10/18/2025 Bit More Exploring Yesterday Just Down From The Homestead

 

Yesterday I managed to get a little hike in.

This time just down from my house. 

In fact I have the big hill that is in my front yard pictured  from different angles than I usually get to see  in this very post.

There is so much to Explore very very near my house.

Including The Great Stone House

Old Tucson

Lake Kennedy 

Tucson Mountain Park

Multiple campgrounds

Sequoia national park one of the sections

Some how this great park is on both sides of Tucson   and I have of course visited both sections 

Deception point 

And multiple multiple trails. 

And Tinys Bar       an Icon in itself because it is so popular.

I have been to all of these places a few times     maybe not all the trails yet.  

And I hope to camp in all of the campgrounds soon.

Before we dive into todays adventures 

I want to wish everyone a great   although useless No Kings Day.

Amazingly this has been up in Tucson for at least three years. Congratulations  all your effort kept me from waking up to having a king once again today!

Just off of Ajo Highway

there is a very small turn off    that leads to the start of  several great hikes. 

I now know to look for the lone white mailbox beside the Highway.

And yes that is the hill in my front yard.   

And I have been told that if I could climb the hill in my yard 

I would be greeted by this parks boundaries on the other side. 

But climbing that is about 20  years in my past.   

Left at the trail head 

You can not imagine how hard I had to fight the impulse to not film this again   flipping every one off.   ;)

I like to add in pictures of myself     to prove I was actually on the Exploring trip.

Here you can tell this is a brand new shirt   because I can not wear white.   

It is always instantly dirty     some how. 

On this trip I found a prize to take home.  

Just beside my car.

Can you tell me what type of tracks these are in the comment section?

All kinds of wildlife comes through my yard including coyotes

and I hear them howling at night  sounding very close    especially loud when a siren goes by on the highway.

I have also found bones with lots of meat left on them   on these same trails.

So although on this day it was about sundown   I dont hike around here to much after dusk. 

Looking back towards the Highway.

These same trails continue to the other side of the highway.

And network all over the place.  

And each time I visit there is new spray paint to see.

The trail just to the right of these duel tunnels 

was covered in fallen wood.

I am assuming from the gallons and gallons of rain we had last week.

Maybe pulled out of the run off?    But if so   why across the trail?

You can just see my shadow in this picture too.

I picture him a lot.

Being the only person that always sticks by my side.

So many trails

So little time.

Unless you are new here   

You know the drill    I took a good deal of pictures on this day.

Mainly happy to be out and about.

And not beyond sweating.

There is that hill again.

As I hike on   the shadows were growing longer and longer

Back in the direction of the Highway

Dead cactus

Again it is Amazing   even with allllllll the rain we just had   how green the open desert is right now. 

Everything is green. 

The sun is about to set     so we are almost done with todays Exploring.

Jumping Cactus

I have pictured this hazard before  usually just after pulling a large prickly piece from deep in my now bloody leg.

As I often say  everything in the desert is sharp and or wants to harm or eat  or kill you.

Few glimpses of the sunset I caught on the way back to my vehicle.

Actually this was a pretty dull sunset for Arizona standards.

Still pretty though

of course.

Have a great evening folks!

And I hope to see you 

on THE DUSTY TRAIL!!