Today being Sunday we decided to go for breakfast. We always end up going up the hill so today to be different we went down the hill. I mostly don't like going down the hill because it is twisty and steep and cars always go too fast and trucks too slow. But down the hill we went. After breakfast, we decided it was a nice day and we wouldn't waste it by going right back up the hill. We got back on the freeway and headed toward Phoenix but really didn't want to go to Phoenix and into all the smog and traffic so made a right turn onto Carefree Hwy and went to Lake Pleasant. I had even thought to put the camera in the truck so maybe we would get some cactus pictures. We didn't see any flowers. So, dr took some pictures of the lake, some cactus and the dam. First, the lake from different views and settings. The white line along the lake which looks like beach isn't really. It's shows how low the lake is because the water line is supposed to be where the vegetation starts. Next some cactus pictures: I wanted to get a picture of the hillside covered with the saguaro's but couldn't find a good spot to stop until we were past them but dr took some of them. This is the earthen dam that dams the Agua Fria River to make Lake Pleasant. The river is dry most of the year and gets it's water mainly from spring run off. Our Big Bug Creek runs into the Agua Fria River so some of the rain we got last ended up there. This cactus is called an ocotillo. It is green here with lots of small leaves because of the recent rain. It gets red flowers on the tops of each stick in the spring. It looks beautiful when it blooms. The Indians used the sticks for fencing as they are full of thorns. A lady interviewed us at the visitor's center. She said it was a survey for funding. She'll mail us a card for a free entry. Maybe we'll go in April or May for a picnic. It is not a park for hot weather unless you are boating because it is dry, dusty and HOT. We had a pleasant Sunday drive and it was much warmer than here in Mayer. dooley
What absolutely breathtaking scenery Dooley. I'm so glad you took your camera with you and decided to go down the hill for a change. Those cacti are magnificent - much taller than some of our trees.
Such wonderful shades of blue Dooley, what was your temperatures there today? Cacti are always an entertaining and intriguing sight.
I forgot to look at the thermometer when we were at Lake Pleasant but it was supposed to be 70 there today. We are having a cold front coming through here in anticipation of rain during the week. It was only 54 here when we got home. That's the difference in altitude making the difference in temperatures. I'm amazed at the different shades of blue around the lake. I think maybe it's the angle of the sun on the water or something. dooley
Such beautiful scenery, and I adore your saguaro. I'm glad you remembered the camera. That lake does need some rain to fill it up again. You describe everything so well too. The temperatures by the lake are what we get in summer, if we're lucky.
Dooley: I enjoyed your great pics and narrative. The cacti are certainly striking. Is that you in the pic? I wonder how old that saguaro is that you are standing beside. The skies are so brilliant. How long have you lived in Arizona? I am mainly familiar with Flagstaff as that is sometimes the coldest spot on the US map in the winter. Why is that so???
Gorgeous fotos, Dooley. My partner and I find that your part of the "lower 48" of the u.s. is the most beautiful. We have visited the southwest several times, and it never fails to impress. The DVD that my partner made with the fotos of that area has just astounded the people here. They had no idea that amerika had such stunningly beautiful landscapes. The Saguaro NP was one of the Must-see places to visit because, somehow that type of cactus along with the rock formations in Monument Valley seem to epitomize the american southwest in our eyes. Well done, you! Thanks for posting the fotos.
What beautiful pictures. It's always nice to see where others live. You are so lucky to have such fantastic scenery. But you can keep the heat. The menopause fairies have struck and I am looking for someone to come and collect them. PLEASE!!!
Beautiful pictures Dooley. Those Saguaro are huge. The fascinating thing about them is that it usually takes 75 years to get their first "arm".
Great to see that oasis in the desert. My folks lived near Tucson where a lot of Saguaro's live on the hillsides...they're so unique. Your sunshine state looks pretty appealing at this time of year.
Your scenery is great. Never really knew how large cactus could get, but by your 6th picture, I can really see they can get very large. Thanks for posting.
Saguaro cacti grow an average of a foot every 10 years. They don't start to get arms until they pass 50 or more years. The one I'm standing next to was 20 to 25 foot tall at least. It didn't have a lot of arms but they lose them due to cold weather and wind. Animals and birds peck holes in them and some people shoot holes in them though there are huge fines if they are caught. I can't imagine doing that to one. Flagstaff is at a high altitude, over 7,500 foot and they get very much snow and cold there. As I'm not fond of snow we seldom go up there unless it's summer. We moved to Arizona in 1989 so this is year number 19. We visited many times before as my parents moved here in 1967. We, also, lived here briefly in 1948. I think I was meant to have always lived where I can see the mountains. dooley
