Enjoying the desert...so much to do

We've gotten settled in for sure here at Canyon Vistas RV Resort. Glenda and I had taken a couple hikes to some familiar trails and a hike on a new trail. I mentioned one of our favorite trails in the last post called The Old Mine Trail. We enjoy that trail because it's easy and the landscape is so desert.

Our next hike took us to Usery Mountain Park. We hiked the Blevins trail....again an easy hike but we got in about 4.5 miles. I even found a few geocaches. And I found out that the Cholla really do seem to jump out at you.

Superstition Mountains in the distance

This saguaro pointed the way to go on the trail

Look at my left elbow closely...ouch

It took some doing to get all the cholla spines out. They seem to go every which way. Still a wonderful hike on a beautiful day.

Typically when we hike with friends, we go out to eat after. Since we didn't have our usual friends with us....we went home and ate. Saved a few bucks though.

On another day we took a drive up to Fountain Hills, AZ about an hour drive. They have a great park with a walking path around. And about every hour the fountain shoots water into the sky. It has 4 jets to do this and can reach heights of about 560 feet. Typically only 2 jets are functioning which shoots the water up about 300 feet. Quite spectacular.

As we walked around the park we noticed some frisbee golfers playing. Come to find out the Regional Frisbee Golf Championship was going on. Each player had to show different skills at different stations around the park. These guys and ladies can really play and throw a frisbee.

This station was really hard as they tried to throw the frisbee across a section of the lake. Some made it and some didn't. We found out that if the frisbee is close enough to the shore they're able to retrieve them with long poles. As we walked we came across the trophies the player could win. They were quite unique and creative.

The winners trophy

It was a beautiful day and lots of folks around the park enjoying the weather and scenery. 

A few more fountain photos

We had such a great time at Usery Park hiking a few days prior so we headed back to try a new trail. We started on the Blevins trail and veered off on the Cat Peaks Trail. Just a walk around the Cat Peaks. 

We love the desert landscape and can't seem to get enough of it. We plan to continue our hikes and try different trails. Of course we keep up our activities at the park with Pickleball and Line Dancing.

Our most recent excursion took us to The Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch off of Guadalupe Rd in Gilbert, AZ. If you'd like more information, please follow the link above. The town of Gilbert is very ecofriendly. 

Several trails around 7 ponds in the park and they connect with the Canal Trail going north and south. Great for walking and bicycling. 

Not sure what kind of bush this was but they were very puffy and giving off tufts like a Cottonwood tree would do.

The main lake allows visitors to feed the water fowl so as you walk along the lake the ducks, geese and coots follow you around looking for a meal. 

The weather here in the Phoenix area has been great since the hail storm a few weeks ago but looks like it's going to get cooler over the next couple weeks...like highs in the 50's and lows in the upper 30's. Compared to what we used to experience in Illinois.....we can't complain. 

A golf game with my son, Chris and a couple of his friends will be happening next Sunday so I hope to keep up with these

youngsters. Then on we fly back home in December to celebrate an early Christmas with Heather, Sommer and families. A trip to Bloomington/ Normal to see my brother will happen too. Looking forward to our visits and hoping the weather holds out while we're there.

A big hello to all from under the awning

Thanks for following along.