Rowe Woods- Quick Walk with Rebecca

I wanted to hike during my time off and visit with friends. I was able to squeeze in lunch with Jeff Stechschulte which was long overdue. And Rebecca joined me for a short hike in Rowe Woods. The humidity makes it tough sometimes in Ohio, but the tree coverage was helpful.

We were on a time limit and both of us wanted something simple. We opted for a shorter route which took only an hour.

We got out early and arrived before most of the families. It was on Labor Day so many people were out looking for something to do.

Its great getting out with my beautiful friend. My time with Rebecca is always uplifting and allows me to consider things differently. She’s a perfect companion in life for me as we continue to get past divorce, launch our kids and embrace new relationships.

The hike had a lot more ups and downs than I recall from my past visit to this nature preserve. I really need to get my cardio back. Hoping once I get back into the full time one job rhythm I’ll be able to schedule some routine exercise.

Love the shade of the trees and the empty path.

We came across these stairs and I was so glad we were going down and not up 🙂

Root system creating a natural staircase.

Day 4 Frisco and Dillion Lake-Colorado

I struggled with the rental car’s map/Bluetooth system. Whenever I plugged in my phone to charge it, Bluetooth wanted to convert. Electronics I swear. Once my phone was finally fully charged, I was able to unplug and look at my map while Kassie was using hers for navigating.

When I zoomed around Frisco, I spotted a lighthouse that I thought could be interesting to check out. Kassie smartly asked, “what do they need a lighthouse out here for?”

When we arrived at the marina, it was a mini lighthouse, like a prop. She was right. It was funny that this icon is what got us to Frisco. Reminded me of Tiffani and the giant tree in Michigan. (which btw wasn’t so giant)

The reservoir on the map looked like an oasis and we found a short trail to hike before finalizing the last leg of our drive.

But first we grabbed some coffee in Frisco to wake up a bit. Admittedly we were both dragging.

We picked another outdoor spot and attempted to get our energies back in order. Kassie double fisted with a coffee and an immune booster. We are rebels right?

She created this split screen shot on snap chat. Showing our different views at the small shop’s table.

We mapped our way to the trail head. Only one other car in site.

Trail was mostly along a paved bike path. We later decided, should we ever come back, that would be the way to go. Rent an E bike and just take our time going around the lake.

The lake offered serenity. A distant fisherman. Quiet waters. Only one soul in sight.

Kassie is a Pieces so the water speaks to her.

We went our separate ways for a bit and just sat quietly. Life doesn’t get easier, it just evolves into a different stage to be challenged by. At our age, the quiet and peace of mind is sometimes tough to find. My menopausal induced anxiety and brain chatter is tough to stop. Our constant on -the -move schedules to make ends meet, often times overcomes us. But a moment like this should always be taken. In silence. I love that Kassie appreciated that.

I walked along the rocky beach to take in as many views as I could.

Captured Kassie in her meditative state.

Taking it all it before we go back to the real world.

At the very start of the trail we took a selfie. You can see the head behind Kassie of the older gentleman we came across that was holding a trout when we approached and asked us to snap a photo.

What is it with men and their fish photos? That was one of the things on Bumble when dating that was an automatic swipe left 🙂 Like you conquered a fish and you think that will impress me? But I imagine he was taking the photo back to show his wife who was patiently waiting for him at the bench on top of the slope. Maybe it does impress some women.

Walking out I snapped one last image with the small bush in the forefront.

And a better selfie before we hit the road.

Kassie drove around the lake and discovered an outdoor amphitheater which had a band playing. A lot of food trucks outside too and free parking. But we both felt we needed to get moving toward Denver.

We continued toward the sprawling city leaving the mountains behind.

