Birds at Saguaro Lake

I wasn't just people watching last Friday at Saguaro Lake, the birds also caught my attention.

 A couple of cardinals were flitting amongst the bushes

 The mallards were flocked together near the shore

 There were many of these black ducks with white beaks on the lake

 This blackbird or crow was not one bit shy.

I sat on a stump eating my orange watching the

kayakers launch. I think he was expecting a morsel. NOT!

 While I was waiting for the group and eating some of my snacks,

I was surrounded by 15 or so blackbirds. Probably waiting for me 

to drop something or toss any leftovers.

The females have a pretty, shiny, brown, feathered breast.

This woodpecker was quite entertaining.

The People at Saguaro Lake

Of course, there were the hikers...

we were just one of five or six groups taking the same trail.

It was a school holiday, so there were families fishing...

Two guys in wet suits went swimming...

it was worth watching them come out of the water and peel off their suits...



A man came prepared to do some serious fly fishing...

Two families were shore fishing...

I only saw lines with weeds attached, no fish. But the kids had a good time...



Then a guy with the fire department of the National Forest stopped by the lake...

 I thought he was going to check fishing licenses or something, but he didn't.

Then 3 people with a MN  license stopped and unloaded kayaks and equipment...

and I watched while they launched their kayaks...

it didn't take long before they paddled out of sight.

Somebody planned to have a picnic...

And guys fishing from a boat.

Lots of activity at Saguaro Lake on a Friday morning, the end of November.

Hiking at Saguaro Lake

I went along with the hiking group this morning. My intention was to walk along the trail to a point where there are fist-sized rocks and some climbing and then I would turn back and take pictures. Well, I got to a point earlier than that where I wished I'd had my hiking stick; I didn't. So I spent most of my time walking around the parking lot area and watching the people and the birds. The people and birds will be later posts. First, Saguaro Lake...

 

Saguaro Lake is one of three lakes created along the 

Salt River when Roosevelt Dam was built to supply 

water to central Arizona in the early 1900s.

31 hikers braved the 42º this morning to walk

along the banks of Saguaro Lake.

Bright blue water and a cloudless blue sky

It may look like a quiet morning at the lake,

but that was not the case as tomorrow's post

will show some of the activity.

Some of the many saguaros along the lake's hillsides.

It wouldn't be an AZ picture without them!

Day Trip on the Light Rail

For two years hubby and I have talked about catching the light rail and riding it from east to west and back again. One afternoon earlier this week we did just that.

We learned several things the day of our trip:

1.  The train runs every 15 minutes.

(the station was rather deserted when we boarded

and so was the train)

2.  We learned it takes one hour to ride from one end to the other.

3.  Avoid the train around 3:00 when schools dismiss; lots of high school kids ride the train.

 This was our intended destination for an early dinner.

And as we were leaving, we were treated to a spectacular sunset.

Flowers along the Hike, and Wildlife!

Although we had an awesome October (weather-wise) back home and several of my potted plants were still blooming when we left at the end of the month, I know in my head it is winter. But when I arrive in AZ and the temps are in the 70s and 80s, I think summer, but in my head...

So, I was most pleased to find flowers along the roadside on Friday's hike.

 The sunlight shining on this ground cover plant cast a bright red glow.

Definitely eye-catching in the tan landscape.

 Yellow daisy like flowers on this one

 Delicate violet flowers on this ground cover vining plant

Seeing wildlife is always a bonus...

This salamander/lizard stuck around long enough for the picture!

The Total Picture from the Hike

 One stem with seeds of a grass growing along the side of the gravel road. Graceful as it moved in the light breeze.

 The total picture

 The stalk and dead flowers of a Agave palmeri or Palmer's Century Plant or Palmer's Agave. The mature plant's tall, flowing stalk, averages 10 to 14 feet in height. This spike had a cyme of yellowish flowers, can be found in higher elevations in southwestern United States.

The gray-green rosette-shaped plant spends its lifetime preparing to produce this stalk. On average it takes about 25 years (not quite a century) to grow a distinctive stalk. The century plant, also misnamed American Aloe, provided natives with a source for soap, fibers (pita) to make rope and course cloth, and even weapons made from the stalk. Native Americans make a fermented drink called pulque, and can be further distilled into mescal and tequila.

 The total picture

I'm sure there is a story as to why a cross has been placed in this spot. It is not an area that can be reached easily. It is way above the road, but it caught my eye as I was looking up and  taking pictures.

 

 The total picture

My First Hike of 2010

Today I went along on a hike called "Apache Dam Road". It was a 5 mile round trip hike on a gravel road leading down into a valley near Apache Lake and eventually Apache Dam. The elevation was 900 feet, all downhill going in and all uphill coming back. I walked about a mile down and a mile back, taking pictures as it was my first time in the canyon. Here are some of my views today:

One of the many interesting views along my walk.

The gravel road through the canyon was full of switchbacks. Five members of the group were well on their way while I meandered near the top.

Wind, rain, and other acts of nature wear away the rock formations. This one caught my eye. Notice that awesome blue sky! Clouds had moved in before we returned to the resort. They may be here all weekend.

The dark lines on the side of this 'cliff' show where the rains cascade down the side of the cliff; using the same path year after year.

 

Notice the power line in the upper left corner of the photo. The canyon was the 'road' for power lines; makes sense when the purpose of the dams was to provide electrical energy to the Phoenix valley.

 

  I loved the variety of colors on the sides of the canyon and the different types of geological formations; folding, layers, all with various shades of green at their base.

 

Power lines meandering along the sides the of the canyon, imitating the stately saguaros.

Patio Decor

This was the shed wall of our deck last spring:

 The wall needed something and this metal art caught my eye: different and reasonably priced.

I also liked the colors. The wall needed something else and we each had different ideas what we thought would work. We wanted a clock so we could keep track of the time we spend outside, ha ha. After some discussions and false purchasing...

this is the deck wall now. 

The colors of the two new metal pieces compliment the first piece. Again, the pieces are unique; not everyone has them, and the designs and colors appealed to me.

I loved the textures on this one and its shape added interest to the wall. It was finally agreed "I" could buy pieces "I" thought might work.


The back of the shed along the patio will be next...maybe this winter, maybe next. We'll see. I do know what will be focus piece!

Similar metal pieces might just find their way back to SD next spring...