Introduction
Map
Mojave Desert
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Colorado Plateau
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Day 10
Day 11
Day 12
Day 13
Day 14
Day 15
Sonoran Desert
Day 16
Day 17
Day 18
Day 19
Day 20
Day 21
Painted Desert
Day 22
Day 23
New Mexico
Day 24
Day 25
Day 26
Day 27
Day 28
Day 29
Day 30
Chihuahuan Desert
Day 31
Day 32
Day 33
Day 34
Day 35
Day 36
Texas
Day 37
Day 38
Day 39
Day 40
Day 41
Day 42
Day 17: Gila Bend
Friday, March 29, 1996
2458 miles
32° 56' 33" N / 112° 44' 02" W
In the morning I find out that another film didn't transport right and is lost. This adds a sad undertone to the rest of the day.
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| Crescent moon over saguarao cactus | ||
The drive to Tucson is very smooth. We have a strong tailwind and a good road surface and so we virtually hover across the wide basins of the Sonora Desert. We arrive at Saguaro National Park around noon, set up our tent and have lunch. It's very windy and the sky is dotted with nice white clouds.
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| Cactus garden in the Tucson Mountains | ||
We go for a hike which goes up a valley with lots of Saguaros, then climbs along a ridge and finally reaches the highest point of the Tucson Mountains. Rebecca sets a mindboggling pace and we speed through the 5 miles in less than two hours. This includes about 2000 ft of elevation gain.
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| Cactus forest | ||
On the top we are rewarded with a fabulous 360 degree panorama of...ermm...well, the whole place. Going back down is very comfortable and the low sun paints the landscape in an increasingly warm light. We arrive back at the car just in time for watching the sun set behind a forest of Saguaros and other stuff.
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| Cactus Sunset. | |||
For dinner we cook couscous and by the time we crawl into our tent, the wind finally calms down for what announces itself to be a calm, moonlit night.