We crashed at her friend Leanne’s house and enjoyed Indian take-out for dinner while sitting in the most perfect bug free outdoor environment. (probably my last time for awhile) My flight was leaving early in the am and Kassie graciously offered to drive me, but Leanne told us about a train that was convenient and would save Kassie a lot of driving should she hit morning rush hour on the way back. I’m no premadonna and use public transportation as much as I can while traveling, so this seemed like a win win.

Snapped this on the way to the train station at 6 am, still on my passenger look out duty. Made me wish I had more time to explore the Denver area.

Leanne’s advise was perfect. This was a fabulous way to get to the airport. Was only $10 and took 1/2 hour without any concern for traffic jams. All was smooth upon arrival. Back to Ohio I go. Was an amazing weekend with so much to take in, contemplate and cherish.

Day 3 Basalt and Aspen- Colorado

We wanted to go on a hike today, but the weather was being temperamental. It rained during our morning coffee on the patio and the clouds kept shifting, teasing us of a potentially brighter day. It was worth the risk. We ventured out.

Front stoop photo of the trees. A good way to start my day.

On our drive to the trail, we decided to stop again in Basalt to check out the Sunday street market. It was good to get out and walk around to see what was for sale.

It kept raining on and off. I was tempted to buy a bleached flannel but couldn’t find my size. Wasn’t meant to be.

Noticed this tree carving as we were heading out. Another nod to the fly fisherman.

The trail selected was named Smuggler’s Trail. It was only a 3 mile round trip. But of course, everything in Colorado is uphill or with an incline.

I was out of breath on the first .25 mile. I stopped often and told the others to leave me behind because I didn’t want to slow them down, but also didn’t want to waste my hike trying to keep up either. Altitude adjustment is a real thing. I felt my sinus hurting, gut was moving, etc. Kassie said she nicknamed it Colorado Combustion. She’s been out here skiing more than me.

There was a mining site you could tour if you reserved in advance. We saw a few old mining communities on our drive in as well.

The rain cleared out and I decided not to wear a jacket. It was starting to get hot.

I noticed the rust colored powder on the rocks. A sort of fungus I imagine or moss.

The views as we climbed were incredible. We planned on taking the gondola ride up to the top of the slope to have lunch but I wondered if the view could get any better.

We passed a few residences along the way and Kassie Zillow-ed to see if we could all move in together or rent for a month. You can see our altitude by looking at how small the houses now looked below.

I took a break on a rock and sent this selfie to Debbie. Telling her I was left in the dust by the others.

A storm looked to be moving in. I swear this Colorado weather is so unpredictable.

Stopped to chat with this little chipmunk who seemed to trust me fully.

Check out the crocked tree by the corner of the sign. So cool!

Made it to the viewpoint where Bobby, Lisa and Kassie were waiting.

Walking back down it started to rain. We stopped under a tree for a little bit but then trudged on. It was chilly.

Once back into town, we stopped at KemoSabe again for Kassie to purchase a few gifts. I stood to the side and learned about stingray, elephant, rhino and snakeskin boots. Guess there’s a huge regulation (and should be) to harvest those type of exotic skins.

Bobby pointed out that this bear was made of nails. Pretty cool fur interpretation.

We decided to skip the ride up and headed to the close-by W hotel bar instead.

Was a gorgeous view. Due to the weather, nobody was there.

Captured this awesome view and friend in one shot 🙂

I was loving the orange punch of the flowers coordinating with the cushions.

We decided to only have one drink and then head over to the historic Jerome Hotel.

Just taking in the walk after my very strong tequila drink.

Bobby admitted to trying to actually use this to mail something.

Bobby and Kassie paid tribute to Mother Mary who has answered several of their calls.

Hotel Jerome is the oldest hotel in Aspen dating back to 1889 during the silver mining days. We looked up how much it was for a basic room there and it was a mere $900.00 minimum a night.

The hotel was posh. Perfectly, historically balanced with style.

The dining area impressive. Like something from a magazine.

Kassie of course chatted with the concierge and found out the whole story regarding this painting which I snapped a photo of coming back from a sneakpeak at the dining hall.

