![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhTSLkyX9M0cS_xbZdGsmMf5Cmbb3F4-IM_2-ECbTRJhqzUYOYgzdqW3Gr-jpz26RyQhtNBCIsvMc-r9ePypq_r_wjaN-kbEZxP_u-UIMaXhi_R7Q7lMI6e2oY8tF138gIApP6p1PWVxs/s200/009.JPG)
We visited Karen and Joel in Tucson where Joel is wrapping up his masters degree in international relations at the University of Arizona.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3prBtxnm-twgZuCzALqTXDT5iDOyt1hQEhHTZV24a0GgJezYMAelYCV5PFVNnaqaO4hR4ZaJXTz4ayd-FkH58CGdOrrfqwjwlbuHZNWX_pJ1hZ6n-BOuHo0waUIe4ku3mzH1YC3UdAvY/s200/013.JPG)
Had a great meal together at Casa Vicente, a Spanish restaurant complete with a flamingo guitar player and singers.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFBpn5e-RRQvFe48HkNACAG1PIRPa2mxNOcmoiUM5TGa4KMe0k0dQTXE3vwj2yMR3MQyoBrYoY0q_6_Q7DqbfDDNyMb7KAHMM_KG67g9vTTRoFL-FzwurhNiv_pjpR5aTnLEMtz1PHYgw/s200/016.JPG)
Sonoran Institute
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqyQ-V3CRfPYKDUTlxPVNfGvnX940eirXrpivhmCjsvGj_4KiYMDqUs2TSrrGK0l3E3qp_x6tySKUo9yuZphBhII94vYmmkwIwWJrR763e854TYfYO6v7l4CCKuv_tC71KWjSHO9Nwfjs/s200/024.JPG)
Stopping for lunch en route to Wasson Peak, 4800 ft., in Saguaro National Park.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1NWNLlpjD82ZMK2fNRzq6oI4gd4UkcF2CmgPnRplZ3x1RHYxR9YRP2AribJ8VWpjfodh6pa5gzQZl1-A0unsWlGsxPZPl02QawL9CxPJgdoEfUZn3MnnPASEZGrwBxHkXZOd4L62xwmE/s200/023.JPG)
Like a desert dork, I stubbed my toe into a prickly pear cactus!! Karen helped me remove the 8-10 small, hairlike prickles called glochids from the top part of my toe!
In this picture are 2 saguaro cacti (with Dan, Joel, and Karen in the background). Saguaros take about 75 years just to grow a side arm, and many live as long as 150 years!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1HPGNQerWzCWrmZZynr38drjQ0SDNmDBaKeJRBQ_5sZu_uVhEqKLvcRHtiCBxk9gGKesi7cETQmVztSwKCjLo6kPr7jdKpCcKK0_MMXfPDUnQ0iNqx_LpnaCz9vdeRKWD7kOHE9sQrtg/s200/031.JPG)
The summit. It was 7 miles to the top and back.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinq7n_Ihyphenhyphen00hsijE_Oa_F0ZPLz0ZYIGelzeZ2Gtu1u1RKSfkCpMXJUsZ5d16k59rmLiI1kpLcVCNsnvzgXzaVO2S7YJEsxq9v5YqLutUvVTLXh7ImNg-HiK_1MQmIXe-qhPX7a9WzAO7w/s200/042.JPG)
New Year's Eve fireworks in the backyard.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJUKS_EBM3DMBziFs-YX1lbSxCYAtSGsN4wLkzasymFKOKphshvwYKo9JZgzOSpubwnVybHghZtgNOFO__eRXuyDRBMrr6GuGcYF3-HTMLLSDNk69B5iUZV1L-gM54ke9SxDQbkZ8qsvs/s200/043.JPG)
Contented pyros
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgucPs-w_KOwqh0W8lrXy0vWddBQNTzlKwpUtG9f7IkarGm32CdSHXd1yQuQzW8eHQVGrWDtXYEXI4agIqgot6yydyKldNEqQPTkfZJvJdNCqIPLr8ALTWkJjNp1XtALQCu-UD4_g2L8b8/s200/053.JPG)
Wonderful hosts!!
The Christmas gift in this last picture caused a stir at the airport by the TSA. They had to extract the mud bath powder container from my backpack and conduct 2 tests to make sure the mud was void of explosive material.
1 comment:
Looks like great weather and a great time!!
Post a Comment