Kevin treated Walt and me to a weekend in Tucson for the Arizona vs Washington football game.
The biggest bonus was getting to watch granddaughter, Bailey, march in the Pride of Arizona Marching Band. She plays the trumpet.
They really put on a show. The hours that they spend practicing and performing shows the dedication of both the students and staff.
Amid the band playing, fireworks flying, and the fans screaming the Arizona football team took the field.
By game time the stands were full of fans ready to watch Arizona take on the #10 ranked Washington team.
The game was exciting and Arizona took the game into overtime. Unfortunately Washington scored in overtime ending the game with a win.
When the game was over the band treated us to another performance (too dark for any photos) and then on to a restful night in a hotel room that was 3 times the size of Gypsy II.
The next morning we were joined by Bailey and Dennis for a visit to Sabino Canyon.
Sabino Canyon is located in Tucson’s Coronado National Forest.
It is a spectacular desert landscape. A tram is available to ride to the top and you can get on and off to hike and enjoy each stop.
Who says there isn't water in the desert? Sabino Creek is refreshingly cool. It is brown due to the tannin in the water from the decomposing oak leaves that fall into it.
The road crosses the creek about 9 times on pretty stone bridges.
It was a spectacularly bright sky day as evidenced by this photo of rainbow colored sun rays.
This spot was a good place for a little reflection.
Kevin said he could understand why the Native Americans loved this area. Plenty of water, shade and an abundance of wildlife.
There are indentations worn in the rock where the Hohokam ground beans and there is evidence of small dams that the Hohokam used to irrigate their fields.
The slick rocks were a draw for a little hiking around.
The canyon is home to abundant vegetation that includes palo verde trees, saguaro, cholla and prickly pear cactus and graceful groves of ocotillo.
This scenic desert area is only about 12 miles from downtown Tucson.
There was lots to see like this little transparent green spider.
A perfect heart shaped cactus paddle.
A somewhat rare crested saguaro. Saguaros sometimes grow in odd or misshapen forms. The growing tip occasionally produces a fan-like form which is referred to as crested or cristate.
Magnificent desert views all around.