CLIMBING PICACHO PEAK

I HAD BEEN WANTING  TO CLIMB PICACHO PEAK EVER SINCE I FOUND OUT THAT YOU COULD CLIMB IT. DARRELL NOT SO MUCH, BUT HE AGREED TO GO WITH ME.

WE CHOSE TO HIKE HUNTER TRAIL.....EVEN THOUGH THE MAP DESCRIBES IT AS DIFFICULT, STEEP AND TWISTING.

THIS SIGN ALSO HAS WARNINGS ON IT, BUT WE  FELT WE WERE PREPARED.

WE WEREN'T!

IT WAS A HARD TOUGH CLIMB, BUT WE FINALLY REACHED THE "SADDLE". 

THE VIEWS WERE MAGNIFICENT!!

WE HAD PLANNED ON CLIMBING ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP, BUT WE WERE JUST  TOO TIRED!! IT WAS STILL A MILE TO THE TOP.

AND FROM WHAT FOLKS SAID, THAT WERE ON THE " SADDLE"  WITH US,  IT WAS AN 800 FOOT CLIMB DOWN AND THEN A VERTICAL CLIMB WITH CABLES TO THE TOP. WE WERE JUST TOO TIRED TO DO THAT. WE WERE DISAPPOINTED. THE CLIMB DOWN WAS HARDER FOR ME THAN THE CLIMB UP.

 I SLIPPED AND FELL ONCE, SCRAPED MY ELBOWS AND LEG.

AND THERE WAS DUALLY........WAY DOWN THERE!

WE WERE GLAD WE GOT DOWN IN ONE PIECE, WITHOUT ANY BROKEN BONES. WE WERE GLAD WE HAD DONE IT, BUT ONCE WILL BE ENOUGH!

FEBRUARY AND THE RUNNING OF THE GOURDS

WE DECIDED TO STAY ANOTHER MONTH AT PICACHO PEAK RV PARK. ONE DAY I WAS DIGGING AROUND IN THE UNDERBELLY AND FOUND SOME MORE PUMPKINS I HAD BROUGHT WITH ME. I WASN'T READY  TO THROW THEM OUT, SO I MADE VALENTINE PUMPKIN PEOPLE, DARRELL CALLED THEM  MARTIANS.  I THOUGHT THEY WERE CUTE!

THE GOURD FESTIVAL IS HELD HERE THE FIRST WEEKEND IN FEBRUARY. WE WENT TO CHECK IT OUT.

THEY HAD EVERY KIND OF GOURD YOU CAN IMAGINE!

GOURD CHILDREN!

GOURD CHICKENS!

EVEN A GOURD RICKSHAW!

GOURDS FOR EVERY SEASON!

AND THEY HAD THOUSANDS OF DRIED GOURDS FOR SALE.

WE ENJOYED READING ALL THEIR GOURD SAYINGS.........

WE HAD LUNCH.......IT WAS A FUN DAY!

PICACHO PEAK RV PARK

WE HAVE RESERVATIONS HERE FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL RV PARK, NEAR PICACHO PEAK STATE PARK.

 WE  LOVE OUR RV SPOT.....WE SPLURGED AND PAID A LITTLE MORE FOR A "SUPER SITE,"  COMPLETE WITH PRIVACY FENCE AND LITTLE PATIO!

 NO DIRT OR MUD!! WE WERE IN SEVENTH HEAVEN!!

I BROUGHT ONE SNOWMAN PUMPKIN WITH ME.

WE HAVE A SWIMMING POOL AND HOT TUB! THEY ALSO HAVE ACTIVITIES HERE.

I STARTED WALKING RIGHT AWAY, I HADN'T WALKED SINCE THANKSGIVING DAY, IT TOOK A BIT TO GET IN THE GROOVE AGAIN. YOU CAN GET TO THE DESERT BEHIND THE RV PARK. I LOVE WALKING IN THE DESERT, IT IS SO PEACEFUL!

I WOULD EVEN BRING MAGGIE AND MARLEE BACK TO THE DESERT AND TAKE THEM OFF LEASH. THEY ENJOYED IT!

I LEARNED HOW TO MAKE A DUCK TAPE BAG....IT WAS FUN!

AND A GOURD BIRDHOUSE!!

THERE IS A PECAN FARM ON THE WAY TO CASA GRANDE.

THEY ALSO RAISE COTTON AND GROW GOURDS NEAR HERE. SEVERAL PRISONS AROUND HERE TOO!
SOMEONE HERE TOLD ME ABOUT THE THREE AMIGOS, SO ONE MORNING I SET OUT TO FIND THEM........

I THOUGHT THEY WERE PRETTY COOL! THEY ARE ABOUT A MILE FROM THE RV PARK....WELL WORTH SEEING!!