I’m not a desert person. The closest thing to a desert that I enjoy is “Desert Moon” by Dennis DeYoung. But for many folks, the old west (and the new west) holds a certain fascination. My youngest aunt would love nothing more than to climb up hot, dirty rocks in oppressive heat, surrounded by cacti and reptiles that want to kill her, till the cows come home.
No, gracias.
I know I’m known for not getting it, but I can see the allure of this image: the mesmerizing fire, Lassie shaking hands with Old Shep, some Hawaiian guy wearing an aloha shirt (why?), the chuck wagon, Alice from “The Brady Brunch” available to stoke the fire. But sitting in dirt? Pass.
Who wants to sit in dirt? Do you really think this family is enjoying sitting in dirt in this God-awful stretch of Tucson? The six-pack of soda is already hot. The ants are halfway up the watermelon rinds. Little Suzy has a rattler not five inches from her sandals. Are there no picnic benches in Tucson? I can already feel my underwire getting sweaty. This looks miserable.
Modern-day tourist sites use this image to try to lure you into the Sonoran Desert.
While I agree that rainbows are pretty, we have them here twice a year when it rains. I would think treehuggers would avoid this area at all costs. Oak trees, cottonwoods, magnolias–all huggable. Cacti not so much. Mesquite and scrub brush? Not so fun. But again–to each her own. I contend I would definitely enjoy the LOW HUMIDITY.
Finally–the sun has set! Sunrise, sunburn, sunset repeat. Fortunately, this cowgirl gets to sit on a blanket to enjoy her Coke under the full moon. And maybe the elder cowhand can scooch so she can have some alone time with young Hank. Can’t you just see them ripping their scarves off and tossing them into the arid night?
Maybe all this makes you want to saddle up a bronc or throw your chaps and spurs on, but all it makes me want to do is stop by the local 7-11 to take advantage of their 2 for $3 Gatorade special. It’s all so dehydrating.
I Don't Get It 
Nice images but then I love the desert. Night time in the desert is indeed amazing. An incredible amount of stars are visible when you are miles from any city light. The first time you hear a coyote howl at night is an incredible goose bump moment not to be forgotten. Of course it can get real cold at night and any rattlers near by are in competition for any heat; including your body heat. Of course in the daylight water maintenance is a real thing. so is sun stroke. Be careful around bushes because that is where the scorpion resides to stay cool. But relax not all of them are poisonous. Of course who can tell them apart? Oops I did get carried away. Thanks for the pics.
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I can imagine that being able to see all those Stars would be amazing. We lay on the trampoline last night and noticed that the stars are getting dimmer and dimmer as more subdivisions and stores are popping up around here.
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One of the down sides of human development.
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I love the desert. I like open spaces with few people, like clambering around in landscapes, and love seeing a proper night sky without light pollution. What I do not like is camping. I just can’t do it. I am so not high maintenance in other ways, definitely not a princess, but I just cannot tolerate camping. I will, therefore, gladly visit a desert but I am not pitching a tent in one.
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That makes sense to me. Who wants to wake up with fangs stuck in her ankles, not to mention the damage it would do to one’s back to sleep on the GROUND.
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Precisely. Plus claustrophobia and constant noise.
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Having lived in near 100% humdity and near zero, I’ll take the dry. Moist is not a good word. Damp isn’t great either.
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Happpppppy trails to you……………… 😀
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Until we meet again!
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I agree with you! Love the post!
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Thanks!
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