On one of our walks we came across this huge cactus lying prostrate on the ground, slowly decomposing back into the sand. I wonder why it was never gnawed by hungry jackrabbits or deer? It appeared to be deflating as the flesh dried and shrank.
Undisturbed for how long?
On our walk today we went north and then followed a wash east and came upon a great campsite. The only problem is we went cross country to find it, we didn’t see any navigable road to drive to it!
The colorful firepit looked too good to burn anything in, there was another firepit nearby that was well used!
This site was on the edge overlooking the wash we were traveling up. What a wonderful view of the distant Kofa mountains. We continued up the wash and soon found an even more enhanced campsite!
This amazing firepit/fireplace was down along the lower edge of the wash and looked recently used.
There was even a stash of firewood under the tree near the fireplace. There didn’t appear to be any cement used in its construction, only the rocks scavenged from the wash and the abundant sand.
On the back side there was a built in seat! The hot seat maybe?
Comfortable enough with an arm rest!
Up close you can see the ripples and bumps on this deer antler.
Rarely seen, the top of the saguaro cactus looks like fluffy cotton balls have been stuck on with very sharp toothpicks in a pleasing geometric pattern. How do the birds land on that?
Very interesting growth patterns are found on the ancient mesquite trees.
The wind appears to have sculpted this wash.
I pulled out our new road atlas for 2013, and retired our dogeared, well marked 2012 atlas!
We were within the borders of 28 different states throughout 2012!
We see new things almost every time we take a walk! This small saguaro was a meal for someone! How they got past the thorns we don’t know, but the flesh was firm, similar to a zucchini that has been cut and dried out a little.
The saguaro was knocked down somehow, or fell over.
The thorns were piled nearby, next to evidence left by rabbits.