Tucson and Saguaro National Park

{Sunday}

With no alarm set, we slept in a little bit and made smoothies before hitting the road from Phoenix down to Tucson.

It was an hour and a half drive, and we stopped along the way to wash dishes at a rest-stop.  I was pretty bad about taking pictures today, but it was the windiest rest stop ever.

My cousin, Barb, lives in Tucson, and I hadn't seen her in years.  I figured since we were this close (in Phoenix) we might as well make the quick trip down to catch up with her.

She just moved in to a new (to her) house in a gated community and on a golf course.  I remember now...every time I go visit Tucson, I want to live there.  70's and sunny in November!?  Yes, please!  (Then again, I've never visitied in the summer...)

   ^^Barb's back patio -- golf course just beyond those trees.

We got there a little after 11 and hopped straight in her car to go to lunch at a Mexican restaurant.  I didn't take one picture, but it was at a little strip mall not far from her house, and the tacos were DELICIOUS.

We came back to her house to do a load of laundry, and sat out on the back patio talking for an hour or two.  Soaking up the warm sun.  Aaahhh, THIS is why I came to Arizona!

She sent us on the road around 2 with fresh laundy and 6 chocolate chip cookies.  (Those didn't last long.)

I had some shopping to do, so we went to the Tucson Mall to try and find a dress for the rehearsal dinner next Friday night.  We only went in Dillards and Macys -- easy returns anywhere -- and I got two dresses.  The only picture I took was of the Christmas tree in the mall.  Why is there already a Christmas tree up this early!?

We left the mall around 4, and headed straight out of town to catch sunset at Saguaro National Park.

We got there a little late, and struggled finding a good place to pull over and take pictures.  The sky was still lit up enough and Scott got some decent shots, but the iPhone was not happening, clearly:

The best one I got incuded a semi-dead Saguaro cactus:

By the way, I wouldn't recomend hiking in the dark around cacti.  I think we both got stuck at least once. 

I wasn't all that impressed with Saguaro National Park, but then again, we only really saw it at night.  I did learn some cool facts about Saguaro cacti though and I'm happy to share them with anyone. ;)

I drove back to Phoenix that night so Scott could edit photos.  I was so wiped out from the 24 hour race on Saturday, that I just barely made it to the other side of Phoenix.  I pulled in at a gas station for the bathroom, and then we parked it across the street in a casino parking lot for the night.  

Not that exciting of a day, I guess, but it's always good to spend time with family!