Track Day at Inde Motorsports Park - Wilcox, AZ

It was a fairly clear day when I left Tucson. The ride to Wilcox took about 80 minutes. There were some cumulus clouds to the northeast, but nothing seemed to be threatening a day at the motor sports track in Wilcox, Az. The track is for members and the public to use, it  you pay the track fees. The track incorporates a section of old airfield that still handles a few private aircraft. I saw a single-engine turboprop land as I was walking the track.

I was invited by a friend to watch him ride his BMW S1000RR and take some pictures. His bike is basically a street-legal roadracer. Very fast with all or the goodies that make it handle and accelerate like a competition motorcycle. The riders here don't actually race, but do get onto the track in groups of 6 or more. There were six riders there today, as well as a few automobiles driving separately.

Then the clouds showed up. Big dark clouds from monsoon season, typical of July here in Tucson started to roll in from the north. I told my fried I was heading back to Tucson to try to beat the storm, and packed up my camera. I rode right into the leading edge of the storm and donned my rain suit. I rode for 15 minutes back east toward Tucson and was able to get east of the storm. 

Cloudy with Rain at Sabino Canyon

Last week I took another hike up Blackett's Ridge. It's one of the more challenging hikes at Sabino Canyon. I've heard some folks scamper right up the 1.7 mile hike from the Bear Canyon trail. But for me...well it's my second attempt and just can't seem to get up the grade. It's pretty steep. Most people start out early in the morning. This last attempt was at at noon, and the heat was just too much. I always know it's time to turn around when I get dizzy, or stumble. No more falling down!

At my  last evening out at the BLM lands, I caught this brilliant sunset. I'll have to get some help with capturing the rich colors on my camera. Maybe a filter would help.

This morning's hike up the Esperero Trail was pretty cloudy and I felt a few sprinkles of rain. The clouds changed the entire look of the area. The wind was cool, but the wildflowers seem to be in full bloom. It's Spring! These birds seemed to be waiting for the sun to come out. 

Sabino cave on a rock face.

This looked a little surreal. 

Wildflowers.

Bench.

I love this one. Just a lonely mesquite.

Desert Sunrise at the BLM

These pictures of the desert sunrise and the, "Moho", are captured at the Bureau of Land Management campgrounds west of Tucson. There is plenty of space for the 20 to 30 RVs that roll in each weekend. The limit is 14 days in any 30 day period. There are no facilities, but there is plenty of desert and it is surprisingly fairly quiet at night. I spent the last two weekends there.

Some Birds, A Bee, and the Green Stream

This little bee posed nicely. I'll have to get some editing software to crop and expand.

The creek has turned green. I know that the snow must be melting on Mt. Lemmon and that this creek will dry up soon. The town of Summerhaven is at about 8,000 ft and I'm told that there is runoff from the town coming down the mountain. Maybe that's the cause of the color.

With a bit of zoom, these two hawks can be viewed dancing, or possibly fighting, or mating. They moved very quickly and of 30 pictures, these two managed to capture an image of the birds.

This red fellow sitting on top of a large saguaro is called a house finch. 

And this fellow, with his whistling call, is called a phainopaplet. They are quite numerous. What calls attention is his bright white under wing. He swoops and dives displaying a grand blend of black and white.

With a little zoom, you'll find a quail withing the mesquite tree branches.

And this is a saguaro bloom. As the rest of these blossoms open, the top of the cactus will be bright and beautiful.

This may be the nest of a cactus wren. I've seen them build homes in holes they've carved into the side of the cactus, and occasionally, I notice these, "patio style" homes. Likely less protection from the elements, but maybe it's nice to have a bit of a breeze.  I spoke to a realtor yesterday about buying a home here in Tucson. More to follow!

Sabino Canyon Hike

It's a little hard to believe that there's been so much water running in the streams and washes here in Tucson. Locals say they haven't seen so much in decades. This little stream is a short hike from Sabino Canyon Recreation Area, my usual haunt. Shooting into the sun gives that sparkly look I was after.

These are the National Park Service volunteers doing trail maintenance. I asked for a pose and they kindly took a break from their work. With the weather still as cool as it's been, I'm sure they are enjoying the digging. When it warms up, not all that far off, they'll be packing plenty of water and staying in the shade. That is, if they are out in the sun at all.

Silverbell Park in Tucson

Sort of a long shot of the lake at Silverbell Park here in Tucson. The lake supports boating and fishing, but no swimming. There's an unusual green tinge to the water. It reminds me of the glacial lakes in Alaska. I wonder if there's a connection to the water treatment plant next door. I once knew someone who finally left the desert after many years saying, "I've had enough brown."  Silverbell Park does have lots of brown. I haven't played the golf course here yet, but wonder if the greens are really green. 

Silverbell Park has a dog park. This chipper lad was having a grand time with his owner and his frisbee.

I think that these fellows are mallards. I'm guessing that they will be headed North before long. Most of the birds here are small and brown.  But there's also a diverse population of migratory birds.