Drive from Omaha to Tucson via Mesa Verde, May, 2018

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Nebraska in the rear view mirror.
Nebraska in the rear view mirror.
Omaha to Tucson, hello western Kansas.
Omaha to Tucson, hello western Kansas.
Western Kansas, once in a while something on the horizon.
Western Kansas, once in a while something on the horizon.
A few horses dot the plains.
A few horses dot the plains.
Once in a while, a tree, now in Colorado.
Once in a while, a tree, now in Colorado.
We never decided if this is vegetation or sand or ?
We never decided if this is vegetation or sand or ?
Heading for Pagosa Springs, CO.
Heading for Pagosa Springs, CO.
Looks like rain, but we were always just out of the rainy areas.
Looks like rain, but we were always just out of the rainy areas.
A Magpie wishes us well.
A Magpie wishes us well.
Now mountain beauty is all around.
Now mountain beauty is all around.
Almost to Pagosa Springs for the night.
Almost to Pagosa Springs for the night.
No comment needed, other than: such beauty!
No comment needed, other than: such beauty!
Very little territory in the USA.
Very little territory in the USA.
Something about truck ramps makes drivers nervous!
Something about truck ramps makes drivers nervous!
Love overlooks!
Love overlooks!
Day after Pagosa Springs on the way to Mesa Verde.
Day after Pagosa Springs on the way to Mesa Verde.
Countryside around Mesa Verde.
Countryside around Mesa Verde.
Love this thought!
Love this thought!
First overlook from within the Mesa. Wow!
First overlook from within the Mesa. Wow!
Love the sculpture!
Love the sculpture!
The park entrance and visitor building.
The park entrance and visitor building.
Now a combination of desert and deciduous plants.
Now a combination of desert and deciduous plants.
The entrance to the Mesa Verde Visitor Center.
The entrance to the Mesa Verde Visitor Center.
Beautiful Visitor Center.
Beautiful Visitor Center.
The two trails we'll follow, but more time at the Mesa Top Loop.
The two trails we'll follow, but more time at the Mesa Top Loop.
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
Huge bluff in the Mesa. We now go up and up!
Huge bluff in the Mesa. We now go up and up!
First overlook from within the Mesa. Wow!
First overlook from within the Mesa. Wow!
Several areas show the recent history of fires.
Several areas show the recent history of fires.
Overlooks!
Overlooks!
Pit house on the Mesa Loop.
Pit house on the Mesa Loop.
Ingenious.
Ingenious.
Many agave plants in bloom!
Many agave plants in bloom!
Another example of a pit house. Some were built on top of much older pit houses so excavation shows several.
Another example of a pit house. Some were built on top of much older pit houses so excavation shows several.
The cliff houses are what really captures our attention!
The cliff houses are what really captures our attention!
Warning - too many photos of cliff houses because I was fascinated!
Warning - too many photos of cliff houses because I was fascinated!
Cliff dwellings.
Cliff dwellings.
Evidence of cliff structures.
Evidence of cliff structures.
More evidence of cliff structures.
More evidence of cliff structures.
We didn't get down into any of them on this trip.
We didn't get down into any of them on this trip.
Photo shows the amazing setting for Cliff House.
Photo shows the amazing setting for Cliff House.
A whole village in a cliff.
A whole village in a cliff.
From a different angle.
From a different angle.
I know, one too many!
I know, one too many!
But this one is a bit different, OK?
But this one is a bit different, OK?
As we leave Mesa Verde, we drive in another area called Wetheril Mesa, which has wild horses.
As we leave Mesa Verde, we drive in another area called Wetheril Mesa, which has wild horses.
Gorgeous view from Wetherill Mesa drive.
Gorgeous view from Wetherill Mesa drive.
By the time I'm back in the photographer's seat :) we are in red mesa country.
By the time I'm back in the photographer's seat :) we are in red mesa country.
Wow, but can we remove those wires for the photographer please?
Wow, but can we remove those wires for the photographer please?
RED mesas!
RED mesas!
and a whole red vista. Amazing countryside!
and a whole red vista. Amazing countryside!
Every color of red from orange red to maroon in these hills.
Every color of red from orange red to maroon in these hills.
The inevitable in spring and summer.
The inevitable in spring and summer.
Salt River Canyon is so beautiful, but I never got a photo that shows it off properly.
Salt River Canyon is so beautiful, but I never got a photo that shows it off properly.
Salt River Canyon - the river at the overlook (hmm or underlook).
Salt River Canyon - the river at the overlook (hmm or underlook).
The bridge at Salt Rive Canyon.
The bridge at Salt Rive Canyon.
Such a beautiful drive from Showlow to Globe AZ!
Such a beautiful drive from Showlow to Globe AZ!
These always make me think twice about safety.
These always make me think twice about safety.
Saguaros showing up now, must be nearly there.
Saguaros showing up now, must be nearly there.
Copper mining at Hayden reveals all of the colors, but isn't a pretty sight.
Copper mining at Hayden reveals all of the colors, but isn't a pretty sight.
At this point, I realized that the saguaro are blooming. Nice!
At this point, I realized that the saguaro are blooming. Nice!
Most of the saguaro have a crown of buds and blossoms.
Most of the saguaro have a crown of buds and blossoms.
Wildflower, not sure what.
Wildflower, not sure what.
Crested saguaro in bloom.
Crested saguaro in bloom.
Some dead blossoms and many buds, none out this evening.
Some dead blossoms and many buds, none out this evening.
Lovely light and many buds this evening but no blossoms, so I'll come back in the morning.
Lovely light and many buds this evening but no blossoms, so I'll come back in the morning.
Really trying to find open blossoms.
Really trying to find open blossoms.
A quail and a blossom!
A quail and a blossom!
Evening moon over desert.
Evening moon over desert.
Santa Catalinas.
Santa Catalinas.
Tonono Chul Flowers
Tonono Chul Flowers
Selection of Tonono Chul Flowers
Selection of Tonono Chul Flowers
Birds enjoy the water feature at Tohono Chul
Birds enjoy the water feature at Tohono Chul
Tonono Chul Flowers
Tonono Chul Flowers
The bees love this red fairy duster!
The bees love this red fairy duster!
Don't kow the name of this interesting Tonono Chul Flower.
Don't kow the name of this interesting Tonono Chul Flower.
One bee on Red Fairy Duster blossoms
One bee on Red Fairy Duster blossoms
Two bees on Red Fairy Duster blossoms
Two bees on Red Fairy Duster blossoms
Peaceful Moroccan area, Tohono Chul.
Peaceful Moroccan area, Tohono Chul.
Most of the cacti blossoms were done, but I was fortunate to find this lovely blossom.
Most of the cacti blossoms were done, but I was fortunate to find this lovely blossom.
Real Quail visits an unreal horse in the gardens.
Real Quail visits an unreal horse in the gardens.
Beautiful white trumpet, not sure of the flower name.
Beautiful white trumpet, not sure of the flower name.
Swallowtail enjoys the nectar in Tohono Chul.
Swallowtail enjoys the nectar in Tohono Chul.
Desert Spiny Lizard enjoying the park.
Desert Spiny Lizard enjoying the park.
Blossoms in all stages.
Blossoms in all stages.
Field of blossoming saguaro near Honey Bee Canyon - Catalina Mountains in the background.
Field of blossoming saguaro near Honey Bee Canyon - Catalina Mountains in the background.
I'll miss the desert!
I'll miss the desert!