Breakfast at Denny’s…love their Senior Fit Fare Omelet!   Decided to make it a dog day again even though the dogs got to go to the dog park yesterday.  Took both pups to Saguaro State Park.  The drive up was full of twists and turns and everywhere you look are cactus of every size and shape, rocks and sandy soil.  The park itself is flat and pebbly with lots of dirt roads and Saguaro cactus everywhere.  The cactus species is Saguaro but I’m sure the technical term is big ass cactus!

We watched a movie about the delicate balance of this area.  Hard to believe that cactus need a delicate balance of anything.  We were very careful to keep the dogs on the cement paths as we didn’t want a repeat of years ago when our dog TyTy jumped out of the car and caught a snout of cactus thorns when we stopped in Joshua Tree National Park.   John found out that the cactus that jumped out and bit him years ago is called a Teddy Bear Cactus.   It’s a furry thing that is very deceiving and not cuddly at all.

John mentioned that there were pictographs at Signal Mountain in Saguaro State Park and I had to see them.    Dogs were not allowed on the trail so John stayed with the pups and I climbed up the rocks and got some great shots.  There are lots of crawly things in this desert, some I like, some I don’t, so I stopped every 50 steps or so to listen to make sure nothing with sharp teeth was getting too close.  Half way up I saw pictographs and there were a few more at the top.  I also passed several signs notifying me of what might be lurking behind cactus or under rocks but I had my trusty cane with me so I was prepared.

One thing about owning a house out here, no one has to worry about yard work.  No grass anywhere, sand or rocks in front and back yards and if it’s not cactus, it’s something in the same family.  I’ve never seen so much earth tone in my life.  Quite a change from the constant green shades of The Woodlands.

Tucson has had colder temperatures than Alaska while we were here…20 degrees at night while John has been walking the dogs.  Perfect practice!