Oops

We got caught up with our New Zealand friends at Buckskin mtn. state park in western Arizona. At the campground were some great climbing trees - you see where this is leading. We had a wonderful evening hanging out. The next morning we got a site next to theirs. Kyra was practicing a leap from the picnic table to a tree branch and on her fourth try she came crashing down at a bad angle. Off to emergency our friend drove us. After a few xrays we found out both arms were broken, the left one very badly. They wanted to fly her to Phoenix Children's hospital but it had started raining heavily - the first rain we've seen in weeks. In the end they drove her there in an ambulance. It was a very uncomfortable 3 hour ride for her as they strapped her to a board with the neck brace just to be on the safe side. Yay morphine.
The children's hospital was great, very caring and helpful even though they were so busy we waited in the hallway for many hours.
Kyra had to have surgery on her left arm the next morning. After 2 nights she was happy to leave the hospital.

More Saguaro

Arizona: The Saguaro

We spent a night among the beautiful saguaro cactus. They only grow in Arizona, around the Tucson area. The really big ones with lots of arms can be 200 years old. They're also really heavy being mostly water. From a park ranger we learned about a guy who thought it was fun to shoot them but then a saguaro arm fell on him and killed him. Really heavy.

Arizona

In Southern Arizona we saw these beautiful birds at Roper Lake state park, someone said they were yellow throated black birds similar to the red winged black bird. We also saw our first quails, so cute with their little curved feathers on top.

We took a day trip to Tombstone where we enjoyed the museum full of old west history: fashion, farming and hangings.

In the town of Bisbee farther south we took the Queen Mine Tour. It's an old copper mine with over 2000 miles of tunnels on 5 levels. Our guide was a miner himself so we got lots of stories. He told us how once the cockroaches in the tunnel became agitated so he and his partner got out of there. When they went back later the tunnel had caved in. Did you know there was a potty car that ran on the mine rails?

White Sands National Monument, New Mexico.

These sand dunes are made of gypsum. It's a unique sight and pretty good for sledding too.

New Mexico

Oliver Lee state park in Alamogordo.

The real Smokey the Bear was found in New Mexico.

Roswell, New Mexico

Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico

This was cool. We went in through the natural entrance where you watch the bats emerge at night during the warmer months. We descended 1 1/2 miles into the caverns to 745 feet underground. The climb down reminded us of those caves in Lord of the Rings. We hiked about 3 miles through the caves, taking a bathroom break at the underground refreshment area - we wondered how they do plumbing way down there. We caught the elevator back up!

More Sand Dunes

Can you spot the motorhome in the second photo? That's where we camped for 2 nights.

Coasting!

Actually, we didn't leave Texas yet. We made one more stop at Monahans sand hills state park where we went sledding! The sand dunes were everywhere. If you wax the sled first you can slide pretty fast, almost like snow. The girls have been missing the snow (for the 2nd year in a row) and this was a close substitute.

Last days in Texas

We said another farewell to our friends as they headed for New Mexico. We stayed one more night at the pool and headed north ourselves the next day.

Balmorrhea State Park, Texas

Balmorrhea state park has a beautiful swmming area fed by hot springs that keep the water a steady mid-70s all year round. The pool was built and shaped with concrete but much of the bottom was left natural. Catfish, pupfish, and thousands of other little fish swarm around you. Sometimes they bite! Sometimes you get lucky and spot a turtle or two (soft shells) coming up for a breath. We had a great time swimming and snorkeling with our New Zealand friends.