Sierra Vista, AZ Feb 28, 2015

Wander down the road with us to Sierra Vista, AZ.  We took 83 to 82 to 90.  The views were spectacular.  Hang in there if you are tired of mountains.  There is so much more horizon out here, so much more sky and so many different ecosystems, low desert, high deserts, grassland and evergreen forests.

 Temperature was 52 in Green Valley.  Strong winds about 20 miles per hour, but no blowing dust .

 See what I mean about more horizon.  There's more valleys, more foothills and mountains ahead.

 The plastic bag caught on the tree wasn't really what I was aiming at.

 Pictures just don't show the wonder of it all.  Sky, clouds, mountains.  You just have to come down here.

 Ears popping give us the hint that we're climbing.  The missing cacti tell us we're in the upper sonoran desert.

 

 Uplands, lowlands, folds in the land

 People do live out here

 Approaching Sonorita

 More mountains ahead.  Clouds gathering, but no rain in the forecast.

 Ranch country - great cattle grazing grasslands

 How would like to live in this little house with that huge mountains hanging over your shoulder?

 What is older than dirt?  The mountain it crumbled from.

 I'm sure this one has a name, but there is no one we know to ask

Ancient stone

 Sierra Vista suburbs

  Fort Huachuca and the Border Patrol staff, families, and support staff have made Sierra Vista a booming town.  

Buffalo Soldier Trail - history remembered

This cloud must be caught is a few spinning wind currents 

 Time to leave Sierra Vista.

 

 On our way to Patagonia, AZ.  Water is nearby - green grass, trees

Rocky bluffs

This is a man-made lake.  Patagonia State Park

 This bridge was built for sailboats to sail under

 This lake level went up 2 feet from Feb 1, 2015 big rainfall

 

 Pontoon boat tour

 Really, those are white caps.

 The camp ground was full

 Driving up from the deep valley where to lake was.

Looks pretty deserted

 There are several mini mansions on the hillside.  This is the only one I got a shot at.

 Heading to Nogales to pick up interstate 19

The city of Nogales tucked up and down the hillsides  

 
Heading back to Green Valley.  

Gray clouds gather.  Rain tomorrow

The last rays of sunshine light up the cloud.  Great busy day for us.  Good night from Green Valley.