We're In the Desert Now

Travelling across southern New Mexico into Arizona we see lots of desert. And enough cactuses to call them cacti.

In fact, there is nothing between me and the mountains but more cacti.

I feel a little sad leaving the Land of Enchantment for the Grand Canyon State. I like the imagination of a state that calls itself the land of enchantment. What possibilities lie there!

State nicknames are strange, to say the least. We left Big Sky Country in September and spent some time in the Equality State (I nearly choked writing that), also known as the Cowboy State (not Cowboy/girl State?). Bad weather hurried us through the Cornhusker State down to the Sunflower State where we actually saw fields of sunflowers. We ambled through Native America and spent some time exploring the Natural State. We enjoyed Christmas in the sweet Magnolia State and then came through the Bayou State to the big Lone Star State over to the Land of Enchantment and now the Grand Canyon State.

In re-checking these names, I learned that each state actually has several nicknames, official and unofficial. Mostly, the names above are the ones that appear on license plates.

We crossed the continental divide and then dropped down into Benson, our destination.

The Escapees Park here is Saquaro Park.

We're surrounded by mountains.

And the last rays of the sun do wondeful things to mountains.

Montana may have the Big Sky, but Arizona certainly has the Colorful Sky. This must be why I am here tonight.

Today was a good day.