Phoenix - South Mountain

After all the exertion of crossing the Grand Canyon, it was good to relax and put my feet up at Fred and Paula's house. In the afternoon, they took us to see South Mountain.

South Mountain is interesting because towers and antennas grow very well there.

Just about the only other things that grow are gigantic cacti.

I understand that this is a saguaro. The plant needs to be 75 years old before it develops an arm.

Another view of the 'crop'.

It was still very hot up here in the sun so we did not linger long. In fact at 108 degrees, it was a new record day for Phoenix.

Phoenix is huge in area and just keeps expanding. The land Paula and Fred's house stands on was just open fields seven years before.

The street layout is basic grid pattern, presumably with major streets a mile apart.

In winter, this probably is quite pleasant. The population of Phoenix swells during the winter when the snowbirds from the northern states head down to play golf and enjoy the warm temperatures. Once it gets hot, they head back north.

There were bushfires not too far from Phoenix so the sky was quite murky. On a clear day in winter, the view would be a lot better.

Interesting directions dial.

We headed back down the hill. Earlier, just as we reached the top of the mountain, a young kid on a skateboard started off down the hill. Paula saw him at the bottom of the hill, so presumably he made it in one piece.

I could well believe you would find scorpions around here.

Riding school.

The long straight roads of Phoenix. If you like curves, this is not the place for you.

The major roads have sound barriers on either side of them. The walls usually have patterns painted onto them.

Interesting looking shop.

Suburbia. Everything is so dry here that green grass is not common. Even dry brown grass is not common. For those of us on the east coast who are used to seeing green trees and green grass everywhere, Phoenix comes as a shock.