Would You Believe...

we were lonesome for snow??? Our friends and relatives in MN and SD will think we are crazy if we admit to that. OK, so we weren't really lonesome for it, but we did encounter it on a roadtrip this past week. On Monday, we headed for Chiricahua National Monument over south of Wilcox off of highway186. We were in this area a few years ago, but my memory is short so we decided to check it out again. Back then, I thought that a monument was just a statue of some kind. Now I know that it is an area like a national park, but without the designation of a national park.

If you have spent any time in the Southwest you know that elevation is the determiner when it comes to weather. Here in St. David, we are at 3700 feet above sea level so this time of the year, it is typically around freezing at night and it gets to high 60's during the day. Just south of us is Tombstone, which lies at 4500 feet, and they will get snow where this area usually does not. Anyway, I digress.

When we first hit Coronado National Wilderness, where the monument is located, these two were our welcoming committee. It was typical high desert terrain

with snow capped peaks off in a distance.

As we gained in elevation, the roads changed. I don't think I will ever get used to the site of cactus in snow... it just does not seem to compute.

It really was very pretty and, of course, it is even nicer when you know you don't have to stay in it!

From the vistas to the deer peeking at us from behind a tree, it was a beautiful day for this drive.

We had intended to do some hiking, but with the freezing and thawing and refreezing, the trails were too slippery for these feet!

When we left the monument area, we found this road and decided to see where it took us. It wasn't long before the road changed - higher elevation again.

And around one curve, we saw this delightful creature.

That is one of the things I like best about this area, your scenery can change drastically in just a few miles. After we turned around - road was closed - we headed south to Douglas just because we have never been there. It won't be a place we will have to visit again, not much there except the crossing into Mexico and the ever present fence.

Then it was time to head back "up north" - through Benson and then to Tombstone, for our anniversary dinner at the Long Branch, and back home. We put on almost 300 miles that day - it was a good one!