The photos below are what we saw.
The ASDM
is a very cool place and worth the visit if you are in the
area. The museum has excellent stands of native and
non-native cactus species. The photo above is a view of
the "standard" Sonoran Desert that surrounds Tucson.
The ASDM
grounds had examples of every species found in the area
including sahauros, ocotillos, cholla and prickly pear cactus as
well as mesquite and palo verde trees.
As part
of its exhibits, ASDM has a riparian area where they have
beavers and otters.
As luck
would have it, several of the flower species were in bloom
attracting moths and butterflys.
ASDM has
every species of cholla cactus. These plants are the bane
of the desert traveler with sharp, tenacious spines that require
forceps or pliers to remove.
One of
the cactus areas had "totem pole" thorn-less cactus.
This
species is called the "creeping devil" because of the dense,
strong blanket of thorns that coat its exterior.
We
arrived at ASDM late in the afternoon and the setting sun
provided an excellent backlight for these furry cactus.
The
sunlight provided an excellent backlight for our thorny friends.
One of
the animal enclosures had this grey fox. The keeper was in
the cage with him and he seemed undisturbed by her presence.
Another
enclosure had bobcats which are native to the Sonoran Desert.
As we
were watching the first 'cat, its mate appeared from the bushes.
Close-by
was a Western Diamondback rattlesnake. Note the dark
stripes on the tail.
Wolves
are native to the mountains of southern Arizona and northern
Mexico. A pair were in an adjacent enclosure.
I had
forgotten that there was an exhibit with a bear.
This
fellow, "George" is the mascot of the ASDM.
This cactus is a mutant type of sahauro called a
"christate". The mutation causes the tops of the cactus to
flatten out.
Back at
Catilina State Park, we discovered that the local
four-wheel-drive club was having a rally. The Tucson Rough
Riders have been around for 20+ years and we rolled with them
back in 1998 with the minimog. See
the photos of the carnage here. During that trail
run we managed to roll the minimog and required assistance to
right it. Above, we drove Thor to their rally to allow
their members to check out the truck.
The TRR
crew were very trail-savvy and had done some really hard
runs. This rig shows the fact that "the trail makes the
truck".
Most of
the TRR rolling stock was newer and in great shape.
The TRR
crew were having their group BBQ and raffle after a hard day on
the trail.
The
following morning we were overtaken by weather. The storm
front closed over the Catalina Mountains and clouds cloaked the
ramparts of Pusch Ridge.
The
western end of Pusch Ridge was still visible despite the clouds.
On our
way out of the State Park we passed this fellow at the side of
the road. This is not a rattlesnake as there is no rattle
on the tail.
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Photos and Text Copyright Bill Caid 2018, all rights
reserved.
For your enjoyment only, not for commercial use without attribution.