In 1936, a family that was staying in that hotel room had a ten-year-old son, and this little boy drowned in the pool. The little boy’s ghost has been known as “water boy,” and various guests have encountered him. He would appear to guests wet and shivering. They also say he leaves wet footprints.

Kassie showing off her KemoSabe bag and just being Kassie.

We were getting into our car ready to leave and Wendy pulled up right next to ours and talked us into going to the Gucci store with her. Apparently she is one of their biggest customers. They immediately offered us champagne and we of course said yes please.

We were sore from our hike and Kassie initiated a stretch in the middle of the Gucci floor. Good thing the town was slow so Bobby and Lisa’s reputations are still intact.

We decided we needed food and ended up at the Tipsy Trout back in Basalt to end our evening. Four cocktails and an appetizer at the Hotel Jerome (although $190.00) was not enough to hold us over. We initially intended to go home, shower, refresh, then go back out, but admittedly I said I more than likely would not make it back out if I did.

Great restaurant with great friends. A perfect ending to our stay.

We convinced Bobby to open this elite tequila for one last drink when we got back to their place. I turned in around 9:30 pm that night, which at the time felt like midnight. Bobby and Kassie stayed up (each of them benefiting from coffee after Jerome Hotel) and drunk texted and dialed many childhood friends.

Somehow after our beautiful weekend together, this feels like the appropriate ending quote.

I found this later and saved. How many have you been to? Me—-only 6. Goals.

Dawes Arboretum- Newark, Ohio

A half an hour away from Baltimore, Ohio is a hidden arboretum in the countryside of Newark, Ohio. Sunday morning after packing up Debbie and I decided to check it out. This time I Google mapped us there as she followed. I took the scenic route through the country lanes to avoid any highways. Was a gorgeous Sunday drive.

My legs were tight and hips were warning to not push myself. You can imagine how happy I was when entering the gate and the woman informed me that there was a driving tour.

Yes please.

The map looked daunting, but driving the route and parking at dedicated locations made tackling this park in 1.5 hours easy.

We arrived early, which was smart given the heat to come. Not many people were out. On the north end was this historic house on the property.

More sculptures, this time insect themed. Debbie and I discussed the differences of raising boys and girls and how my daughters would never consider touching this or climbing on this, yet boys see it as jungle gym.

The one spot in this arboretum that I wanted to see was the Japanese Garden.

When you first entered it didn’t look like much at all.

Once you made it over the hill where there was a gravel area with rocks, you eventually came to the pond and immediately felt a more serene sense of the area.

Cute shaded resting structure. We discovered there were trails throughout the woods of the park taking you between locations. May be fun to explore on another day.

This Japanese landscaped area was well shaded. We walked admiring the varying trees planted. Many I have never seen before.

Check out these branches. Not sure why but its stunning to me.

We drove to the opposite side of the arboretum to climb a viewpoint that displayed hedges spelling out the arboretum’s name. Planted originally to entertain the small planes that flew over head.

I was hoping it was a maze that Debbie and I could get lost in. I need to walk in one of those high hedged mazes like The Shining, they always fascinated me.

I spotted this very white tree in the distance and told Debbie it matched her hair. I was too tired to walk to get a closer look.

Debbie went ahead and then took a selfie to see if I was right.

This would be an excellent hiking place with plenty of interesting tree and greenery diversity to hold your interest.

Close by the gift shop were some flowers still in bloom.

Not sure what this guy is but don’t really want to know.

Beetle at the entrance. All these were made of wood which was quite cool.

They had some bonsai trees in the back of the gift shop. Reminded us of Karate Kid. These were not as breathtaking as the ones at Cincinnati’s Krohn’s Conservatory. Those are worth the trip to admire.

Fascinating though these mini trees. I can’t even keep a cactus alive.

Inside this cute little troll house were maps. I was hoping for some dolls or furniture.

