After leaving Las Cruces, our next stop was Picacho Peak State Park near Tucson, AZ, where we had camped on March 2nd, the first day of Road Trip II. This time there were fewer people and more desert plants blooming. I was amazed at the color and diversity of the desert flowers and blooms that we saw both here and in Big Bend. Perhaps someday I'll learn to take photos that do them justice. Here are a few of my attempts.

Next stop: California! It was good to get back to our home state. We decided to spend our last night on the road at Imperial Sand Dunes National Recreation Area near the CA/AZ line. We found the perfect spot and set up camp, including our makeshift awning and the handy shower bag. There was nobody anywhere near us and we saw no one the whole time we were there. The temperature was just right, the skies were clear and there was a slight breeze...perfect! Here are some photos.

This is our campsite. On the left you can see Lorri relaxing in the shade. On the right you can get a feel for the sand dunes and you can see the van in the background.

A shot of the dunes in the morning.

On Monday morning we placed our chairs strategically atop a nearby dune and enjoyed the view while the sun and the coffee warmed us up.

Flowers on the desert floor.

When we got back home, the house was still there and we were greeted by a very nice "welcome back" sign, expertly done by Ashley and Sara Evers. What a great way to end a great trip!

Now, back to work. Not!