The Week at Why!

Another week of sun and relaxation.  We met Gerry’s cousin and husband for a few days as they were on their way to Mexico for several months.  Visits the past couple of years have been few and far between so it was great to catch up.   

When we were near Tucson, our friend came out of here motorhome to take her dogs out one evening and there was a coyote by our step.  The next night we set up the game camera, but nothing.  This past week, we heard the coyotes again and the  “yips”  were coming from all different directions (I have heard that they are like ventriloquists).  We decided to put out the game camera again.  While I am just posting a couple of photos that we got, the first night there was a coyote right after dark, and there were photos off and on throughout the night. 

The next time we put the camera out it was fairly windy and all we got were a bunch of photos of Gerry’s lawn chair (not too exciting).  A couple of nights later, we got another photo around midnight, plus the rabbit.  Good thing the rabbit didn’t pass through around midnight, as he might have been lunch!!  

We did see the odd humming bird so I put out a feeder.  A lone hummer did make some fleeting attempts at some food, but this big bully ( Gila Woodpecker) dominated the dinner table. 

And there are all kinds of wildlife – we have no idea what this is – I think it is a baby dinosaur of some type (about 1 ½ inch long)!  I am looking for suggestions of what it might be.

Just south of us is Organ Pipe National Monument and they have a couple of roads/trails throughout it which we took.  The scenery on both was great.  Interesting, one road was high clearance only and recommended a four-wheel drive.  The other one was “maintained” and was open to all vehicles.  Well, the maintained one was certainly rougher than the ”rough” one.  Actually other than one stretch of rather soft sand and a gravel ridge down the centre, there wasn’t a lot of difference in the roads.  The vegetation is varied and rather interesting in the growth and formations.

There will be a blue flag on a tall pole along the trail and there is one, sometimes two barrels of water - on the top it says "Humane Borders"

Right up along the Mexican border there is Quitobaquito Springs which is a desert oasis.  It is quite a treat to see the large pond of water with all the growth around it in the usually dry desert.

And one must not forget the Mexican wall, this unsightly structure goes on for as far as one can see.  There are gates periodically – some small, some larger, but I have absolutely no idea of their purpose.  Also, every third light post along the wall has sensing equipment as well as border patrol staff – these folks were situated on top of a hill. 

There are signs posted everywhere to beware of illegal activity but to be honest, I can’t imagine how anyone could get through undetected unless they were able to get through the border station.

Our activity this week was fairly subdued but I did take quite a few pictures.  If you want to see any of them better, just double click on the photo and it will enlarge.

Take care, stay safe, and I hope everyone has a great week!