After the arboretum we decided to check out nearby Granville, Ohio. I have never been and read about this small town where Dennison University is when researching places to stay. I am sure it may have been a cute town to spend more time in, but being that it was Sunday most places were closed. We grabbed breakfast where we saw the most people eating, assuming it would be good. Always a quick way to know where to go.

Our Airbnb also recommended this cidery so we waited for it to open.

They had a great shaded outdoor area. I think we were their first customers of the day.

Love supporting a local business. They were open now for a couple years

A perfect ending to our weekend before we headed back home to reality. There were two cardinals flirting in the trees which were entertaining. The male was trying so hard! I know how some people believe cardinals are signs of loved ones from the afterlife. Debbie and I do not. We again discussed leaving reminders differently for our loved ones. Whenever I see a penny on the sidewalk I think of my mom. No idea why. But I do. And so do my kids now. And its just nice sometimes to think they are still with us.

Christmas Rocks State Nature Preserve- Ohio

After grabbing some lunch at a local joint in Lancaster, we routed ourselves to another trail to end our day. Debbie and I hiked about 2.5 miles in the morning and felt great. Batteries on our phones were charged, we were hydrated and fed- what could go wrong with adding a 5 mile afternoon hike to end our Saturday.

Perfectly named for Debbie and I who whenever we see a berry tree no matter what season, we think of each other and Christmas.

There was this cute covered bridge to the right of the trail. Not sure what was past it.

Debbie looking very optimistic about where the trail was.

The first part of the trail was a straight gravel path alongside some houses and farms.

Appreciated the saw art on the chicken shed.

Then we finally came to the tree coverage and it was great. Dense. Cool. Just a few people passed us. So quiet.

There was a little creek following to the right of the trail.

I went out to take a look. Nothing much to see.

Pine needles covered some sections of the preserve. There are two loops on this trail and we decided we had the time and energy to do them both.

Then the thunderstorms hit. Was actually quite fun walking in the rain and listening to the storms around us. We felt hidden, literally untouched. You could hear the trees above catching the drops.

Those huge mushrooms made another appearance in these woods.

I swear it looks like these roots are strangling a rock monster coming through from beyond. Right?

The rain added a wonderful twist and we were both glad to have the cooler temperatures. It was not an easy section of the hike. We started getting anxious to start back.

We were at the Christmas rock section and were heading back and decided to do that added little loop. Debbie and I are always making our lives harder on these hikes, this was definitely the wrong move after a long day and the term Jacob’s Ladder should have been our first clue.

I’m going to go with the Wikipedia Hong Kong description of Jacob’s Ladder- “For the Hong Kong television drama, see The Last Steep Ascent.” All the other Biblical interpretations do not apply to the steep incline we endured. We would literally talk each other into just taking 10 steps and then resting again.

We talked about dying and what sign we would leave for each other to know we were thinking of them from above. (Yes, it was a tough hike) I told her I would leave a red leaf among the green so she would know.

We got to the top and this was the view. Was it worth it?…….nope. Now we had to go down a steep muddy incline and for me that was even worse that going up.

But we made it back to the flat gravel road that led us in and couldn’t have been happier to see this pathway again.

Literally us after. Hot. Sweaty. Wet. Not our pretty selves.

And yep, our car was the only one left in the parking lot.

We both acknowledge that we are not in the best shape. (although she is at least 50 pounds lighter than me so much less weight to carry ) Probably why a hike with Bobby and Kassie in Colorado really doesn’t sound our speed 🙂 But we also realize we need to continue to get out, challenge ourselves, and do our best to stay active as we age. It’s always a good story and feeling once we’ve exited a trail that was kicking our butts.

Our last hike from hell was 13 miles. Today’s added to a total of 8.5-ish. We are learning. But its not always about the mileage- its the terrain. Need to evaluate that better.

