Montezuma Castle to Tuzigoot

JWise Photo of the Day

Montezuma's Castle National Monument in Camp Verde, Arizona

This was a solo trip up north and back for me today. The first stop was Montezuma Castle National Monument in Camp Verde, which, if I’m not mistaken, was the first place in the National Park system I visited as a young adult back in late 1980 or early 1981 after I first moved to Arizona. While this cliff dwelling is not appropriately named, at least it is protected. The original inhabitants of this five-story, twenty-room abode were thought to be the Sinagua people related to the Hohokam. It’s estimated that it was inhabited between 1100 and 1425 AD.

Ants at Montezuma's Castle National Monument in Camp Verde, Arizona

Funny how we only ever see ants in the light of day, but a good part of their life is spent underground in pitch-black tunnels where the ant metropolis hums away, caring for the colony.

Montezuma's Castle National Monument in Camp Verde, Arizona

This is Beaver Creek and was a major contributing factor to how the inhabitants of Montezuma Castle were able to establish a settlement here in this part of the desert.

Tuzigoot National Monument in Clarkdale, Arizona

Thirty minutes up the road and off the Verde River is Tuzigoot National Monument, another Native American dwelling in ruins.

Organ Pipe National Monument

JWise Photo of the Day, Travels

Caroline Wise and John Wise at Organ Pipe National Monument in Ajo, Arizona

A quick day trip to the Mexico border in Southern Arizona to visit the Organ Pipe National Monument.

Organ Pipe National Monument in Ajo, Arizona

Just some simple sightseeing, checking out what we might see, such as this Organ Pipe cactus.

Organ Pipe National Monument in Ajo, Arizona

Being careful not to get to friendly with the thorns and paying attention that we don’t step on a rattlesnake.

Organ Pipe National Monument in Ajo, Arizona

This must be some kind of mutation. I wonder if an acanthochronologist might be of help here beyond telling us the age of the cactus.

Organ Pipe National Monument in Ajo, Arizona

Taking in the desert, looking for flowers, and admiring the many forms of hostility this type of landscape can offer.

Road side old gas station, restaurant, and motel somewhere in southern Arizona

Stopping in small towns and trying to stumble upon something of interest. A nice drive instead of sitting around at home.

Santa Barbara – Day 2

JWise Photo of the Day, Travels

After spending all day with the Burns yesterday and having breakfast with them this morning, we got an early start back to Arizona so we could stop at the California Strawberry Festival in Oxnard, California. On our drives up the coast, we’ll often exit at Central Avenue off the 101 Freeway in Oxnard, where a fruit stand consistently has the sweetest strawberries.

We spotted the signs for the festival and were hoping to have enough time to pay a quick visit, and sure enough, we made it. It’s kind of like the Renaissance Fair but with strawberries instead of overflowing bustiers.

California Strawberry Festival in Oxnard, California

The festival has been going on now for about a dozen years, and if things like strawberry nachos sound good to you, take some time to get to Oxnard around the middle of May.