Tucson

San Javier del Bac Mission

San Javier del Bac Mission

 

If you are Wil-E-Coyote then this is a door

We took the tram up Sabino Canyon then walked out.  We followed the road until it parted from Sabino Creek, then we followed the trail through the wash.

Sabino Canyon wall

At the bottom of the canyon there are exposures of Gneiss.  This is a metamorphic rock.  It started life as sedimentary rock, then was buried under millions of years of sediment and heated by an intrusive magmatic chamber, causing it to recrystallize.  Then the canyon eroded to expose the rock you see here.

Gneiss rocks (pronounced nice)

Parent rocks of the Gneiss

"Shade" in the wash

If a bridge has no space under it is it still a bridge?

Saguaro National Park (West)

A Saguaro "forest"

Petroglyphs

An old Saguaro with 24 branches.  That was the most we counted.

A friendly Saguaro want to give you a hug

Careful where you sit!

Spikey Boy

Prickly Pear

Barrel Cactus Flower

Cholla Cactus

Once again we found some local food specialties.  The bread is called popovers by the Navajo and is typically served with stewed meat.  Add lettuce, cheese and tomato and you have a Navajo taco.

Navajo Popovers

A Sonoran hot dog is a hot dog wrapped in bacon and served with pinto bean, jalapeno salsa and some other condiments.

Sonoran Hot Dog