Wahkeena Nature Preserve

We were feeling great after our morning walk and decided to find another trail to explore. We looked up another listed short hike at Rhododendron State Nature Preserve. We thought Kerry was up for the challenge and followed her authoritative voice again, and this time we landed on private property next to a power plant. I kid you not.

We found another road right after the electric plant and took it instead hoping to find the preserve. Instead we came to Wahkeena Nature Center. Not a bad detour.

The pond with the waterlilies floating is what captured our initial attention. Then we spotted a parking lot.

I kept looking for toads but it was so overcast, none were basking in the sun.

Trail head. We were greeted by a worker who was so kind. Passed us a map and told us he was available for any questions if we wanted help identifying.

This trail was very well marked and easy to follow. A bit of ups and down but great scenery along the way.

Debbie and I spotted these very tall mushrooms off in the distance. I wanted to get a closer shot but didn’t want to wander off the trail into the preserve. Thank goodness for zoom capabilities.

The log cabin was used as the nature center. We never went in because we were getting pretty hungry. Debbie remembered the extra battery charger but forgot the snacks for her sugar lows.

There was a small quiet area where this barn owl was housed. In the pamphlet it said he had been hit by a car and was no longer able to be in the wild. They were using him for educational purposes.

Honestly have never seen an owl up close before. But made me wonder how in the world did a car hit him?

Smeck Park- Baltimore, Ohio

Why Baltimore Ohio? Debbie and I were trying to find a place that was approximately the same distance from each other’s home base and this location happened to be that on the Ohio map. Our original intentions were to meet in Indiana but I could not find any interesting cities with hiking trails near by.

I found an adorable two bedroom Airbnb overlooking a wildflower meadow curated by the owners. Once we arrived we also realized the meticulous attention to details these owners had. The woman is a recycled artist and the art she created from piano keys, burnout out light sockets, wires, licensed plates etc was amazing.

The furniture was also refurbished and set the modern vibe perfectly.

This is the beautiful huge gold butterfly that welcomed you when you walked it. It was interesting trying to figure out where all the pieces originated from.

A close up shot of the butterfly. This should be a museum piece.

Another close up of the art behind the sofa.

One of the local recommendations for eating was called The Chubby Hawaiin. It had excellent reviews so after hitting the Dollar Store to score Debbie her Lucky Charms cereal, we headed over.

We walked into the most local looking dive bar restaurant which did not serve alcohol:) A large grey haired man in a Hawaiin shirt and lay came over to welcome us, then sat down at our table and continued to tell us his life story. Sometimes people just do not know their audience. I have little empathy for the elderly that need attention sometimes. I think that’s the Aries in me. Please don’t let me become them.

Food here was seriously excellent. Sticky rice and great flavorful chicken dishes! I had a side of Mac and cheese, just because, and it was the best I’ve had out at a restaurant.

Another Airbnb recommendation was a park just a mile up the road. We made that our first stop on Saturday’s hiking list.

I decided to drive since Debbie’s Kerry Washington voiced Apple maps made her the perfect navigator last time we met in Florida. As we mapped our way to Smeck park Kerry led us to a water treatment facility instead. Maybe she was off her game in the countryside. Google got us to the correct entrance.

A mucky pond welcomed you by the parking lot.

We posed by the sunflower field and sent it to our third musketeer Kassie, we were a childhood trio, wishing she were with us. It was an overcast day predicting storms, but we decided not to let it stop us.

The gravel trail that led back to the woods took us past this beautiful barn.

Antique farm equipment left for educational and artistic purpose I presume.

I captured Debbie through the equipment.

This was an adorable park and virtually empty.

Once you got to the main trailhead it was covered in trees and I literally let out an AHHHHH. Its been a hot minute since I was surrounded by green. This hike was very necessary for my mental health and I couldn’t have picked a better companion to be on the walk with me.

Debbie pointed out this blue beauty among the yellow.

Someone carefully placed a fallen birds nest on the park bench for all to admire.

