On the hunt for Apache Tears

Sven and Ole took us for a drive today looking for a better route up Picket Post mountain. 

This was the #4 road that the forest service just pushed through.  

After just a little way we decided to turn around instead of chancing getting stuck in the mud. 

Bob and Ellen were following us until the turnaround, we followed them out and into the town of Superior.  

Our trucks were both covered in mud. 

Wish I had a ruler.  At least 6 inches of clay sprayed on like a popcorn ceiling! 

Our adventure continued on the Gila-Pinal Scenic Highway.  

The highway is so scenic.  I can imagine Bev Doodlittle may have found some inspiration in these rocks.  

 This is the Top of the World a very small town along the highway. 

 Elevation is 4,528 feet.

 Beautiful hillside

 Since we couldn't do any rock hounding we did the next best thing, shopped at a rock shop. 

 Rocks are in milk crates labeled with their origins. 

 Center for the Arts in Globe.  We actually toured this building a few years ago during the Globe Historic Tour of Homes and Buildings.

 As we headed back to Superior for lunch I persuaded Bruce to take a detour through Miami.

 Interesting place...

 Love the top of the building.

 Alongside of the road I noticed a tree called the Mother-in-law tree, you can't kill it and it won't go away.  Funny stuff in Arizona!

 The highway is under construction so we had to wait for a pilot car. 

 You've heard about the Blue Man group?  This driver and most of the workers wore complete face masks.  This guy was neon yellow. 

 Bruce also stopped so I could finally get a picture of this Crested Saguaro. 

Pretty amazing Saguaro.  It almost looks like it has been twisted.  

This picture shows just how massive the Saguaro cactus truly is. 

Weekend Travels

On Saturday the Phagen's took the Oergel's for a drive, just because.....

Salt River where the wild horses roam.

Four Peaks in the background.

Beautiful Country

Get your hands out of your pockets son, you look shiftless. Quote from my favorite Tex Martin.

Do you see it Bruce? Yep Bobby, I see it too!

Jumping Cholla cactus.

Not a friendly cactus for sure. Bruce met this fellow the first day we were in Arizona six years ago. He still winces when he see's the bush.  

Sven's brother rides in Bob and Ellen's truck. He did a bunch of nodding along the Bush Highway. 

A Superior Sunday - We've heard rumors that the road to the Apache Tears pit has been blocked with giant boulders so we headed down Hwy 60 to check it out. We took the usual road to the pit and found that it is now blocked for vehicle travel, so we parked and hiked into the pit.
Picket Post Mountain in the background.

Bruce and Bob got busy right away with their rock picks.

Wearing sandals didn't stop Ellen from pecking away at the rocks. 

This is what an Apache Tear usually looks like, a pretty black bead in a bed of solid Perlite. We also found a new road to the pit - you can drive right to the picking area. No rock climbing involved!

Ellen found the gem of the day! What a great find.

After leaving the pit we headed into Superior for a late lunch at the Porter Cafe.

As usual we were not disappointed at Porter's.  The food was excellent and we were entertained by a musician singing some of my favorite songs!  Garden Party and Turn the Page sounded great!  

Snow day at home, fruit picking in Arizona!

 This is a picture of our driveway back home!  The mailbox on the left is ours.   Neighbor Becky took this photo and sent it south so we wouldn't get too homesick.  Notice all the deer trails?  Becky said the deer are wondering where the heck their grub buddy is.  The deer are actually munching all of her landscape bushes.  More snow expected tomorrow.  Wowser!

Meanwhile down in Arizona.......we have been picking fruit since 2013, missing only one season for Bruce's back.  This is us in 2015. 

 Today was the first fruit picking of the 2020 season.  Lots of trucks lined up to head to Mesa to pick citrus. 

 After a busy hour of picking and sorting, Sven was back on the road with a tasty naval orange.

This is us 2020 fruit pickers!  Arizona is truly a special place to spend the winter.  

Fun times

I love this snowman!  Bruce has promised to check for tires at the landfill when we get home to build our own.  The green thing behind the sign is a Christmas tree built from tires.  No snow here!

Made it to the Superstition Ranch Market.  The huge grapes were .39 a pound! 

Thursday evening firepit is back in session!  

Cowboy coffee roasting over an open flame.  Nothing better, well maybe the Canadian brats on a stick.....

Darn, the weather changed and the rain started. Sue used a chair for an umbrella. Very nice time though. Great food and awesome conversation. I tried my first taste of green tomato pie - YUM! 

Good Morning Sunshine. Or is it red sky in the morning sailor's take warning? This sky only lasted a few minutes.

Superstition Mountains look amazing as usual!

Morning sunshine with a touch of Christmas on our table.

Found this empty rain gauge out in the parking lot this morning. How cool!

Now this is a poinsettia!

After watching a couple of episodes of The Mandalorian I am starting to see tiny creatures everywhere I look. Do you see the cute little creature talking to the Saguaro?

Beautiful Firestick plant.

Cool art pieces.  The owner said the statues are Bison.  I'm thinking Salvador Dali art.....

This cactus has a very cool name - Cephalocereus senilis, the old man cactus. I added the glasses and the smile. He is about 4 feet tall. Reminds me of Cousin Itt on the Addams Family show.

The cut off branch of this cactus looks a bit like a star.

My guy shuffling.  Bob's comment, Good action shot - look at that concentration."  My reply, " I believe this may be the look of "Please don't let me be beat by a girl!"  

Beautiful flag waving kind of day. Actually a bit cool and very windy at times.

Radiometer - I had to look up what it was all about. The vanes rotate when exposed to light, with faster rotation for more intense light, providing a quantitative measurement of electromagnetic radiation intensity. Okay, I admit, I still don't know what it is but the blades were zooming!

I found a neat bird nest in the tree by the pool. I added my Montana Rubber Duck for fun.

We are seeing a few hummingbirds in the park.

Healthy looking hummingbird. Actually he was quite large.

Tonight's sunset, I didn't even notice the rainbow like effect while I was taking the picture.