A post-Thanksgiving hike in Sabino Canyon
Instead of participating in the Hunger Games Black Friday shopping, Long-Suffering Husband and I hiked in Sabino Canyon, a gorgeous natural area at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains north of Tucson. And you know what happens whenever I hike in the desert:
Cactus pics!
Also trail pics and rock pics and blue Arizona sky and…
But before we get to all the Sonoran Desert wonderfulness: Welcome to the Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Natalie the Explorer! Grab a treat, have a seat, and let’s get to it.
A fall hike in Sabino Canyon
We’d planned to take the tram into Sabino Canyon, but apparently the rest of Tucson also wanted to spend Black Friday up there, because tram tickets were sold out for the day. So we asked a ranger to recommend a not-too-strenuous hike, and off we went.
Sabino Lake Trail and Bluff Trail
There’s just something magical about a trail that compels me to follow it. A footpath disappearing around a corner piques my curiosity, and off I go.
Rock formations
We got to see all sorts of interesting rock formations on our hike, including these:
Along the (dry) creek
Sabino Creek had water in it when I visited last November (see this post for photographic evidence). We had a drier summer this year, so other than a few very small pools of very stinky water, it was dry up there–but still pretty.
Scary Cactuses
It wouldn’t be one of my Sonoran Desert posts without pictures of funny-looking cactuses–or in this case, creepy cactuses that look like they’ve come to steal your soul.
Critters!
Sabino Canyon has lots of wildlife, but we didn’t see too much of it on this trip.
Yes, there’s really a tarantula in that hole. If you click to enlarge the image, you’ll see it.
And finally, there’s these two weird-looking creatures:
I’ve resolved to get outside as much as possible between now and early May, so maybe I won’t mind being trapped inside by the heat all summer. Friday’s hike was a great start.
Writing news–and a chance to win a free book
One of my previously-published short stories got selected for a best-of anthology! I can’t share the details just yet, but I will as soon as I can. And when the book comes out, hopefully before Christmas, I’m going to raffle off a copy to one of my newsletter subscribers. So if you want a chance to win, sign up for my newsletter. I usually send emails no more than once a month, so I promise not to overwhelm your inbox. You’ll also get a free short story just for signing up.
Note that subscribing to my newsletter is different from subscribing to my blog (I know, I know, let’s find a way to make life even more confusing), so even if you get these posts in your email, you may not be on the newsletter list.
Catch me on the Mysterious Goings-On Podcast this Wednesday!
My interview with Alex Greenwood on the Mysterious Goings-On podcast is scheduled to be released this Wednesday, November 29. We talk about using short stories to launch a writing career and a bit about how I got started writing. Check it out wherever you listen to podcasts.
If you’re an author, consider pitching Alex to go on his show. He’s an excellent interviewer!
The memery
If I were a more diligent curator of memes, I’d have a batch of Thanksgiving humor for you. But since I’ve spent significant parts of the last several days in a food coma, you get a bunch of old memes I dug out of the back of my hard drive. Hey, ’tis the weekend for leftovers.
Here we go:
Lately when Long-Suffering Husband and I can’t decide where to eat, we’ve defaulted to eating at home. Saves lots of money.
This next one sounds like an urban legend, but I really, really hope it’s true. I also think it should be made into a TV show. I mean, they made a show called Drunk History, so ancient phalluses should be fair game.
Eggs are also pretty good seasoned with sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, cream, and pumpkin. Just sayin’.
I’m amazed people my age didn’t require skin grafts every summer because of those things.
And finally:
I’d love to write more, but my bastard son’s shrubbery was ravaged by orcs. See you next week!
18 Comments
csuhpat1
What a beautiful place to hike.
Janet Alcorn
It really is. Thanks for stopping by!
trentpmcd
Looks like a great hike. Yeah, you do need to be outside from now until eggs start frying on the sidewalk just so those months when outside is hotter than the center of the sun don’t seem so bad. Now I would surely help that man spell Eucalip… wait a second.. Euclid… hmmm… that Australian tree, but my horse’s shrubbery committed treason, so I have to, you know, I have things to do…
Hope you have a wonderful week!
Janet Alcorn
LOL! Treasonous Shrubbery would be a great band name.
Hope you have a great week too!
trentpmcd
Looking at that excuse generator I could come up with a few good band names…
Janet Alcorn
Yes! Some excellent options. I also recommend the Shakespearean insult generator as a source of band names.
Joanne
That looks like a lovely hike! My husband tried getting me out hiking 2 or 3 days this weekend but I insisted it was much too cold for that. Once ice starts forming on the lake I have a real hard time hiking and have to psyche myself up for it.
Janet Alcorn
I get it. I’m mostly a fair-weather hiker too. Tromping through the snow can be fun, though, with the right gear (and a warm house and hot cocoa to come home to).
laurazeigen
Beautiful hike! Amazing memes from the memery (even the leftover ones!) 😀
Janet Alcorn
I’ll probably still be serving leftover memes this week. I have quite a stash of ’em.
Natalie
Janet, That looks like a fantastic hike. Beautiful photos. Congratulations on your writing achievements! Thank you for your weekend coffee share.
Janet Alcorn
Thanks!
Janis @ RetirementallyChallenged.com
We went on a similar hike when we were in Tucson a few weeks ago and it was lovely! Perfect weather.
I signed up for your newsletter and look forward to reading your short story.
p.s. You husband doesn’t look like he is suffering too badly 🙂
Janet Alcorn
This is the time of year to be in Tucson. The weather is usually perfect.
Thanks for signing up for the newsletter, and I hope you enjoy the story!
Elizabeth Seckman
What a great way to spend Black Friday. I also don’t go shopping, but instead of doing something active and healthy, I chilled on the couch and watched my guys watch football.
Janet Alcorn
Nothing wrong with a day of football! I used to do that too, especially when I lived in places with gloomy fall weather.
Kirstin Troyer
That hike looks beautiful.
Janet Alcorn
It was. Thanks for stopping by!