PATIO GARDEN

We had been talking about doing container gardening on the patio, but never got around to building anything.  We saw this at the farmers market, and it seemed so simple, we had to try it.  This setup, however, has a watering tube, and waters plants from the bottom.  Should be interesting to see how the lettuce, cilantro and sage does.  We have given up on tomatoes for now, they are the hardest thing to grow in AZ.  Sun too hot, birds too hungry, etc. Now we just need to keep Luna from eating the bounty.

FALL COLORS ON MT LEMMON

 We decided to escape the 90 degree heat (which isn't bad for Tucson, actually), and take a hike up on Mt. Lemmon.  Where it is 30 degrees cooler, it is nicer to hike!  We made it just in time to see the last of the fall colors.  So pretty.  We did the Marshall Gulch/Aspen trail, about 4 miles round trip.  Just right to get us back in the saddle.  Luna enjoyed leading us, and she always checked back to see if we were still there.  I did grab her, however, when 2 huge Coatamundis came running down a tree and across the trail.  Too quick for my camera, but exciting nonetheless.

10 years after the Aspen fire, new growth is finally establishing itself.  New trees seem to take a bit longer than places like Yellowstone, where it rains on a more regular basis.  Arizona's "sky islands" are similar to the more northern mountains, but unique in their own way.

CHAMA, LAST STOP BEFORE ALBUQUERQUE AND HOME

 Chama is the home of the Cumbres and Toltec Railroad.  Train rides to Antonito are running from summer through fall.
We didn't stick around for the train to arrive, as we were due in Albuquerque, where Darrell's cousin and wife live, and graciously hosted us for a few days before our last sprint to the Old Pueblo.
Another adventurous summer comes to an end, but it was just long enough for us to enjoy our daughter, Amber and her boyfriend, Kent, and all that beautiful Northwest Montana country.  We are looking forward to another new adventure next spring!

PAGOSA SPRINGS

We headed on down the road and found a nice campground right on the San Juan River, seen here running through town.  The springs are located in the middle of town, and present a colorful landscape.  

We drove up to Wolf Pass Ski area, stopping on the way at Treasure Falls.  We hiked up to the falls for a photo op.

CORTEZ, COLORADO

We made a stop in Cortez, Colorado, to visit our good friends who had been in a terrible car accident.  We were glad to see them in one piece;   We stayed 3 days, visiting with moral support and pizza.  We took a quick trip to 4 corners for a picture.

HELPER, UTAH

 Heading down through Utah, Darrell wanted to stop and visit this town. Something on his list from previous trips.  We camped nearby in Price, then went back up the road to visit this little town that was named because it sits on a hill at a point where trains needed a little "help" going up the grade.  We visited the museum, and a model railroad inside.

HEADING HOME

 The day we left, Flathead Lake was being buffeted by high winds.  Further down the road, Utah had donned her fall colors for us.

One last visit to Logan Pass

Last day of September, we had to drive up to the pass and say goodbye til next year.  Love this place.  Albeit, a little cold right now.