Lost Creek to Valley Vista – A Challenging Hike for an Old Man

Buckeye, Arizona.

As this post is being written, I will soon cross into my seventh decade on the planet. Even though I’ve put on a few pounds in the last two years, I’m still well under my lifetime average weight and I am working to keep from going back to where I was for most of my life. The “new me” is off the prescription meds I needed for cholesterol and blood pressure and I am passing my FAA flight physicals with “flying colors.” I owe a lot of my newfound good health to a much more active lifestyle since I retired. My sedentary job gave way to daily trips to the gym where I put in both time and effort, to often daily walks, and when in Arizona, to taking up hiking.

Cellpic Sunday – 31 March 2019

Cave Creek, Arizona.

But I Digress… as this is being published on the last day of March, I want to take a moment to thank all of you who have followed this humble journal for the last six years. It was March 18, 2013 when my first blog post appeared here at Journeys With Johnbo. Since then, I’ve published just under 850 entries. In the next few months, we’ve got lots more travels to share including some new international stops we will be gathering starting this week on a new cruise adventure. Stay Tuned for More! Now, on to this week’s Cellpic Sunday post…

Indian Pueblo Cultural Center – Gateway to the 19 Pueblos of New Mexico

Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Since wintering in the southwest, I’ve become more interested in the history and culture of the Native Americans. Regular readers may have noticed a thread of travels in my journeys here that features events and places that focus on that part of the history not only of the United States, but of the North American continent and its earliest residents. This week we journey to the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, a museum focusing on the 19 Pueblos of New Mexico.

Cellpic Sunday – 24 March 2019

Goodyear, Arizona.

As predicted, the plentiful rains this fall and winter led to an abundance of wildflowers. This stand of golden poppies and lupine is a testament to the abundant moisture received this season… even though the photo is “fake news.”

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – History

Mandan, North Dakota.

This week’s photo challenge asks us to consider sharing something historic. Patti Moed writes, “History can be personal or public. It can last for a moment, a decade, or a century. It is local, national, or international. It can be a monument, a relic, a person, a place, or a memento.” Her challenge is punctuated by a gallery of images from around the world that focus on historic places, people, and times. You can read her entire challenge post here.

J and R Vintage Auto Museum – Visit While You Still Can

Rio Rancho, New Mexico.

This winter, a family friend who is also a “car nut” shared a hidden treasure near Albuquerque. This vintage auto museum is well worth a visit and if you’ve the desire and funds, you might just be able to take home one of the classics on display. When we were there, a few of the cars had “For Sale” signs on them. That’s not usual for a museum…

Cellpic Sunday – 17 March 2019

Buckeye, Arizona.

They call it a desert, but the Sonoran Desert is the wettest desert in the world averaging about 10 inches (254 mm) per year. Phoenix and it’s surrounding metro area is the largest populated area in the desert which covers over half of Arizona, parts of California, and much of the Mexican state of Sonora. Contrast that with the Atacama Desert in Chile which averages 0.6 inches (15 mm) per year. According to Wikipedia, some weather stations in the Atacama desert have not received measurable rain since they were installed.