Still here but not for long.

I'll bet some of you are wondering what happened to me. Well, I'm swamped with trying to do last-minute things that aren't exactly going well. I have been getting one hike in each week to restore my sanity, but you've seen all that before. So what else to say?

I'm two weeks out from departure and trying not to panic about the stuff that's still outstanding. Unexpected and expensive things happen every time we go through this process, so you think I'd be used to it by now, but I always hope that my extensive experience will make it go smoother, but nooOOOooo.
 

Yes, I sound just like that.
Experience doesn't seem to have anything to do with it. Sh** happens. I do know, however, that despite all the setbacks, I'll get 'er done. Somehow. Am I excited?

Every time, I get really stressed out, I work out...

My month is up at Amenzone - boo.

... or hit a trail, and that helps me to reset. Of course, it's snake season again, so one day I caught this guy terrorizing whatever was in that hole.

Then I hiked the Dixie Mine Trail and ran across a baby rattlesnake that didn't have any rattlers yet to warn me. Luckily I saw him before I put my foot down. I don't think I've done that trail once without running into a rattlesnake (or 3). I think I'm done with that one.

This weekend, I hit my favorite trail, Tom's Thumb, for the umpteenth time. You'll recall that the last time we went, we saw some falcons nesting. Well, they had their little chickadees, so I decided to do the Overlook Trail at the top to give them some privacy.

Where most people go to the right, I went to the left, so I was on my own -without a cell-phone signal - and kept seeing snake swirlies in the dirt.

Between those and some insects that sounded like and were as loud as buzz saws (no, they weren't cicadas), I started getting the heebie jeebies. I'd think I was paying attention to where I was walking, but then a lizard would dodge out and scare the crap out of me. I made it without incident though and had a nice trek.



Yes, it was hazy out there - there are number of distant wildfires going on.

One thing I love about hiking here is that no matter how brown or dry it is (or how hot), you can usually find some color. Something blooming. Unlike winter in snowy climates where everything looks dead for 6+ months.

Ok, now I'm ready to try to knock off the last of my must-do's. Hopefully they're ready to be knocked off. I could use some luck.

Thanks, Morgan.

Road Trip - Part III (Best Friends/Work & Play)

Day Two at Best Friends started with fog.

And later, sleet.    I have to admit it was pretty, but we were waking up to temps in the 30s. Brrrr!



I decided to put on every thing I'd packed (borrowed) except for one outfit - that meant 2 pairs of pants (yes 2), 4 shirts/sweatshirts, and a jacket. I was more than happy to add gloves from my new best friend. Still brrrr!



That didn't stop me from hiking though! There was a trail that led to a stone labyrinth that we tried to get to and stopped short. But the views! You can not take a bad picture of Angel Canyon.

In the mornings, we cleaned.



At noon, we had a vegetarian buffet lunch at the cafe/cafeteria for $5. The views were spectacular.



In the afternoons, we played with, socialized, or exercised the animals that needed it most.



Love kitties... All up for adoption!



We also finagled the Best Friends' representatives into goofing off with us and Supa Kitty, Fearless Kitty's mascot. Yep, that's one of the victims good sports with the hat on.



Ah, good times. Plus we learned a lot and enjoyed the surroundings. Who's going with Fearless next year?

Thought we were done? So did we! But bonus - we took a different route heading back, passing by Glen Canyon Dam, which was also quite a sight.

Photo by: DesertUSA

As two of our three cars drove through Page, AZ, we saw a little, long-haired dachshund mix running along the busy highway, pretty much in the middle of nowhere. We immediately pulled over. It turned out she was very friendly and very pregnant. If we backtracked, there were a couple of lone trailers on the other side of the freeway, so we U-turned and headed over to see if the dog belonged to someone. It was obvious as soon as we pulled onto the dirt road and passed the trailers (with terrified dogs hiding underneath), that there was no way this friendly, leash-trained dog (yep, someone actually had a collar & leash in her purse) had come from there. She was more likely dumped.

Well, she found the right people to save her. Two in our crew happen to either have a rescue with dogs or works with one and just happened to be the only two in the lead car. They took her, gave her food & water (yep, they had that too), and texted a few times that they were afraid she might go into labor. Yikes! Both car loads texted at the same time that the pooch's name should be "Paige." And so it was.

Once back to the Phoenix area, the dynamic duo managed to get Paige to a vet open on Sunday, who generously offered discounts and waived all kinds of fees. The furry mama is going to have about 4 puppies any day now; she's healthy. Lots of networking during the drive led to a foster. A generous soul appeared and offered to pick up that vet's tab. More calls may already have led to a home for her (not the puppies).

If you want to help Paige and her puppies, you can donate here.

And that's how we roll.

Fearless Kitty Rescue