SUNDAY - I promise, this will be the last time I mention Interstate-10 on this blog, at least for the next few posts!
When you travel north on Interstate-10 between Tucson and Phoenix, AZ it's hard to miss this odd looking mountain peak on the western horizon.
From 15-miles away Picacho Peak is still a can't miss prominent peak on the horizon.
For centuries it's been used by travelers as a landmark to guide them westward.
As long as we went through all the trouble to get from Texas over to Arizona so Tricia could take the Photo Tour yesterday, I figured we might as well see a few other "new to us" locations while we're here.
Nothing but wide open spaces behind THE POD on this campsite.
We do have a really nice side yard with a ground grill and picnic table...
...and a front yard view of the very distinctive looking Picacho Peak.
MONDAY - This morning we were out of
THE POD and headed north towards Phoenix by 8:45AM.
We're headed out for our 35th National Monument visit. Nearly 29-miles north of the campground, in the small town of Coolidge, is where you'll find the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument.
There was a dense fog all around the campground at 8:45AM when we left.
After arriving at the National Monument we got our National Park Passport Book stamped and then watched the 20-minute film about the park.
The movie ended just in time to meet up with a Park Ranger outdoors for their in depth presentation about the park. The Ranger is a direct descendant of the tribal peoples who in the 1450s constructed the Casa Grande and the irrigation ditches that made it possible for up to 2,000 people to live here in the desert, 5-miles from the nearest water source, the Gila River.
That was quite a construction feat for them at the time, considering there were no pack animals or wheeled objects to move materials around, like the timbers that were harvested from nearly 80-miles away. Everything built was constructed by hand, dug using only handmade tools and engineered using small windows to accurately mark the equinox and solstice so planting and harvesting their crops would be sucessful.
CASA GRANDE RUINS
NATIONAL MONUMENT
When we first arrived at 9:15AM it was still very foggy at Casa Grande.
But an hour later, after the film and Ranger presentation, it cleared up nicely.
The 4-story Casa Grande is made of caliche walls.
The shelter constructed over the Casa Grande is now home to a pair of large owls year round.
This smaller out-building of the Casa Grande has the only other standing walls.
Efforts in addition to the shelter are being made to preserve the Casa Grande.
On our way back towards home we were once again presented with a view of Picacho Peak from nearly 20-miles away.
This is a view from the north, the previous photo was from the south.
In addition to our visit to Casa Grande we thought we would like to have a little fun this afternoon and visit the Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch.
It's only a mile south of the State Park entrance and at $12-$15 each seemed like a good bargin, especially when you consider the price includes a generous amount of food to feed each of the different kinds of animal. I can tell you now, it was worth every penny!
It is a three generation family owned and operated working ostrich ranch and feeding zoo.
When they opened to the public in 1999 it was just the ostrich to feed. Nowadays, there are lots of critters to feed! Joining the ostrich are Miniature Sicilian Donkeys, Nigerian Dwarf Goats, Fallow Deer, Peking Ducks, “The Goat Penthouse” and the “Hole in the Wall Gang” featuring Boer Goats, St. Croix Sheep, Bunnies, Parakeets and the all-time favorite, Rainbow Lorikeets.
They most recently added an indoor Stingray tank where you get to feed barbless stingrays.
Enough talk, here come the photos!
"THE WORLD FAMOUS"
ROOSTER COGBURN OSTRICH RANCH
Here's the board telling you what and how to feed each animal.
First up were the Miniature Sicilian Donkeys.
The parakeets went crazy for the "Seeds on a Stick" treat.
The Fallow Deer were very cute...
...and timid at first.
This family monopolized the "Goat Penthouse" stall.
It's OK, we just went next door to the "Hole in the Wall Gang" booth.
The chickens didn't appear to be all that hungry this afternoon.
We were warned to watch out for the ostriches stealing our sunglasses.
Picacho Peak in the background.
These guys are fiesty! WATCH VIDEO #1 NOW!
The St. Croix Sheep were very polite and licked our fingers clean.
The Nigerian Dwarf Goats either get fed well or not at all,
because they are at the end of the line for the Green Pellet Food.
They are not beyound begging for food either.
There's a sign reminding people not to forget feeding the guys on the second floor.
But I kind of liked the guys on the bottom floor.
Tricia fed the ducks, I got nipped on my first two attempts so I quit.
The Bunny Rabbit pen where everybody gets there own house.
They sure do like that special bunny food.
These two hung back from the pack hoping you'd toss theirs to them.
The tortoises all had names on their shells so you could tell them apart I guess.
Stitch had no interest in Tricia's offering of a sprig of asparagus.
Craig however seemed more than happy to nibble on it.
Johnnie 5 came "running over" with his mouth open to grab mine.
Seemed like he wanted the whole thing, clothespin, popcycle stick and all.
The star of the show, the Rainbow Lorikeets! They'll even open their own food for you.
These two guys must have been pals. They took turns eating. WATCH VIDEO #2 NOW!
Tricia had four at a time eyeballing her nectar offering.
She decided to coax the one off her head before there were any "accidents".
This guy was squawking in my ear for more, I tried to tell him I was all out.
SEE VIDEO #3 NOW!
Pretty bird!
Now it's time for feeding the Stingray their squid meal.
Their mouth is on the underside of their head, so they need to be above your hand to feed.
Sorry, all out of squid. All you get is a pet of the nose. WATCH VIDEO #4 NOW!
VIDEO #1
VIDEO #2
VIDEO #3
VIDEO #4
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