Once again we are looking back a little so that we can catch up to where we are today!
From Tubac we were able to get a couple of nights at the Chiricahua Campgrounds east of Tucson. The Via at 25.5 feet met the restrictions of 29 feet to be able to be in this cute quiet Campground. We set up the Via which was easy as the site was quite level already and no hookups needed as it was dry camping only. We drove the jeep to the top overlook and took a short hike
Along the rim of the Chiricahua National Monument...
looking down on the rock formations. It was impressive! And, driving back down to the campsite we stopped at the pipe organ formations.
On our full day we got a bit of a late start and decided to take a five mile loop hike...
going down into the canyons to the middle of the rock formations. There were all sorts of names for the formations...
mushroom rock...
balancing rock...duck rock...
and, then we decided to keep going to the heart of the rocks loop! Why not...we were already down in the canyon and so close! It only added 2.7 additional miles.
Pinnacle rock.
Just before we got to the loop we ran into another hiker that mentioned we would need to hurry if we were going to get out of the canyon before dark!
so we did pick up the pace...
Camel head rock...
and believe it or not I took less pictures!
we were in such a hurry that we took a picture in front of kissing rock...but didn't take the time to kiss in front of kissing rock! Perhaps next year if we go back!
The next day we read about the history of this National monument at Faraway Ranch.
With incoming weather we left for Tucson and DTRV Park. Back to our bike riding, hiking, and yoga for 5 days!
The hike that the DTRV Park group went on was to Picture Rocks.
we always enjoy seeing the petroglyphs!
We went for a bike ride on the Tucson loop trail...only 10 miles. On the way back Bryant got his shoelace caught up in his gears. It sprained/strained his ankle pretty bad, all the way to his hip! We went to yoga for two more days anyway thinking it would help...but it finally took a trip to the VA and some pain meds! In the meantime we came back to one of our favorite places
Lost Dutchman State Park. Moxie and I went on some short hikes while Bryant was resting. He got to feeling a little better and we started riding our bikes around the park.
I decided to hike up to the waterfall...without Bryant or Moxie. Only a four mile hike round trip...with a lot of elevation gain!
It was a beautiful hike...
and I reached my goal of the waterfall!!
Well, an Arizona waterfall...and I'm sure when it really rains it can flow a lot more water!
We have our bird feeder out and there is a resident Red Cardinal that seems to want to bully his reflection daily. With the 500 zoom I did get some interesting shots of him with his reflextion...just havent downloaded them yet.
And to today...we drove up to Sagurao Lake
yes, a lake in the middle of the desert rocky hills...and, yes, that is a dam on the far side...so a man-made lake.
A very popular lake with a lot of kayakers, paddle boarders, and boaters! At nine o'clock in the morning the boat ramp was constantly in use...two at a time...side by side. It is a Saturday...it is a beautiful day...and I cant think of a better place to quarantine than on a boat in the middle of a lake! Makes me want to start looking for a boat for us to have at the lake! Hahaha!
So, that is the looking back...looking forward we have had our reservations cancelled at Arches Campground...in fact the county that Moab is in has basically "shut down" until April 18th. Our Antelope Canyon tours have been cancelled as well. Our Page/Lake Powell, Capitol Reef, Bryce and Zion reservations so far have not been cancelled so next week we leave here with our travel route a bit different than originally planned but destination the same...slowly getting home to the lake! Stay safe all!
It is not an easy hike!
I am glad to let you know that Bryant's stubbornness won and we made it!
I wanted to go up a little further...which became a little further...and a little further!
A couple of looking up pictures...
up to what is called the "saddle"...
with the eventual goal (next year) of hiking up to Flatiron another mile according to some a straight up rock scramble!
I had gone further than I had planned with Bryant waiting at the waterfall so I turned around there at the saddle and headed down!
looking down the path...
and once down a little...taking a picture back up! Meeting back up with Bryant and heading down! We heard of a rattlesnake on the trail so I ventured ahead to try to get a picture before he/she disappeared...but, no luck this time! Perhaps a good thing! We were able to have a day of rest before heading out! 
and today we took Moxie to Lake Powell so she could go swimming! 
Oh, we do have one happy dog! 
She has had to be on a leash (except when at DTRVP dog park) for months...and since there was NO ONE on the beach and no park workers (parks are "no fee" and pretty much closed up) she got be be off leash for swimming AND for returning the small hike back to the jeep! We are planning a few sight-seeing drives from here...through monument Valley and hopefully to the Grand Canyon north rim since we are here for a few more days! We are getting spoiled by the lack of people out and around...as we slowly head north!
