Halloween

Grandma got Alex a Halloween costume, but she lives in Minnesota, where it's typically cold on Halloween.  Well, it was 96 or so in Arizona today, so the monkey suit didn't last long out here in the land of the blazing sun.

Everything in the desert has pokey things protruding, including the caterpillars.

Moments before costume removal.

Fountain Park and the place Alex rides his bike around.  Also, the Superstition Mountains in the background.

Crazy kids in the jump room.

Bikes, Blood, Canyons

Somewhat of a routine is being established.  The other day was a nice 6 mile ride into town with Alex in his trailer, and his bike on top of it.  Stop at the skate park, stop at a few playgrounds, get lunch in town, ride around the fountain lake a couple times, then ride home.  Maybe mix in a day riding at McDowell Mountain Park, crash on a dirt jump, rip my arm open, rest.  Then today was a day out at Fish Creek in the Superstition Mountains.

The rv park has donuts, coffee, and juice, free every morning.

At the skate park.

Idiot crash on a dirt jump.  Tore up knee, elbow, gut, shoulder, bruised ego, nope.  Too old for that.

The ride to town goes through the Fort McDowell reservation, with their dogs and horses roaming around.

Junk show.

Lots of cool art around Fountain Lake.

The fountain goes off for 15 minutes at the top of every hour.  It's 300' high or so, and can be seen all over town.

Lunch time.

Fish Creek Canyon

Sonora Euphora

Hard to beat the Sonoran desert this time of year.  It's still a bit warm mid day, but in a few weeks temps will be perfect for desert exploration.  

Back working per-diem until the work contract starts next week.  It goes something like this.......wake up at 5am, call the agency to see if I'm working, and where.  Drive to a new hospital every morning, in the dark, and start a new job pretty much every day.  Not ideal, far from it, but a good way to stop the hemorrhage of funds from essentially not working for almost two months.

Reporting for work, new facility, no orientation, here are your four new patients, good luck...........

Riding around Fountain Lake.  Alex has evolved beyond his balance bike and I think he's ready for pedals.  He's always looking to go faster.

 "Rez" dog, standard issue on any Indian reservation.  Thankfully this one was nice.

Views on the morning ride.  Got a call a few minutes later, after being cancelled for work, "Hey, can you work at 11:00"  Sure, why not.

Saguaro Lake

Fall temps in the Sonoran Desert are still a bit blazing, with highs around 90-95, but no humidity, unlike San Antonio a couple weeks ago.  Took a drive out to Saguaro Lake for a dip in the comfortably warm water, then a dip in the pool, then the hot tub, then the pool again;)  This campground is awesome, and hopefully we can milk the contract and the campground into the spring.  Who knows though, the place is fully booked.

iPhone pics.  But first, a pic I like of Alex after his long bike ride the other day.  He seems totally content, like anyone would be, after a great ride through the desert, followed by some water and a cookie.

Trying to teach him that his feet can indeed touch the bottom.

Learning to trust the life vest

Bike Life

Left Texas in a blaze of glory last week and I've already had five job offers since then.  We settled on one that has two hospital options, but that doesn't start for another two weeks.  Not to worry, I called up my old agency that I haven't worked for in a decade and I'm starting work for them this weekend.   I complain often about being an ER nurse, but truth be told, it's a pretty good gig.

Spent all day on two wheels, what a great day.  Alex rode 3 miles of trail on his own, all slightly downhill, then I rode back to get the truck while he waited with Niki.  Then we rode a dirt jumping track for a bit, and Alex took to it pretty quick.  It's going to be fun to watch him progress.

Rain and Rejuvination in the Doña Ana Mountains

Rode my negative attitude away this morning with an incredible loop in the Desert Peaks National Monument, then drove an easy 190 miles to a simpleton RV park in a random southeastern AZ town with mountains towering 7,000+ feet over us.  Arizona has amazing topography.

Doña Ana Mountains with the Organ Mountains in the background.

Border check outside of Las Cruces.

Random person getting slaughtered by a random rainstorm, in the desert.

View from camp of Mt. Graham.  A 10,000+ foot peak poking out of the Sonoran Desert.