Debbie hates going up steps, but climbed a 1000 of them in Australia with her sons while sick, so I assured her she would make it back up. Luckily, the path was circular and getting back did not require any steep inclines.

So peaceful. Except for the occasional hum of the water plant nearby. I loved that this small town community preserved this for its local citizens. Its only 1/2 hour outside of Columbus. I wondered if some people commuted.

Really needed to appreciate nature’s wonderment again.

The colors of green blending together and the moss so thick in places.

Toward the end of the trail, it led us through tall grasses and a corn field. Plenty of benches for people to sit still and bird watch.

Took this photo to remember the name of the trail we took.

They called out the different plant names. I don’t think I would’ve distinguished the difference between popcorn and feed corn.

These beauties were opening up and getting ready for the fall harvest.

Sedona, Arizona- Day 3

Well I named Baby B ‘Sedona’ for a reason. This is an amazing place that I will never tire of.

Sunday morning, our last day of our weekend escape, George got my butt into the car by 6 am so we could reach Sedona by 8 and enjoy a full day there. We watched the sun come up as we drove and I made him pull off at a vista point to catch the mountain view.

This was taken from the vista point rest stop on our way. It was stunning. While admiring the view I also noticed it was freezing cold and immediately started complaining that I forgot to bring a coat.

The sun was glaring through the clouds trying to make its way to warm up the Earth.

Only a couple hours north and the view completely transitioned.

We hit Sedona and I couldn’t stop taking photos out the car window.

I mean seriously. It’s unreal. Painted perfectly. A different landscape.

The red rocks are sprouting up in various places as if they were called to grow.

This rock formation reminded me a bit of Utah’s Arches.

The colors. The combination of warmth and greenery. Stick dark branches and puffs of greenery.

I read about this Cathedral and wanted to visit but it didn’t open until 9 am., even on a Sunday. This is one of the spiritual vortexes in Sedona. A place where energy aligns at right angles.

We drove through to get a sense of the town while most were still asleep.

We took Airport Road which has incredible views like this one along the way. The road ended at the top of a mountain with a $3 parking lot. We parked and started following the hiking trail. George kindly gave me his coat to wear.

Can I just say what a good man my George is. He never rolls his eyes at me or snarls at my remarks. Never makes me feel inadequate or less than. Allows me to babble on and on as if entertained. He is the most supportive, loving, generous man I’ve ever met. I feel so taken care of in his presence as if I was the most important human. This kind of love I hope never to take for granted.

We took the 1/2 mile hike down to the viewpoint.

And what a view. I was somewhat annoyed by all the rooftops as if they didn’t belong there, but can’t blame anyone for wanting to live close by.

Words cannot describe what you feel when you see the red earth, spikey cactus, and miles of gorgeous landscape.

The hike ended where you could climb even further up a rock formation for better views. Was interesting watching how quickly the children were able to escalate.

I struggled to not use every single photo I’d taken. It was simply gorgeous at every turn.

Once I got to the top of the rocks I sat down and took a photo of my sturdy hiking boots that have been with me since my very first US adventures. Purchased them in 2021.

As the clouds moved the lighting changed and yet again offered us new perspectives to breathe in.

George snapped this photo of me. Sitting. Wishing I was not surrounded by tourists getting too close to the edges pushing my nerves and interrupting my peace. But I understand. We all want a piece of the peace.

Wanted to capture the terrain a bit because it was not easy. Twisted ankles were bound to happen if you weren’t careful.

We decided to not do the full loop and instead go grab some food and figure out where to head next. During our brunch we figured out that most trail heads you cannot drive to and instead need to take a shuttle. They did not run frequently (about every 50 minutes) and only took 25 passengers at a time. We missed the first shuttle by 5 minutes. It was windy and cold, but I found if I hiked slightly downward, it was much warmer which is where I waited for the next 40 minutes.

This was the view from where I waited. Ya, I could sit her for 40 minutes.

