Perfect hiking weather...

It is the perfect hiking weather for me.

Yesterday's tempeture was 68. Anything up to 78 is good for me.

If it is any warmer,

we hike earlier as the desert heat is unrelenting.

They have this really wonderful little pond near the gates.

Sometimes the water seems to be covered in bees, drinking or sitting on the vegetation.

You can hear them humming from quite a distance from the pond.

We have also been a few birds having a spa day.

We like what they have created from the skeletons

of the Sahuaro Cacti.

Remembering our Dad today.

December 3, 1923 - January 8, 1994

{he died much too young}

 

 

 

 

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San Tan Mountains Hikes....

We love the hikes in the San Tan Regional Park.

If we can, we try to get out on the trails every other day.

The weather has been perfect.

Morning temps in the mid 70'.

Most days we hike around

2.5 or 3.5 miles.

You even need water on shorter hikes, on the longer ones,

I have a reserviour inside my backpack.

The desert is still very green at this time

of the year.

 

 

 

 

 

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Back to hiking....

The weather has cooled down to mid 70's.

This is a much better tempeture for us to go on our hikes in the

San Tan Regional Park.

At this time of the year, the desert is still green with

all the rain AZ. has had this year.

Sadly,

this young Sahuaro did not make it thru the

storm.

There is beauty in this landscape, even if there aren't any cacti are blooming at this time.

 

 

 

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Hiking and swimming..Day 5...

Such a good day to be a little grandchild in

Arizona.

Right after breakfast, we headed

out for a hike.

We were armed with long pants, hats, lots of water, sunscreen

as well as a small bag of treats for Claire.

We hiked our short hike, 2.2 miles.

We were so impressed with Claire, did she ever have fun and hike well.

She saw lots of horses on the trial which were a highlight for her.

She sang songs most of the time.

In the afternoon we all went swimming.

Jeremy and Julie are having fun in Vegas and Claire is

having fun and we love her

being here with us!

 

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Into a New Year...

We had another good hike today,

getting our hiking legs back after the colds we had.

Managed to hike 75.9 miles in 2 1/2 months.

We have had a couple of busy days,

we both had our flu shots,

had a wonderful late lunch out and saw a marvelous movie,

"The Book Thief"

as well as we are almost all packed for our

Panamain holiday

that starts this Sunday.

I will be so glad to see and hear the ocean once again.

Claire had a wonderful Christmas & Birthday

as you can see.

 

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Hiking in the San Tan Mountains

San Tan Regional Park is literally

out our back door.

I love the names of the trails and we have enjoyed all of them

except Malpais.

We wanted to see the

Crested Saguaro.

It was a lovley hike, the day was beautiful,

sunny but not too hot.

Just look at these beautiful mountains.

 

 

 

 

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Found in the desert....

As Jim and I hike along the trails in San Tan Regional Mountain Park,

I come across interesting pieces left behind by the miners that dug mines into these hills,

old bits of pottery, a tea cup, a handle, spent shell casings, glass, rocks..part of a cactus as well as a few feathers.

They come home with me as a reminder of our hikes on these trails.

The Gecko was a gift from my sister Evelyne .

 

 

 

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Back to our hikes...

Our hiking is back on track.

Starting with the shorter ones that just give us a taste of how

much if fun and exercise we had last year.

 

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A bit of a hike...

We bought a yearly pass to the surrounding regional parks, filled with great trails and amazing views...the levels of difficulty varies from easy to difficult...we are on the moderate 3 mile loop leaving earlier in the morning as it is still quite hot here..here is the view yesterday❤


I bought these walking shoes in my Mom's home village or Tramin, Italy (Sud-Tyrol)..they have logged many miles..along with my Dad's Baja walking stick, I am good to go! Jimmy carries the bigger pack with more water and I have the trail bars! { always be prepared.}