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| Southern AZ Scenic Drive, AZ | |
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| | Southern AZ Scenic Drive, AZ | | | |
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Southern AZ Scenic Drive, AZ
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| partners | | So with a Plan, packed up Camp at Bog Springs on Sunday morning...I have seen very little of this part of Southern AZ except from Interstates, so it was time to see more...I followed Randy on Hwy 62 (Box Canyon Road) over the Santa Ritas and connected with Hwy 83 to Sonoita...Of course, with this being new Country to me, the stops for Photos were numerous...  Got Gas and Ice in Sonoita, just in case I felt like Camping one more night somewhere...Started heading out of Sonoita towards Parker Canyon Lake and had a really great Photo Op emerge, so I stopped again...  Randy decided that it was getting too late for him to complete the Loop with me and cut loose at that point...
After the Photos at Sonoita, I continued on to Parker Canyon Lake...I was seeing some incredible Country down here and the impending Monsoon was adding even more Spice to the already cool Scenery...Got to Parker Canyon Lake ahead of the Storms and wandered for a bit, but decided not to Hike around the Lake, due to time and the fact that the Storms were catching up fast...Enjoyed the Lake Views for awhile, did a little Birding and chased a few Dragonflies and then hit the Road again...
Doubled back to Canelo Pass Road and followed it on over to Patagonia...What a gorgeous Drive!!! Of course, I made a few stops in there along the San Rafael Grasslands for more Photos, with the Monsoons providing an even better effect!!! The Storms chased me all the way to Patagonia and I decided to make a quick stop at the Paton House for some more Bird Watching...It was perfect timing...The Skies let loose as I got under the Awning and I got to watch numerous Hummingbirds playfully dance in the Rain, as they vied for spots at the Feeders...  After enjoying Nature's version of mini Helicopters for awhile, the weather cleared up and it was time to head to Patagonia Lake State Park and see if I could find a Booby... 
I arrived at the Lake, which was actually a human Zoo on this Holiday Weekend and wandered around the East End for awhile hoping to catch sight of a Bird that has somehow lost it's way and has decided to stay for awhile...As much as people don't seem to bother this Bird much, I think it was probably staying at the West End by the Dam, as there were hundreds of people at this End...The Park had the Road closed to go to the Dam End, so with the hour getting late, I decided to hit the Road, after an hour of wandering around...Hopefully, I can get back down there before the Bird figures out where he's really supposed to be and leaves for good...
I decided not to Camp another night, as I would have wanted to double back past Patagonia to do so. So it was time to head home...There really is no easy way from there, so I headed for Nogales...My map said that there was a shortcut to get from Hwy 82 to Ruby Road and then over to I-19...My map is old and is now wrong...It no longer goes through...This was verified by a Resident on the way back out...Private Property ended the Route and I had to double back to 82 and go pretty much all the way into Nogales to access I-19...I've worked in Nogales before...Not my favorite Town....  Was treated to a gorgeous Monsoon Sunset on the Freeway, but just could not safely find anywhere to pull over, and then the Angle was gone...It was fabulous though.... Arrived home at a still decent hour, tired but extremely happy with the Day, and the entire Trip as well...
And a Special Thanks to Randy for his excellent Tour Guide Service and Company on this Trip...  |
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Wildflowers Observation Light
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| Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty & well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, totally worn out & proclaiming, "Wow What a Ride!" |
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