We hiked another short trail called Soldier’s Pass which had a sinkhole called Devil’s Kitchen and also some iconic pools where people are known to swim.

This trail was crowded and tough to find a pace where you weren’t constantly overhearing someone’s conversation or trying to allow someone to pass.

I read a sign at the sinkhole saying it has expanded 40% in size since the late 80s so it was unstable and would continue to erode. I stepped away from the edge 🙂

I loved these agave plants. They added such spikey personality to the hike.

This sweet dead cactus still inspired me by its change of colors.

You just walk along in awe. I am sure there are other trails that are less busy but we hadn’t deeply researched and wanted a short trail that would not push either of our limits.

It was so windy when you were on top of the mountains and then warm as heck once below. Felt perfectly like my hot flashes at home. Coat on, coat off. Repeat.

The pools were quite dried out. Cool nonetheless. I am sure when it rains it would be beautiful.

George and I hiked up high and hung out on top for a bit watching the people. There was a yoga group which was very cool. Others we could see climbing way off in the distance like ants on a hill.

On our drive out of town I asked George to do a full circle at the roundabout so I could get a close up of these two beauties one last time before leaving. He honored my request.

If I had more time and energy, I would have parked in this lot and hiked closer to this mound. This was my one last look as we headed back down south.

My daughters- Zoe, Sedona and Solaire are going out to Arizona to celebrate the twins birthday next month. I can’t wait for them to see where Baby B’s name originated. I absolutely love that the three of them are going together and hope they have the best experience.

Donkey crossing. Now that’s a new one. How many donkey’s had to get killed before this sign was put up? Things that make you go hmmmmm.

Flying home I was fascinated by the clouds. How they were billowing upwards I almost felt stoned watching them. I decided to apply for an airline credit card to earn 2 free round trip tickets with no black out dates or expiration. More adventures to come!

Scottsdale Arizona Day 1- Desert Botanical Gardens and Hole in the Rock

My gift to George was a weekend away in Arizona. Why Arizona? Flights were cheap and it was warm during this time of the year when I want to escape most from the Ohio clouds and depressingly unpredictable weather. Phoenix is the cheapest to fly into.

We decided to tour around Scottsdale, a town I hadn’t been to before except maybe driving through. People that heard I was going there kept saying it was high-end and they were surprised I picked that city. I went open mindedly and loved every minute of our time.

We stayed at this cool Airbnb about 5 minutes from Scottsdale and 15 minutes from Phoenix.

The perfect space. Adorably decorated and had the most comfortable bed I have EVER slept in. I should’ve looked at the mattress tag! But knowing I would rather spend money on another outing than invest in a mattress probably. Why are they are such an investment?$.

We grabbed an old fashion map of the town marking its points of interest as we walked around in the sun after enjoying an amazing breakfast.

There was art and sculpture to be seen everywhere. I loved these mosaic balls by the fountain.

Shops opened later. Seemed a lot of variety in the historic Old Towne area.

Horse sculptures inviting you to the wild west.

On our first date George and I noticed we both had green eyes. I later found an article that people with green eyes and negative blood type are really aliens. This has been an ongoing joke that we don’t belong here.

I wasn’t expecting palm trees, but enjoyed how they added to the architecture against the clean walls and desert cactus plants.

I made a lose itinerary, which is not really like me. But I wanted to hit a few key spots. After that I was open to explore. My first stop was the Desert Botanical Garden. It costs 30$ per person to enter, which is a bit steep, but for a good cause. Was well worth it in my opinion.

There was Chihuly glass plant sculptures welcoming you. I was happy to have recognized it from my learning of him in Columbus, Indiana and later in Oklahoma City’s Contemporary Museum of Art which is filled with his work.

I was thrilled to see the gardens were featuring artist Fernando Botero. His voluptuous figures are so recognizable.

