Apr 5 Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

We take advantage of the fact we have time to spare back in the south to visit another splendid but isolated park. It's a 3 hour drive west and south through the dry and dusty O'odham Indian Reserve. There's a sign of prosperity at the central 'town' and we find out why when we hit the eastern edge of the reserve and there is the Casino!
Oh, and 'Why' is the name of the first settlement off the reserve! (Must get a photo of that.)
This is a vast beautifully preserved area north and south of the Mexican border of Sonora desert at its finest. David Parsons, eat your heart out! Our camp site is idyllic and there are few people in this park. We pass 20 border patrol, police, park ranger cars on the way here. We feel very safe...There is a border station just 5 miles down the road, but we are not tempted to cross and take a look.
We watch the most amazing sunset and sunrise here. Also Ted finally took some photos of my doing my TaiChi against the desert. I try to practice every day, it's a good way to keep fit and breathe in this really clear air. En route here yesterday, we pass Kitt Observatory, one of the clearest places in the US to view the constellations.
The ocotillo cactus are all in full bloom with deep red flowers, attracting birds, bees and hummers. Other small birds call around. Huge turkey vultures soar and yesterday we saw a red tailed hawk hunting by the road. Small families of quail chatter in our bushes and peck away at anything at ground level.
We have seen the Organ Pipe cactus trees before on the Baja peninsula in Mexico, but they are impressive and huge here. Sadly with the cold and lack of rain, few of the huge saguaros have yet bloomed with the huge white flowers that attract so many birds and insects.
It really is beautiful here. Ted is much happier in quiet desert parks than at the busy ocean and we happily sit and read, listening to the sounds of the desert.
This morning we had very much sought-after rain, and hope to see everything now sprout and glow as a result. Their rainfall is way down and the early February freeze has killed many of the palm trees in this area, so everyone is hoping for a wet spring now.