Location: Las Cienegas National Conservation Area, Arizona
Another good night's sleep. It was 39 this morning but climbed quickly. Tonight will be the last night at 39 and then the heat climbs quickly for the rest of the week.
While we were going through our breakfast routine, Yuma started barking and when I looked out the front window, I could see why.
He wanted to go out and meet his buddies in the worst way.
A little while later, another rider off in the distance.
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| Ride is over as quickly as it started. |
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Riders and horses headed home.
Yuma wanted to go for a walk in the worst way, so I decided to head over to the Empire Creek area and walk through the bird sanctuary. Did this several years ago and Yuma got dirty running through the creek. Hopefully, he learned his lesson!
Drove over Empire Creek. Not as wide as the other day.
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There was a fire that went through here several years ago and killed many of the biggest and oldest Cottonwood trees. Sad!
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| Yuma telling me to hurry! |
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| Picking my way through the remains of a huge Cottonwood that was cut down due to being killed by the fire. |
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| The damage was extensive. |
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| The creek is shallow and very muddy. So far Yuma is being a good boy. |
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| See the stairs leading up to the bird watching seat? |
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| There was a sign saying to walk the trail at your own risk. Limbs could fall at any time. Looks to me like they have. |
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Lots of dead young Cottonwoods too.
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These huge stumps used to look like below in March of 2017 when I was here. They cut them down for fear they would fall and kill someone. They are right next to the parking area and the road. Here's the link to that day. Huge Cottonwoods
I heard woodpeckers pecking and birds singing and bird chirping, but did not see one bird. Sneaky, they were. And Yuma and I were being very quiet too!
It was on the walk back to the Jeep that Yuma finally went nuts. He started running at a furious pace along the path, across the creek and then back again, getting himself all wet and muddy. He was having so much fun I couldn't help but laugh. He doesn't know it, but this will cost him a biffy baffy and he hates those.
After we got home it was lunch time. Decided to have hotdogs on the grill. Two for me and one for Yuma.
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| Me eating potato chips waiting for the hotdogs. |
I had already taken a bucket out and given Yuma his bath and he was laying on the rug drying out in the sun. What a beautiful afternoon it is!
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| Ready for the fixins! |
Afterwards I just had to lay out in the beautiful afternoon sun. Yuma finished his coke and was relaxing too.
All in all it was just a nice relaxing day with a little exercise thrown in. Can't beat that.
See you later.
It was fun to see more horseback riders, even if they weren't around too long. Terrible about the big - and little - cottonwoods. That Yuma couldn't stand not being a bad boy! Amazing that you didnt see any birds. Tell Yuma to take it easy on those Cokes.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dolly. It was a very good day. Yuma had a blast. Good to see him so perky. He's been down in the dumps lately.
DeleteI've heard many times fire is necessary for a healthy forest, but I just can't accept loss of such precious resources is a good thing. Looks like the two of you had a great day!
ReplyDeleteBLM land in California has been shut down, here's a link to the AZ alerts - https://www.blm.gov/alert/az-covid-19-updates
... Stay safe and healthy!
Thanks Jeff. I'll save that link. Chock full of information. Hate seeing fire kill off the old trees but guess it happens for a reason. Today was just beautiful. Yuma had a blast.
DeleteSad about the destruction of the Cottonwood Trees.
ReplyDeleteLike all the pictures but especially the Sun reflecting off the WL windows.
Looks like you had another Enjoyable Day.
Be Safe.
It's about time.
Thanks Rick. It was a great day. So glad to be back to nature and not thinking about RVs.
ReplyDeleteNice that the horses passed your way again. It is sad to see huge cottonwoods cut down like that, however, safety first. The cottonwood is our state tree, and my favorite tree. When we had our first camper, we kept it at park that had mostly cottonwoods. I loved to watch the leaves dance in the wind, they are so dainty and the sound is just wonderful to me.
ReplyDeleteDidn't know the Cottonwood was the Kansas state tree.The leaves do glisten in the sun. I can see the Cottonwood stand from where I'm sitting typing this blog. Nice to see a bit of green in the grasslands.
DeleteYou have a prime spot there with riders trotting through. It is sad what fires do to nature. Those large trees are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI laughed at the story of Yuma going wild. I knew that picture of him was before a bath and thought 'oh-oh', look at his dirty coat. Ha ha. I'm jealous of your sun sitting and the dogs are wonderful on a grill. I need to add them to my grocery list of 'when we get out shopping'. :)
Continue to enjoy and posting the beautiful pictures.
Thanks Patsy. I'm so glad the temperature has rien and we're looking at 75 degree days. Yuma didn't like his bath but you're right, he was past due. You give him a trail and he goes into a run sometimes.
DeleteCottonwoods were the bane of our cattle ranch. They were everywhere. Terribly messy, dropping branches constantly and dying without reason, not to mention all the fluff we inhaled. I walked part of that same trail and saw not a single bird. I love that Yuma had a fun time getting wet.
ReplyDeleteThanks Nancy. Yes the Cottonwoods are messy. 20 years ago I planted a Weeping Willow in my side yard. Full grown now and it is pretty but messy too. Luckily the branches are much smaller:))
DeleteYuma is a pistol. Haha.
ReplyDeleteWe loved those big old stumps at the trail head, for me it was hard to believe anything could grow that big. We opted not to take the trail as the wind was pretty stiff and as a country girl I know better than to be in the forest when it's windy. Glad you're loving the grill. As George would say, low and slow! Enjoy, stay healthy.
Yuma can go wild on the trail sometimes. Not good when you have a creek running through it. He needed a bath anyway. The big Cottonwoods in the 2017 picture had guy wires holding up the limbs they were so big. They did a lot to preserve them but alas their time passed. Unfortunately I'm not a patient griller. I go fast and high:))
DeleteYuma probably figured he was about due for a bath anyway. So he might as well run & play in the muddy water & make it worthwhile. You both had a great spot to lounge in the sun & get dry. I see why a big rug like that is priceless. 😎
ReplyDeleteI told Yuma at the beginning what would happen if he ran through the creek. So he couldn't gripe when he got his bath.:)) i do like the large rug. Keeps us and the WL much cleaner.
DeleteYuma is too funny! Love bar b q hot dogs!! Simple but so good. Beautiful pictures and a gorgeous place!
ReplyDeleteThanks Shirley. The hotdogs are easy and delicious. This is a pretty and relaxing area to be in. Yuma still acts like a kid sometimes:))
DeleteHa! Ha! That Yuma just couldn't help himself!! Too bad about the big Cottonwoods. They are very aggressive so I'm sure they'll probably return down the line. Enjoy the gorgeous landscape and weather!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Steve. Yuma likes to have fun. I'm sure they will grow back. Did you know the Cottonwood is the fastest growing tree in North America?
DeleteHa ha. Love that dog. What does he like on his hotdog?
ReplyDeleteHe would probably eat it with anything but lettuce, but he gets it plain with no bun:((
DeleteI remember those big Cottonwoods when they were still standing and that water over the concrete I always considered a good tire washer. We walked all through those Empire Ranch buildings one morning when nobody was there. I don't know if you can still do that or not. Volunteers were working on restoring it last time we stopped at the grasslands.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to head over there in the next day or so and check it out. I know it's not closed but the main ranch headquarters may be.
ReplyDelete