Visiting the Sahuaro Ranch in August, Glendale, Arizona
It's the middle of August, with temperatures well above 100, and high humidity, so let's go visit the Sahuaro Ranch (yes, it's misspelled that way). At least it won't be crowded!
The Sahuaro Ranch is a magical place, which goes back to the 1880s, not far from where I live, in Glendale, Arizona. It's one of those places that you drive past a million times, and never even know it was there, even though it's huge, occupying the space between 59th and 63rd Avenues and just south of the Glendale Main Library, which is on Brown, south of Peoria Avenue, down to Glendale Community College, which is on Olive. I've been there more times than I can count, and I love it there. You have to get out of your car.
Palm trees at the Sahuaro Ranch, Glendale, Arizona. |
Although you really can't tell by the pics, it was really miserable out there today, with the high humidity of the monsoon season, and the temperatures over 100 degrees. I traveled from shade spot to shade spot, and the trees, even the palms, made a big difference. Contrary to popular belief, the weather was just as hot and miserable in the 1880s as it is now - that hasn't changed. What has changed, of course is that we now have air conditioning, and no one in their right mind would go out in the midday sun.
I was there for about an hour, and saw a total of five people. One person, who worked there, was operating the irrigation, one person walked by, looking very miserable, and asked if I had a cigarette, and I saw an elderly woman walk past me (as I was sitting in the shade taking the above photo), and a couple more people who seemed to be walking across the park towards the library. Come to think of it, I saw some kids on the patio of the Foreman's House.
Terratrike at Sahuaro Ranch Park, Glendale, Arizona. |
Anyway, I rode over there on my "lawn chair on wheels", my recumbent trike, which is wonderful for this kind of thing. It's definitely a lot less effort than walking, and unlike a two-wheeler, it can go as slowly as I want (I brake for peacocks!) and don't need to keep moving forward in order not to tip over (a disadvantage of a two-wheeler).
I packed a lunch, and found a nice shady spot. Even then I really can't recommend doing this kind of thing in August! Better to wait for the nicer weather, which is from October to April. Open to the public, no admission.
I like the ranch, even when it's hot and humid.
The barnyard area of the Sahuaro Ranch, Glendale, Arizona. |
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