The temperatures have settled down in the Southwest. It was finally time to visit our neighboring state of Arizona. On the way out of New Mexico we drove through the Gila Wilderness. We stopped at Catwalk Recreation area in the Gila National Forest. Set in a rugged canyon a series of walkways clinging to the rock walls were built to provide access for the gold and silver miners. The walkway now allows visitors to hike into this majestic canyon. We spent our first night in Arizona at Lyman Lake State Park.

Catwalk Recreation Area

The Gila Wilderness

Lyman Lake State Park - St. Johns, AZ

The next day we arrived at the Grand Canyon. We have decided to share those photos in a separate post. Leaving the Grand Canyon we drove to Phoenix to camp at Lost Dutchman State Park in the shadow of the Superstition Mountains and to visit Dennis' niece Meredith and her family. While in Phoenix we visited the Heard Museum of American Indian Art.

Lost Dutchman State Park - Apache Junction, AZ

Heard Museum of American Indian Art - Phoenix, AZ

iPad drawing of Yosemite National Park by David Hockney exhibited at the Heard Museum

Phoenix sunset from the Melowski's back yard

We recently returned to Big Bend National Park in west Texas. Our plans were to rendezvous with 4 friends from Austin - who, at the last minute, were not able to make it.

The park was more green than we had ever seen it before. An unusual amount of rain had fallen earlier this summer in west Texas. And since there were more plants, there was more wildlife as well. The desert was thriving and beautiful.


We were forewarned!

We had 3 bear sightings. no time to get a camera for the first one. Still shaking for the second sighting.

And this bear was busy eating low hanging leaves for the third sighting. 

And there were grasshoppers, since there was grass.

A Cactus Wren in a Mesquite Tree.

Green Gulch - the roadway up into Chisos Basin.

Day Flower

Feather Peabush

Unknown Wildflowers 

A Vinegaroon. It looks something like a Scorpion but with a whip tail instead of the stinger. When defending itself the pincers can inflict quite a wound and then the whip tail is used to spray acid (that smells like vinegar) at the attacker. It was about 6 inches long. Seen at dusk, it looked more like the devil than a bug.

Thunderstorm at sunset, west of the basin over the desert. 

Casa Grande at sunrise.

 The road to Pine Canyon

Along Pine Canyon Trail

Unknown Wildflowers 

Dennis on the Pine Canyon Trail

Mike in Pine Canyon. Surrounded by arid desert, Pine Canyon is like walking into a terrarium. 

Mushroom in Pine Canyon

Ocotillo plants in leaf

Red Tailed Hawks courting in flight

Dead Horse Mountains, seen from Glenn Springs Road

Dennis at our remote desert campsite off of Glenn Springs Road. No one else was within sight.

 Ocotillo against the Sierra del Carmen Mountains at sunrise

Mike in the desert campsite, at sunset

Rain over the desert

Clouds over Nugent Mountain 

Various Hollywood Icons outside of Marfa, TX