Michael had a conference in Phoenix, and as usual, I went along to take a mini vacation while he did work-like things.

I was less thrilled about things when I discovered temperatures were going to be 96-106 during the time we were there.

The conference was (as most of his conference have been) in a resort. The resorts tend to be nice enough, however, with the exception of San Antonio, they’re usually self-contained and NOT within walking distance of anything. The Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort wasn’t out in the middle of nowhere, but with temperatures in the upper 90s every day, I wasn’t going to be walking anywhere.

However, it was set in a Mountain preserve. So I got up at 5am local time every morning, and walked around the preserve as the sun came up, which was really quite lovely. Being me, I didn’t walk far by myself, but did manage to force Michael up early one morning so I could feel safer hiking further than I did by myself. (Michael: I’m not going to carry you out of here if you break something. Michelle: You don’t have to carry me, just keep me company.)

I’m glad I was able to do so, because the area was so very different from any other place I’ve gone before. The hills were quite alien looking, when compared to my rolling green Appalachians.

Sunrise:

Find the Gambel’s Quail (Callipepla gambelii)