Phoenix AZ, more zoo

Please enjoy.  For those of you who don't/can't get out often, I bring the zoo to you!

oryx

baby oryx, just a few months old

the camels are chatting over the fence

baby giraffe  

mom and dad

the baby was watching the butterfly to the left

never know what you will find at the zoo!!

Phoenix AZ, Wildlife World Zoo and Aquarium

We had a great day at the Zoo a few days ago with Gemma and Kerry.  As usual, the weather was great (has been the whole time we've been here) and the zoo was amazing.  I had been there myself with Gemma and Kerry several years ago when it was much smaller.  It has grown so much!  It is not inexpensive though. I don't know how families can afford to go with tickets costing $29 for adults and $15 for children!

There are a lot of babies at the zoo right now and you will see some in my pics.  Please enjoy.  The next couple of posts will be zoo pics.  I was pleased that many of my pics taken though glass came out fairly well:

Gemma, Kerry and Mike anxious to get in and see the animals

one of our greeters at the gate......very noisy!

baby spider monkey.....soooo cute!

does not even look like there is glass there huh?

a boa couple

no, not a baby.....a dwarf gator

love the "hair dos"

baby jaguar, still in the nursery playing with his teddy bear:)

look at his claws!

baby porcupines in the nursery

an ocelot through the fence

an albino croc

Phoenix AZ, Sonoran Preserve, DT Trl

We went back to the Sonoran Preserve behind Gemma and Kerry's house to do another hike.  This time  it was the "DT" trail (Desert Tortise).  Got in about 6 miles and after a late start it was hot!  Crazy huh?  Mid 80s:

this barrel cactus really stood out in the green rock surrounding it

I like the rocky "backbone" ridges on these hills

Phoenix AZ, Dixie Mine Trl contd

Well, this is our last week here in Phoenix.  We leave next Saturday morning to go back up to Prescott to have the items installed that were on order for Paradise (our motorhome;)). As usual, the time is flying by!

Here is part 2 of the Dixie Mine Trl.  After checking out what we could of the mine, we walked up the canyon where the mine tunnel is to check out the petroglyphs:

see the petroglyphs on the dark rocks?

"HP 1925" refers to H Pemberton, a rancher who helped develop this area.  The trail we went on  previously in this park was named after him.

there were small tunnel openings that just went in a few feet, maybe they were testing for mineral veins

more petroglyphs further up the trail

yep, it's a tarantula and yes it's dead darn it!