The Bread Winner

Here is Jeanette off to work this Sunday morning on her bicycle. The office is only about a quarter of a mile from our campsite, so she loves to zoom to and from on her bicycle. I must confess that she has become the real breadwinner. Since discovering at the first of the month that technically we only need to have 20 hours a week of work per site, not 20 hours each person, I have become a little bit of a slacker. As long as she continues to work 4 hours a day, 5 days a week, I’ve got my backside covered.

Nature Hike

Today I led the first of what is to be a weekly nature hike here at Buckskin Mountain State Park. I would have to say I think it was an outstanding success. We had thirteen hikers, and all where enthusiastic, and very cooperative. We did the loop of the Buckskin Trail, stopping at the ten interpretive signs to talk about the plants and trees found here in the park. For most of the participants it was their first time to be on this trail. They all seemed to feel they got a good workout, and based on the questions they asked I would say they learned a lot.

Working Secrets

I’m beginning to feel like an amateur naturalist here at Buckskin Mountain State Park. Tomorrow I start leading a weekly Nature Hike, and Monday I start leading a weekly Bird Walk. Because of that I have been busy cramming to learn all I can about the plants and birds to be found in the park. Interesting enough, the trails seem to give up another their secretes each day I am out working. Today, it was this sight of a Ladder-backed Woodpecker working on a Buckhorn Cholla. I’ve always though of woodpeckers working on trees, not on extremely stickery cactus.

Suprise!!

Meet Patty and Kordell Blair. Today is our day off and we drove to Surprise Arizona where Jeanette’s sister Patty and her husband Kordell have just bought a new house. Surprise is in the greater Phoenix area and we have enjoyed an afternoon of visiting in the sun in their back yard.

Off-road Vehicles

One of my concerns about off-road vehicle riders is their lack of consideration for the environment. In fact their lack of consideration seems to extend to rules, and to other people as well. Yesterday Jeanette and I were hiking through an area set aside for off-road riders, and here is an example of what we saw, a gun blasted sign that was to serve as a reminder to ride responsibly.----- I’m probably preaching to the choir, I don’t think these people read.

I Hike for a Living

It may be hard to believe, but I hike for a living. That’s right, it’s my job to hike! I can hardly believe it myself, but it's true. In my position as a volunteer at Buckskin Mountain State Park it’s my responsibility to look after the four trails found here in the park. Every morning five days a week I put on my boots, shoulder my pack or carry some tools and head up the trails. I may dig out some drainage ditches, clean out some culverts, or replace rotten steps or faulty water bars. Or, I may only end up carrying out some orange peels and toilet paper. But by the end of the morning I return to our campsite tired, but satisfied ---I did my job.

Out with the Old - in with the New

Here I am packing out a post from a rotting bench I am removing on the Interruption Point Trail. When finished this will complete my major projects of getting the trails ready for our winter guests. Starting this month Jeanette and I will begin some new job responsibilities. Jeanette, in addition to working in the Registration Station will be reorganizing the Visitor’s Center. In addition to some trail work; I will be leading a Bird Walk on Monday afternoons and a Trail Hike on Friday mornings.