Texas, New Mexico, Arizona

 We were flying through the states, first all the way through Texas, from Abilene in the East to El Paso in the West,

Lots of oil industry along the I-20 

We saw typical Texas which is marked with 

oil production everywhere.

Work camps along the I-20 in Texas

Bustling El Paso city view

then crossing into New Mexico,  Las Cruces, Deming

Welcome sign

A landmark greeted us along the I-10 north of Las Cruces, 

towering over a the rest area where we always stop on the way home.

Roadrunner sculpture along the Interstate 10

And crossing into Arizona, and another time zone (Mountain Time), driving through Benson to Tucson. 

I-10 West, desert landscape

Desert landscape opening up in New Mexico and finally cacti, lots of Saguaro in Arizona. 

Formations at Texas Canyon near Benson

Saguaro Cacti
 Ending our marathon run in Why (near Ajo, AZ)

Free camping on BLM land near Why, AZ

We also met with our friends from Quebec. 

They run into us at a rest area while we where 

just preparing to have lunch. 

How nice to see each other again! 

Together we continued to the BLM land near Why, AZ 

where we will rest for a couple of days until we start out onto our last leg to Holtville, CA

 Some real birds observed on a rest area along the road: 

Northern Loggerhead, Cactus Wren, Curved-billed Thrasher

Northern Loggerhead

Cactus Wren

Curved-billed Thrasher

Translation for my German readers

Die letzten Tage war ein Marathon. Wir durchquerten Texas von Abilene im Osten bis nach El Paso im Westen. Die Landschaft ist dort überall von der Ölindustrie geprägt. Von El Paso wechselten wir von Texas nach New Mexico über und fuhren an Las Cruces und Deming vorbei. Heute morgen erreichten wir dann Arizona und auch eine weitere Zeitgrenze. Es ging von Central in Mountain Time über. Das heißt wieder eine Stunde zurückstellen. Die Landschaft ist typisch für den Südwesten. Der Himmel tiefblau und die Temperaturen stiegen stündlich. Überall wachsen Kakteen. Auf der letzten Strecke wurden wir an einem Rastplatz von Freunden aus Quebec eingeholt. Gemeinsam legten wir die letzten Kilometer zum Zielort zurück. Das BLM Land (Büro für Landmanagement) nahe dem Ort "Why", auf dem man bis zu 14 Tage gratis campen darf. Hier werden wir nun ein paar Tage stehen und uns ausruhen, bevor wir dann die letzten Stunden nach Holtville in Kalifornien fahren werden.

Vögel: Wüger, Kaktus Zaunkönig, Rotsteiß-Spottdrossel

Visit to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

Flowers along the road

 While it was not too hot or too windy we decided today to take tour around Organ Pipe National Monument Park. 

Park entrance

They road in the park itself was rough gravel and we rattled along in our van 

for about two and a half ours.

Peter studying the trail map

There is lots to see and it was good that we came early. When we were done the visitors center was pretty full and we would not have had time to stop and take photos. 

Saguaro that looks like a cellphone pole

Too many cars driving through the park and not enough turnouts along the narrow gravel road. When cars are passing the dust is flying, covering everything with a thin layer.

Saguaro and Organ Pipe cactus

Peter taking a photo

Once in a while we stopped and that was when I accidentally saw this Cactus wren.

Cactus wren on a Cholla cactus

Saguaro and Organ Pipe cacti

A rare growth form, Crested Saguaro (cristatos) cactus

Near the end of the visit my camera run out of battery power. Ugh!

Penstemon in a wash along the trail

Owl's clover

Among Mexican desert poppies (just a step off the trail)

Young Saguaro

Weird Saguaro

Jumping Cholla cactus in front of Saguaro

Barrel cactus with last years flowers

Unfortunately I lost my spare some time ago and have not got around to buy a new one. That will definitely be on my next shopping list!

Peter took this photo of a flowering Hedge Hog Cactus at the visitors center. They must have forced them, because nowhere else where flowers on the cacti we saw. 

Usually the blooms starts in April.

Hedge hog cactus