Tucson – coyote, sabino/bear canyon (seven falls hike), Boca tacos, beyond bread (of course)

No sign of the bobcat that lives outside our casita, along the stucco wall that wraps around the pool but the casita’s two large picture windows make us feel like we’re almost part of the desert. (or Tucson’s famous Desert Museum.)

This morning a coyote appeared in the cactuses (barrels, paddles, small saguaros, purple cholla), palo verde trees, and thorny brush outside the west-facing window behind our bed. And as we ate breakfast next to a large north-facing window, a hummingbird ate its breakfast from a feeder, a few feet from us. Little yellow- bellied birds (warblers?) are aflutter around other feeders and grounded quail come bumbling down the desert path, reminding dirck of a comedy duo.

The weather started to turn yesterday while we were hiking in Sabina Canyon on the seven falls trail in Bear canyon, But it began nearly perfect, in the high 60s, clear blue sky behind the jagged mountains, sun and shade on the trail which was mostly flat and low in the canyon bed. There’s no water in the “seven falls” we were headed towards. We took the bear canyon shuttle because the sabino canyon shuttle was sold out for several hours. (The downside of being here during spring break. kartchner cavern tours are also sold out) but the hike was a pleasant surprise. We went about 4 miles round trip, stopping midway to share a sandwich from Beyond Bread, sitting on a flat rock outcropping that gave us some shade. Took about 3 hours (although other hikers went much faster.)

As we were heading back, the wind started to pick up and giant white clouds moved across the mountain tops, followed by ominous dark clouds.

Fortunately, we were back at the casita when the rain started in the early evening. (No viewing of a rare “blood” red moon, alas.) Dinner was more inventive tacos, this time at Boca, a funky-hip restaurant on 4th avenue run by a chef who competed on the TV show Top Chef.

The weather has dipped into the 40s but no rain and it will be 87 in two days, so maybe we can finally swim in the now-chilly pool outside our casita. The temps have been all over the place, with highs in 70s to 50s so far).