20 replies to this topic

[ArizonaEileen]

Well, here I am back at Catalina State Park, one of my very favorite places to camp. I think this picture says it all.



Can't believe more people aren't taking advantage of this fabulous weather and scenery. But then, that means I pretty much have the place to myself.
The view out of my back window is awesome!

Tomorrow I plan to drive to the top of Mt. Lemmon.

I'll post pictures in my Webshots album in the next day or two.

Eileen

Edited by ArizonaEileen, 10 October 2009 - 08:02 AM.

[sparky1]

Looks Georgous-thanks for the picture-
sparky1 in S, virginia.

[K&C]

Well, here I am back at Catalina State Park, one of my very favorite places to camp. I think this picture says it all.



Can't believe more people aren't taking advantage of this fabulous weather and scenery. But then, that means I pretty much have the place to myself.
The view out of my back window is awesome!

Tomorrow I plan to drive to the top of Mt. Lemmon.

I'll post pictures in my Webshots album in the next day or two.

Eileen

PS: Sorry, this post should be in the Southwest forum. Duh...

Thanks for making that mistake, of posting it here! That is how I feel about the David Mountains State Park. I can't get enough of the mountain views.

Carmen

[nancentina]

That looks like a lovely place! I'd like to have my coffee and just gaze at the mountains there. I'm a little jealous

[Us burros]

Wish we were there. We thoroughly enjoyed our last visit.

Hold us a site Eileen. Google says it's only 1517 miles from where we are, maybe we could be there by Tuesday p.m.

Harold

[Dutchman]

Actually, Eileen, it is SouthEast of you

Have enjoyed this park many times, especially the five days we were stuck after a huge rainstorm clogged up the one entrance road.

Great hiking. Thanks for the picture.

[ArizonaEileen]

Actually, Eileen, it is SouthEast of you

Have enjoyed this park many times, especially the five days we were stuck after a huge rainstorm clogged up the one entrance road.

Great hiking. Thanks for the picture.

Ed --

I'm an anomaly: a woman with a sense of direction.

Catalina is southeast of Phoenix, but it's north of Tucson (ergo, the subtitle of this thread).

The exit with the wash (actually the only way in and out of the park) is now paved. Still has a sign not to cross when flooded.
I remember you telling me about that experience. People out of food, babies out of diapers, etc....until someone called the
Governor or Senator or whomever.



You're right, there are some fabulous hikes here. Lots of trails to choose from. Two reasons I don't take advantage of that this trip:
1) don't think it's safe to hike solo; 2) I need to buy a walking stick. Really helps on those uphill climbs.

I got some fabulous shots two years ago when I hiked with another Casitan.
Catalina State Park 2007

Eileen

Edited by ArizonaEileen, 11 October 2009 - 02:59 AM.

[MikeA]

What a way to spend the long weekend Eileen. The view is spectacular and a very nice campground.
Morning coffee and a view out your backwindow like that. Good choice of destinations.
Enjoy your stay and your drive.
Mike

[ArizonaEileen]

Didn't make it to Mt. Lemmon yesterday. Too overcast. Doesn't make for good pictures. Especially for a drive that will take nearly 1-1/2 hours one way. So, depending on how the weather goes, I'll try again today.

Here's the view out of my back window. It's a tough job, but someone's got to do it. Campsite #11 (with hookups) if you get to this park.




Eileen

Edited by ArizonaEileen, 11 October 2009 - 02:55 AM.

[ArizonaEileen]

Side view. My first time using Susan's sunshade (which was super easy to install). Actually, there's no direct sun on that side of the trailer, but I wanted to try it out. Besides, it makes my little white castle look so much more spacious.



The other advantage of this park is that it's only 100 miles from my home, a 1-1/2 hour drive, and all but 12 miles on I-10.

Eileen

[MikeA]

Eileen,
That is such a spectacular site. Did the campground fill in later in the weekend?
That sunshade looks great. And, I notice that the awning looks to be set up perfectly from what I have read. I'll have to learn how to do that.
Did you also purchase the full over the awning tie down?
Mike

[travlinbob]

Beautiful park and beautiful spot you picked out. I think I’m getting ill looking at all that green. Its 30 something degrees here, my yard is filled with brown leaves, and the sun hasn’t been out all day. I hate you Eileen.

Bob

[MikeA]

Okay Eileen,
Two things strike me after looking at this thread numerous times.
First it would take me a full weekend to back into that campsite like you did. Nice work.
Second, that is a very nice camera that you shoot these pics with. Care to share the details of it?
Mike

[ArizonaEileen]

Sadly, it's Monday morning, so I'll be pulling up stakes and heading back home to reality. Ugh. It's been soooo nice here.

Yesterday, I happened to catch a roadrunner passing through my campsite. You'll have to look closely to see him (or her) in this photo.
They actually don't look a thing like Road Runner depicted in the cartoons; they're really about a foot tall. For the record, in all of my 30 years
in Arizona, I've never seen a roadrunner running along the road. Supposedly they can 'walk' at speeds of up to 20 mph. Wow.



Got up this morning at 2 am and heard Wile E. Coyote howling, which then got one or two of the other coyotes in the area howling, then a couple
of dogs in the campground joined in. Quite the chorus. All's quiet now...which makes me worry. NEVER a good idea to leave dogs (especially small ones)
outside in campground areas like this for the night.

Decided against driving up to Mt. Lemmon yesterday and, instead, went to Sabino Canyon to take the tram tour. Great ride into the canyon and back,
and beautiful scenery, but the terrible for taking pictures. Waaaaaay too jarring. The only way to get decent photos is to be walking, which
I wasn't prepared for (wrong shoes, not enough water, no backpack, etc.). Next time I'll know. However, LOTS of people were hiking.

MikeA:

Nope, the campground never did fill up. Probably only 25% at the max. Really surprising to me. But, starting at Thanksgiving, this place is packed right up
to April 15th with snowbirds. October is a PERFECT time to be here. Temps are just right, got your choice of spots, and it's quiet.

Backing in to the campsite. Only after numerous attempts. Good thing there was nearly no one around. I actually laughed out loud at myself at one point
because the trailer was so going in the wrong direction. Plenty of pulling forward, backing up, pulling forward, etc.

Camera: Nothing fancy. Canon PowerShot A720 IS, 8 megapixels. I also use Photoshop to get rid of the atmospheric haze and to bring out the colors.
Usually it's just a matter of adjusting the contrast and brightness.

Awning: I am using the tie-downs but not quite as instructed. I have them hooked to the top ends of the awning, then staked into the ground, as are
the bases of the awning legs. The winds were whipping around a couple of times during this trip, and everything stayed put. Eventually I need to buy Susan's
ground cover. Would also like her back wall, but it's temporarily unavailable. She's trying to locate another source for the necessary rod.

Travlinbob:

No worries that you hate me. I know it's only because I'm here and you're...well...where you are. Truth be told, I hated you when you were off on your solo trip too.
But then, I hate everyone when they're out in their Casita and I'm not.

Eileen

[ArizonaEileen]

Here's the beginning of the 3.7 mile paved part of the Sabino Canyon trail.



Eileen