Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

Where are we today ?

WHY
clci on a pic to enlarge

        As the sun rises I head out for my walkabout, the desert. Fresh air , warm temps, wonderful  scenery and so quiet. Just watching the sun rise to brighten up another amazing desert day.

Town water tower for Patsy

lots of great camping spots

       Noticed many animal tracks in particular large hoof prints and thinking most like cattle, this is a free range area as I remembered we came across a cattle guard yesterday coming in here. Also  noticed smaller different shaped hoof prints most likely be burros.

the be from a cattle beast I hope 

Lots of Gambles Quails here

     Then a drove the couple miles into town just to take a peak. Why?

Why Not,
Looks like a crested Saguaro 

          Why has a colorful handy service station / truck stop just shouting "take my picture" so I did.

washrooms

lots of border Patrol around here

This is where we stayed but the border patrol is
everywhere

           Then shortly after 9 am took the 20 mile drive to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument   to check out this wonderful area. Took our friend George along as well. The bonus was kinda nice as he has a senior pass that gave us free admission otherwise the admission was $12.00. WE checked out the Kris Eggle Visitor Centre and snagged a map the headed out for the Ajo Mountain drive.  A 21 miles one way road, mostly gravel past some amazing scenery and desert cactus.

this the route we took

visitor centre

George taking my picture

       We checked out the campground to very nice pull through sites with table, shelter and charcoal grill $16.00 a night plus they have flush toilets and showers.

     We did along this route come across some nice flowering cactus so beautiful to see.

    This is the beginning of the drive takes about 2 hours, with lots of pull offs and viewing areas.

This fellow looks like he is preaching

George and the Organ Pipe Cactus

There is an arch in the distance 

here's a closer look

a crested Saguaro almost?

Chain Fruit Cholla

     Stop at the Teddy Bear pass . These Teddy Bear Cholla Cactus are also known as the Jumping cactus that appear to jump out and attack you .Very efficient hitch hikers they are.

nice flowers though

           One Teddy bear did attack my shoe, it took a while to pull the needles out with tweezers.

       The home for lunch get some good reading in before whipping up a tasty supper.  Ok, it's St' Patrick's Day so have to have corned Beef and Cabbage, just because we can.

         So got out my Pressure cooker, antique Coleman camp stove and loaded it up with corned beef, potatoes, onions, carrots and cabbage. A quick easy and very tasty one pot meal.

      While I did this George smoked a corned beef brisket as well on his charcoal grill, so we could do a taste test.

smells wonderful

the whole meal was excellent, and both corned beefs
were wonderful, of course the smoked one very special
Thanks George

Then we relax outside on a wonderful cool evening

          There we had a fun day lovely hot weather, good company and a tasty meal What more can we ask for.

          Thanks for stopping by

Check out the interactive map below to see where we have been this Fall and Winter..