Monday, March 4, 2013

Sort of Lost

My adventure of choice last Friday was to find the Ironwood Forest. Naturally, I thought I knew where it was and where I was going. Not true. Decided to tackle that another day, and ended up here at the El Camino del Cerro Trailhead. It's the end of El Camono del Cerro Rd as far west as you can go. Met some nice people on their way up, and another couple who had just come down. I didn't go up, because the boys were with me. Another day.





These shots out my side mirror always intrigue me. This really wasn't the best time of day to be taking pictures, but I did it anyway hoping to photo shop them to something decent.


This is at the Red Hills Visitors Center in Saguaro National Park where I thought I was supposed to meet a birding group Saturday morning. I was supposed to be at Tucson Mountain Park. Oh well, I stayed and took advantage of the morning. This forest of saguaros look like they are in an aerobics class with their arms in the air.



This a view of the visitors center from a trail in the arroyo. The remains of the ironwood tree below reminded me of two animals fighting.




Above is the carcass of a saguaro with fungus growing on the outside. I'm not sure it's really fungus, but it made an interesting picture. It's in the parking lot as you go into the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum.


This is the Ironwood Picnic area, and I guess it gets its name from the huge ironwood tree at the very end of the road. The people are some birders that I joined up with to see a few birds and take some pictures. Really  nice people; all snow birds except for the leader who is a local.

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According to our guide, this lady is a pyrrhuloxia or desert cardinal. Naturally, her male counterpart is much more colorful.


Just fooling with the camera and the ironwood. I actually have one of these in my yard. I look at the mesquite as the New Mexico species. Below is what I call "capturing texture" in photography.


I have big plans for this coming week, as long as I don't get lost.

2 comments:

Bill Graham said...

Dolly: Your post suggests a yearning to explore Ironwood Forest National Monument. But, knowing your aversion to taking your rig on dirt roads, I wonder. This park has LOTS of rough dirt roads, even the main road (Silverbell Rd) has lots of dips and rough spots. I strongly suggest that you use your tracker. Also, exploring the rougher side roads is worth the effort. But, if you choose to camp, you will need park on the paved part of Silverbell Road that turns into a dirt road as you enter the msain area of the park.

I can give you driving directions if you wish

The Artist Rocks said...

I still haven't found it, but I have good directions if I'd only follow them. It's a tracker trip absolutely. It's a 40 minute drive from my place at best. My rig is parked in the storage lot across the street and I won't be taking it out until the first of June. Thinking about Glacier or maybe Alberta if I get brave. I found a photography group and a hiking group. Things are definitely on the up side.