While we were in Ajo, I helped Sandy with some computer stuff. Tom fixed Sandy's bike and helped Ron install his catalytic heater. It's always wonderful to spend time with folks who share our interests and lifestyle, and it's nice to be able to be helpful, too!
Next we headed south about 30 miles to a place that had been recommended by many of our friends as a 'must see.' Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument encompasses a large area on the Arizona-Mexico border. This land was set aside to protect the habitat of the organ pipe cactus. This is the northern edge of its growing region and the only place in the US where you can find this particular type of cactus. The campground is one of the best laid out ones we've ever been in. Over 200 spaces are laid out so they are all pull-through sites with lovely desert vegetation between them. Each site has a picnic table and grill. The sites are all for dry camping (i.e., no water or electricity), but the solar energy abounds, so our batteries stayed fully charged.
One day Tom and I took the 51-mile Puerto Blanco Drive through the Monument. Along the way we saw lots of the monument's namesake plants. The organ pipe cactus grow mainly on the warm south facing slopes. They are very sensitive to cold and will die from frost. However, when the conditions are right, they can grow very tall over the decades. They grow very slowly, so it may take them over 100 years to get as tall as the one I'm standing next to in the picture.
After spending a while in the desert, you begin to learn that there is a lot of variety of vegetation. Tom and I have been trying to learn the names of the various cacti, trees, and shrubs.
Along the Puerto Blanco Drive is Senita Basin. This area is the only place where the Senita Cactus grow in the US. We thought they all looked in pretty bad shape as they had dark fuzzy tops. We thought maybe they had all been frost bitten. We searched for quite a while to find what we thought was a healthy one to take a picture of. Later when we asked a ranger about it, they said senita means 'old man cactus' and that the dark tops and fuzz are a part of their distinct look. Not to worry...
The desert landscape was thriving due to the recent 2.5 inch rainfall--the first in many months! Bushes were perking up, ocotillo were leafing and budding, creosote bushes were beginning to bloom, and a few brittlebush were unfolding their yellow flowers. Most of the time the ocotillo look like dead, thorny branches. When there is sufficient moisture they grow green leaves in a matter of days and burst into bloom. When it dries out, they drop their leaves and go dormant. They may do this several times each year. It was wonderful to see them in their glory.
Another day, Tom and I joined a ranger led van tour to the Ajo Mountains in the park. We heard a lot about the history of the park and the native people, the O'Odham, who lived here for centuries. It was also fun to be able to ask all our questions about the desert vegetation and ecology.
Each night at 7:30 pm there were ranger talks at the campground amphitheater. We heard programs on coyotes, the O'Odham people, and the archeology of the monument lands and surrounding area. Beautiful slides complimented each of the enthusiastic talks.
We were lucky to be in the park for the annual O'Odham days. There were native dancers, a fiddle band, basket weaving demonstrations and native food. Sandy and Ron came down and joined us for the festivities.
While we were at Organ Pipe, our friends and fellow Horizons owners, Neil and Vonda Stahl, showed up. We had met them last year in Texas and had reconnected last summer in Michigan at the Escapees Fun Days celebration. It was great to see them again.
While we enjoyed the desert and this park immensely, the best part of our time there was the new friends we made, Arnie and Grace Holman. These warm, fun loving folks live on Vancouver Island in British Columbia. We hit it off right away when we met in the Visitor Center on the day we arrived. They invited us to a campfire at their place that night, and the friendship blossomed. Grace and I found out we bring out the laughter and creativity in each other. (Arnie threatened to not let us sit together at the ranger talks if we didn't behave!) At the coyote talk we were part of the 'yipping' section of the audience---and we never stopped! We know we'll make it a point to meet up with them again.
Each day on the road brings many blessings--the beauty of this earth, new things to learn, new people to meet, new kindnesses to share. We are truly blessed with abundance. And we're glad you're all sharing this wonderful journey with us.
