A GREAT HIKE AND A GREAT MEAL

We hiked on the Upper Bug Springs trail. The weather was perfect; sun warm but the breeze was cool. The last time we did this trail, we scouted out a great area of boulders in a wash/canyon to explore so this is what we did. As we approached the end of that approximately mile long section by the creek (very mysterious and so un-desert like; lots of trees and no fire damage) we cross country'd on our left and soon came to the wash.

It was very steep in places but we never felt unsafe. At our age, we don't take climbing/scrambling risks anymore just to catch that superb view. After winding our way around stupendous rock formations (lots of hidey-holes's and great lunch and break spots) and walking up up up; we finally got to the top of the ridge and it was perfect. Not all our explorations end so well. There were several flat large areas, fantastic view, no bugs and both dappled and sunny spots.

After the hike, we stopped at Beyond Bread. They were having their Octoberfest special: a bratwurst on a pretzel bun with German potato salad for only $7. They only had a little over one serving of potato salad left so asked if we wanted a substitute, so we picked a small garden salad with their fantastic thousand island dressing. Well, the portion was huge. There was more than enough potato salad for bill and i to share; we didnt' even need the green salad and the bratwurst was a foot long  (i'm not kidding). There was some sauerkraut on it and spicy dijon mustard and the bun was absolutely delicious. crusty and crunchy on the outside (and luckily not too crusty because of my continuing pain when biting down hard in my newly placed crown area) and the inside was soft and pillowy. the sausage was excellent; mild and flavorful.

They are having this special for the whole month so we'll be sure to come back before 10/31.

WASSON PEAK - TUCSON, AZ

We wanted to do the loop we had done last time which was going up the road from the parking area, getting on the Esperanza trail and heading to Wasson Peak but not going to the peak and instead heading down the King's Canyon Trail when we got to the cutoff to the peak. This loop is about 8 miles and 1600 feet elevation.

we started off a little differently by walking up the Gould Mine Trail which connected us with the Esperanza Trail within feet of the old stone building and the mine. (every time i pass one of these old mines i am morbidly fascinated by its unseen depths and imagine falling in and/or wondering what sorts of creatures live at the bottom.)

But another thing we did differently on this hike was not starting out in time to leisurely with ample break time make the loop. (i'm blaming this on bill.) The King's Canyon Trail is steep in places and very rocky throughout its entire length so not a fast jog down.

so we stopped about 200 feet below the ridge and the spur trail to the peak and had a lovely lunch and headed down the same way we came. Watched the sunset too. It was really hot in the sun with hardly any breeze and even when the sun went down i was comfortable in shorts and a sleeveless top.

WILDHORSE TRAIL + - SAGUARO PARK

We did a new trail and off trail hike. Started on the usual main trail but wound our way to the Wildhorse trail which took us to a real remote feeling and isolated part of the park; it also took us to canyon areas and closer to the Tanque Verde Ridge.

After the main trail ends there is a well trodden and easy to follow use trail that we took over and through and around a canyon that got progressively narrower and rockier. We stopped at a bend in the wash in a large sandy/gravelly area for our lunch and nap. Loads and loads of pools; lots of them with stagnant water. and in the summer i can imagine swimming in several of them.

So Bill had planned a loop back and we were leisurely ambling to different trails and i think we ended up on the Bajada Wash or Vista trail. Stopped for our 3rd break and to soak up the sun and suddenly realized that we were a lot farther from the truck than we thought.

So the energy boosters got turned on. We never got to the trail we were headed for and as it got darker and darker, even though we weren't lost, we decided to go cross country. Bill's GPS showed us that we were really really close to our truck and we were! However, that destination was only reached by getting all scratched up from thorn bushes, acacia trees, mesquite branches and stumbling over rocks. We saw the canopy roof of the truck finally but still couldn't get to it cuz there was a barbed wire fence surrounding the parking area.

Quite an adventure that's for sure. The end of this hike reminded me how fast the desert can turn from a warm huggable blanket of benevolence to a chilly bone cold icy slap in the face.