Ahh…The Last Hike of the Winter Season in Tucson

I sure am going to miss the weekly hikes!   Blue skies-wonderful. Surrounding desert and mountain landscapes-beautiful. Fresh air with sunshine and exercise-fantastic.  Meeting and getting to know great fellow hikers-priceless.  All of the hiking group had some great fun this year and most will be returning next season.  We hope to do the same.  The last hike took us across the street from the park and the Robles Pass Camaro Loop Trail took us on a 5 mile hike through some low mountains.  We hiked the trail but hiked back to the park down the paved road rather than go back the way we came because the trail was really rocky and that loose small rock can be very slippery going down. There were only 7 in our group because a larger group went on a strenuous overnight hike.  I am not quite up to that yet! 

 

There were still some nice views since the trail was so close to town and neighborhoods. 

 

Part of our trail brought us out by this old Camaro, hence the name Camaro Loop Trail, which is where we came out on an earlier hike.  The property used to be a ranch so I guess that is one way to get rid of a car. Guess the city decided to leave the car there to give the trail some character! 

On this hike, we were very fortunate to see a Saguaro Cactus and spindly cactus bush with blooms on them.  A bloom on the Saguaro Cactus only opens for several hours at night or one day, then dies but not all the blooms open at the same time.  So in all our travels through the desert, I finally got to see a Saguaro bloom. 

 

So the fanny pack is put away, and the hiking shoes have been washed and polished for another time.   Our time is at a close and we leave on Monday for Mesa, AZ.  We have said our goodbyes to some great people we have met, made new friends and exchanged emails, etc.  We have really enjoyed this winter and will have fond memories of our winter season in Tucson, AZ.