create these oddly green patches in the otherwise parched landscape.

We scope out boondocking sites and find a nice lakeside perch that even has “easy” access with the kayaks.  We share the entire area with probably another 30 or 40 campers so it isn’t exactly isolated or private but we are spaced out pretty well and have a great view of the lake and mountain ridges that surround it.  There is a bit of aircraft noise off and on from Yuma Proving grounds during daylight hours and around sunset with crop dusting over in those beautiful green fields via helicopter and fixed wing.  Both are intermittent so while a little annoying they don’t spoil the overall experience.    

Dense fog greets us this morning.  It seems very odd in a place that gets less than 3” of rain a year and is surely related to the patter of raindrops on the roof as we headed to bed.  It makes for an interesting drive to our early appointment at the auto shop.     

So, the car is in the garage getting new front wheel bearings (that was the diagnosis) so we are hanging out kinda close.  The AZ Marketplace (flea market/stuff sale) is just a few blocks away so we had to check it out.  I came out with produce, that’s it.  We did have lunch there.  My shrimp spring rolls were surprisingly good and Kent’s pulled pork, while probably not award winning, was also good.           

We are Yuma bound today. That means about 250 miles on I-10 and I-8.  A gray brown haze veils mountain ranges that jut up from the desert. Dust is the biggest culprit.  This isn’t exactly environmentally friendly AG in the wide valleys along here.  Land that could well have supported subsistence farming is taking a real beating at the commercial scale now practiced here.  Acres and acres of bare soil is exposed to swirling winds; the story of so much of the southwest. 

We settled in a the Kofa Escapee Park.  It is convenient for errands to run.  We hope to get out to Mitry Lake but first have to get a “noise” diagnosed on the car.   That is the task for tomorrow.  Since we are in town we check out a Jazz concert at the village square, trombonist  Matt Hall.  Jazz is better in closer surroundings when you can watch the musicians and get into the feel of it.  Plus, these guys were a little too into solo riffing.  It broke up any continuity of the music making it feel like five soloists taking turns at center stage rather than an ensemble building on each other’s work.  It was still a nice way to spend an hour or so on a lovely evening. 

Saguaro national Park is a chance to immerse yourself in this wonderful desert landscape.  Drive the loop.  Stops along the way provide fabulous vistas as vegetation of the desert flats splashes up the mountainsides.  Short trails get you out for a closer look. 

There are longer trails that lead as far out into the wilderness as you might care to go.  Don’t miss this place.      

Hooray, the National Parks are coming back on line.  The visitor center at Saguaro NP is open so we stop to get maps and trail recommendations.  Today we head for the Douglas Springs trailhead and the Garwood Loop hike that climbs up slope well into the desert above Tucson.  I am always amazed at how dense the vegetation is in this moisture starved place.  Saguaro are the towering pines of the desert while creosote bush, mesquite, palo verde, and dozens of varieties of cactus form the understory.  We are too early for wildflowers but the beautiful rugged landscape still makes for a great walk.  The ranger reported that hikers saw a mountain lion here yesterday but we were not so fortunate today.  A handful of the typical desert birds did make a showing though so fauna sighting wasn’t a complete washout.

Laundry, haircuts, and plumbing work.  Everyday life rules the day.

OK, it is one gigantic tourist trap.  We had fun wondering the shops and watching the many period-costumed hawkers working the streets to get folks into the attractions.  The Bird Cage Theater is one of the few historic buildings still standing.  A tour spins a great story of its history as theatre, saloon, poker parlor and brothel.  I’m not sure that story would hold up to any serious fact checking.  There are horse drawn (and donkey drawn) stagecoaches and gun fights a plenty.  We grab lunch at the OK Corral Café; tasty pinto bean and ham soup and a hatch green chili buffalo burger.  We topped it all off with an official Tombstone Sarsaparilla.  It is worth a quick stop if you are in the area. 

Today we head up Southerland wash in Catalina State Park.  The trail laces its way between the cactus studded desert and rugged peaks.  We trek past patches of lush green grass and crisscross a rivulet of water that zig-zags across the wide wash.  Near the three-mile mark we encounter the main flow of a cool clear creek originating from patches of white high in the peaks above.  It is perfect place for a lunch break.

We could back track but we can’t resist the loop route.  The map says it will only add couple miles.  It is messy and rocky underfoot as we wind down slope but the view up the wash is beautiful.  We trek on; 7 miles, 8 miles, 9…10 miles.  I am still not sure if it was the map or my map reading skills but the loop totals 10.4 miles and our dogs are barking by the time we get back to the car.   The upside, the long route took us through the turf of a couple of the fattest, sleekest coated coyotes we have ever seen.  They eyed us long enough for Kent to get a couple pictures.