There was a small indoor studio with a dozen paintings, a couple sculptures and a video playing about his life. He recently passed (2023) after working for over 60 years as an artist.

I believe everyone recognizes his unique work once they see it.

I don’t know why but it makes me happy with its soft inflated shapes.

Outside in the gardens were about 5 hiking trails that took you through various educated paths. We walked them all in about an hour and 1/2. It was a Friday so it wasn’t very crowded. The sun was just enough to warm you up, but not make you feel at all uncomfortable. Perfect weather.

From the gardens we could see the holey mountain which we were going to explore later.

This is exactly what I needed. New landscapes to inspire. Surrounding myself with nature differently than the bare branched trees back home.

Admiring the coloration of this cluster.

Throughout the gardens were sculptures blending into the landscape.

Was loving the yellow ball like flowers on some of the trees. As we wandered the paths we also caught glimpses of birds and sand squirrels.

George, my muse. Check out the size of these cactus. You can also see in the background the mountains with the saguaro cactus standing tall, notorious in the Sonoran Desert. Was so cool to see as we drove along the mountains, but tough to capture in a photo.

I started to view cactus as sculpture after a bit. It does appear like art, so stiff and interestingly shaped.

Displaying how desert shelter was built, I climbed inside for a view.

Beautiful new views. USA has so much to offer. So many places to still see in this world and so little time and money to get there.

The infamous hole in the rock was a short drive away. We parked and followed the pathway up.

From a distance it didn’t appear to be that big.

But once you climbed through, which people took turns, it was a wonderful sight from the other side.

A tourist destination for sure, but I liked it. We later saw other holey mountains, less busy, with hikers laying out in their smaller cave like holes. If I’d seen that sooner, I may have planned a hike around that.

We sat for a bit and I captured this selfie which shows the sun on my cheeks.

A better view from below. It felt alien like. Nature never ceases to intrigue me. I’m always in awe that we are part of it.

Wetlands Loop- Glenwood Gardens

Sunday was a beautiful sunny day so after having a relaxing brunch with Rebecca for a much needed catch-up, I forced myself to go out for a hike. The AllTrails app is getting annoying to me, with its constant pop ups with the ‘option to buy. But I can still maneuver my way around it enough to look for new trails.

I found Glenwood Gardens only 20 minutes away, one which I had never heard of before. This park is hidden, tucked behind a McDonalds restaurant. Very obscure location, but surprisingly well kept.

There were three trail options interconnecting. I decided to try them all which was only a total of about 3 miles.

I was able to snap this shot on the AllTrails app to understand a bit of direction prior to hiking.

The entrance to the trails was impressive. Clean open restrooms also available.

At the start of the trail you could see the acreage ahead and the wetlands below. Currently dry.

Shadow shot. There were a few people out walking their dogs and older couples running. The trails themselves were all gravel and easy to follow.

This gazebo has some educational information on the variety of trees in the area.

I’m sure its beautiful in the summer or spring once its green.

I noticed right away the sounds of the birds. Along the paths were many bird houses. Most of the trees also were marked. I felt like this area was preserved and used for studies.

Snow was still in some places escaping the sun that was finally shining bright today.

I loved the coloration of this view with the prickly branches, snow, aqua water and red toned leaves all against that awesome blue sky.

This bridge took you to the Wetlands Trail, which was off the Garden Loop.

Not a whole lot to see, but occasionally I would stop to appreciate the combination of textures winter was showing off.

As I walked I discovered how much people scare me vs being alone. I occasionally stopped to let a man pass me only to be sure I wasn’t being followed. If I were alone, I would have no fear. It makes zero sense except that the world these days seems tilted in mental stability.

Plenty of benches on this trail, which made me think bird watching over the grounds was possibly a summertime activity in this park.

Was a quick hour hike over easy terrain. A good pick to get me going again. Winter months are always difficult. I look forward to my end of the month escape to Arizona. Should provide some interesting landscape along with some warmer spirit lifting weather.