The Sonoran Desert is located in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. So much of life is task oriented and making efficient use of each minute. One place to slow down to 3/4 time is when walking through parts of the Sonoran Desert. There is so much to see, but often best seen when slowed down. Of course, we have to slow it down when cactus thorns and rattlesnakes are the reminder to pay attention.
Western Way RV Resort, Tucson, Arizona
This was our third stay here. Even though its a bit run down and some sites can feel tight if between two park models, we always enjoy our stay here. Western Way has full service and good WiFi. They have a pool, hot tub, and lots of activities, when not restricted by COVID.
The best part is there are plenty of areas to walk Jake, it’s adult only, and it’s close proximity to the Tucson Mountain Park and Saguaro National Park West. On the trails around the RV park there are rattlesnakes, coyotes, hawks, quail, bobcat, and incredible numbers of cactus blooming in late spring.
Our site faced west, so there were some amazing sunsets out of our window.
Tubac, Arizona
Tubac is an artist’s colony about an hours drive south of Tucson. The first time Michael visited was 1983. Since then, there has been some development and the variety of goods and restaurants has increased. We stopped at the Flying Leap wine tasting room. Sandy liked their habanero infused wine which had a spicy bite at the end. It’s grenache grapes are sourced from Willcox, Arizona.
Arizona Sonoran Desert
Spring is a great time to visit because the days are cooler, its dry, wildflowers are blooming, animals are active and, its still a little too cold for rattlesnakes to be out. We hoped to see lupine and poppies in bloom, but there was little rainfall during fall and winter and we were a little early.
One of the early bloomers is Parry’s Penstemon.
Aloe were in bloom which is a hummingbird favorite.
Desert primrose and cactus were flowering.
Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum
We love getting there when they first open, before the crowds, and enjoy a cup of coffee with a toasted bagel while watching and listening to the birds. Cactus wren are not very shy.
An American kestrel perched on top of a saguaro cactus. Doves are a part of their diet.
A Scott’s Oriole.
Many birds, like this black vulture just hang out at the Desert Museum.
Gambel’s and Masked Bobwhite quail.
Coyotes roam freely in the area. This one was in the parking lot only a few feet from the Jeep.
They also have a fenced area for their long term resident coyotes.
There were plenty of rock squirrels for them to eat.
Many of the animals were rescued and can’t be returned to the wild. This mountain lion was a rescued orphan cub from the San Jose, California area when it was only 15 pounds.
A bobcat basking in the morning sun.
An Anna’s Hummingbird. We see them at our feeder in San Diego.
Broad-billed are colorful and mostly found in the Sonoran Desert part of Mexico.
Maybe a female Lucifer Hummingbird.
Rufous Hummingbird.
A male Costa’s Hummingbird protecting its area. The female was making a nest nearby.
Every night displayed a stunning Arizona sunset.
