Arizona - a winter getaway

As another year winds down and Eva semester comes to an end it's time to start planning a winter holiday. This year we chose to buck tradition (at least for Brian) and spend December in the deserts of Arizona - proper snow bird style!

Cochise Stronghold

As usual for our forays down south Brian headed out ahead in the Van and would meet Eva in 1 week (or so) time in Phoenix Arizona.

Roughly the route taken - yes a 'short' detour was taken so Brian could renew his Drivers license (had to be done in person for some silly reason), have eye surgery and finally clean out his storage unit!!!

Act I - Brian heads south

While it was officially a winter trip the weather was unseasonably warm, which made for excellent driving conditions.

Crossing into Montana

A ranch with a proper red barn along the way

Sleeping under the Milky Way - look closely and you might see the Andromeda galaxy

The Andromeda Galaxy

Squint and you can even see the Orion Nebula

Zion at sunset

Brian rides his bike

The long road ahead or is it behind?

Perhaps I go this way instead???

Marble Canyon - gateway to the Grand Canyon

Some sandstone cliffs

Careful where you step!

Looking into the Grand Canyon

Sun getting low

Yep - its grand!

Drive is almost done.... time to find Eva!

Act II - The gang enjoys the sun in southern Arizona

There she is!

Ready to find the sun

Part I - Cochise Stronghold

First stop Cochise Stronghold

Time to go climb!

Brian racked and roped up

Eva follows up

Where to go next?

All of a sudden its dinner time

sun goes down

the sun sets

and stars come out!

Home away from home

Eva ready for bed

Brian and the stufties already there

and just like that the sun is out and a new day begins

The days ahead have us climbing some rocks - Eva heads up a corner/crack/chimney thing

Brian finds a crack

Eva enjoys some holds

Brian finds a bomber anchor

Eva all smiles

Brian goes up!

Here comes Eva

Eva eyes some cracks

While Brian contemplates what to do next

Somewhere off in the distance

So much climbing and days. dissolve into days

We do manage to find time to eat

Eva manages the kitchen

Dinner for tonight

Enjoying some down time at camp

Brian enjoys the sunset

and decides to take a photo but doesn't seem to know which way to look

While the giraffe enjoys time in her natural environment

As day turns to dusk the stars continue to shine

and plans are made for the following days ahead

Meanwhile Brian prepares for whatever may come next

While Eva takes it all in stride

Eventually its time to leave Cochise

Part II - Tucson

Eva ponders on what's been and what's to come

somewhere on the way we come across some crazy rock formations

Brian can't stop taking photos

All the while Eva just takes it all in

We even see some birds - Mexican Blue Jay

and a wilee Woodpecker posing for the camera

Eventually we make it to the Catalina Mountains

with breath taking views

Just in time for the sun to set

Funky clouds light up the horizon

overlooking Tucson

Eva thinks - 'I've seen better'

While Brian only seems to want to take photos

Said photo

Really hard not to be in awe

One last sunset

Lets not forget we are here to climb

Brian finds his way up a tower

Down he comes

Eva works her way up a crack

Brian stems up a chimney

and wonders what he got himself into

Eva enjoys the steep stuff

followed by some celebratory tacos!

Eva happy to be in the desert

Desert

Where else can you see the moon rise over a forest of cactus

provide an opportunity for yet another sunset...

Eva amongst the cacti

gets up close and personal...

Personal

A bird finds a place to sit

Eventually the clouds roll in

A visit with Eva's friends and colleagues is in order

Enjoying a nice hike

and a yummy Christmas dinner

Soon the clouds parted

we basked in the sun

under the moon

and Brian was back to his silly self running around with camera in hand

more days turned into nights

the moon continued to rise

yes that moon

full of adventure and in need of some rest the gang was ready to move on

Part III - Prescott

The final stop on our tour of southern Arizona desert is Prescott - maybe not so south and no longer desert but what can you do???

first stop is Granite Dells

a rocky, water wonderland

with plenty to explore

Eva scouts the path ahead

and enjoys some time in the sun

Eva in search of rock to climb

eventually finds a spot

gear ready to go

Eva gets set

and off she goes

at the top she tosses the rope

and raps on down

Happy to be back on the ground

all while her new biggest fan, a crane, looks on

Soon a crowd forms

Now the question is who is watching who?

as another day slowly winds down

Next stop on the list is Granite Mountain

an old school crag that requires a wide bag of tricks, least of which is taking photos

hence magically just like that we are at the top!

swapping shoes for the long bushwhack down

said bushwhack

and just like that our trip nears an end

first we enjoy some Mexican food

Brian eager to eat

soon ponders if maybe, just maybe, his eyes were bigger than his stomach

having come full circle we are back in Phoenix, one last stop and Eva is ready to head home

Act III - Brian goes back to Houston

Having dropped Eva and G off Brian and Ted are back in the desert all alone

back amongst the cacti

its a long way to Houston

as the miles pass

the landscape transforms

the desert landscape morphs from one form to another

cacti are replace by sage and shrubs

soon there are trees

and even grass

reservoirs where trees once stood

once in Houston the van is traded for a hotel and a real bed all to the delight of Ted

at storage unit - what to do with all this sfuff?

what ever I did its all cleaned out!

after a quick stop for Texas barbecue

along the way home Brian travels back through the desert and mountains

back to sleeping under the stars

stopping for tacos

even a short stop at the Very Large Array

listening for aliens?

mapping black holes?

or simply beaming subliminal messages into our heads?

Whatever the case, I agree its a very large array!

as the temps drop Brian spends a night in an old school hotel

along the way visits friends and family and as always enjoys his breakfasts

so it was December '23 into January '24 - Giraffe and Ted out!