We have been in another bit of a lull, and this one wasn’t entirely our fault. Our kitty (Emily) got sick. Not the normal, “take two aspirins” sort of sick, but the “in-and-out of the hospital for two weeks, start looking for things to sell to raise money” sort of sick.

Fortunately, it looks like she is going to be okay. Unfortunately, she has been on medication, every 8-hours for the last couple of weeks, so it has kind of kept us house-bound (and inwardly focused) a bit.

We are lightly working on Rehearsal Dinner locations with our foodie-friends Sue and Jeremy, so hope to have good news on that front very, very soon.

Originally uploaded by evancparker.

It’s a long weekend for those of us on Federal holiday schedule … Columbus Day weekend. With the extra time, I decided to go a bit farther afield than I normally travel.

A good friend of mine has always said great things about George Washington National Forest (and nearby Jefferson National Forest). Due to a slight trail mixup (and poor signage) I didn’t have enought time to do the ever-popular Signal Knob hike, but did an abbreviated version that went over Meneka Peak instead.

Great hike, but about two weeks too early for any real foliage. I will have to come back a little later next year.

Explore the Photo Set:
Meneka Peak, near Front Royal, Virginia

Originally uploaded by evancparker.

Things turned out so well when we decided to visit The State Arboreatum of Virginia based soley off its brown sign on I-66 that we decided to follow the brown signs to Sky Meadows State Park.

It was fall festival, which filled up the parking lot a bit, but once we got out on the trails there was no real sign that there was anyone else in the park at all.

As the name implies, the best bits of the park are the meadow sections. Grass, sky, clouds … probably the closest I will get to a real “prairie” this close to the Atlantic.

Explore the Photo Set:
Sky Meadows State Park, Virginia

Originally uploaded by evancparker.

This photo set is kind of a hodgepodge of what was left after Patagonia and Parker Canyon were removed.

Early snaps were of the stretches of Coronado National Forest between Tucson and Parker Canyon, later snaps were from the road between Patagonia and Nogales. We did catch a stunning sunset right on the outskirts of town.

On the way back to Tucson, I got caught in yet another Border Patrol checkpoint. The agent stopped us, looked at me oddly for a couple seconds … I finally said “Hello,” he asked if I was a citizen, and then told me to move along before I responded.

I wonder if maybe some of these resources should be reallocated to something like murder or domestic violence or something.

Explore the Photo Set:
Road to Nogales, Arizona

Originally uploaded by evancparker.

After all that driving, it appears that the preserve was closed. Unfortunately, I kind of had to pee (and the gate was unlocked), so I decided to take my chances.

We walked around a bit, saw yet another snake (NOT poisonous) and I was incrediably impressed with the preserve. It was well signed, very good literature, and obviously well cared for.

As we were leaving, the preserve keeper came over to shoo us away (nicely, of course) … and we talked for a while before we drove off. Not that I am not already a donor, but if I wasn’t I think the whole experince was enough to inspire me to get my checkbook out.

Explore the Photo Set:
Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve, Arizona

Originally uploaded by evancparker.

Last day in Arizona, and I was determined to not have any bad wildlife experience between me and the plane home.

The initial thought was to drive down to the Mexican border, stopping at a Nature Conservancy preserve along the way. Through the first part of the trip, however, we were innundated with signs for an Arizona State Park called “Parker Canyon.”

Feeling a bit of familial loyalty, we took a detour and wandered around the *completely* empty state park.

Explore the Photo Set:
Parker Canyon, Arizona