Natural Bridge Caverns

Natural Bridge Caverns
Natural Bridge Caverns, an incredible underground world of natural beauty.

TEXAS WILD FLOWERS

Sunday, June 13, 2010



On April 16th we left the ranch and the valley for the last time. We headed for the Thousand Trails preserve, Verdi Valley near Cottonwood, AZ.








Our Motor Home sat on the ranch in view of the road for six and a half months. The road was traveled many times a day by the Boarder Patrol. Many time the ranch was visited by them. Eileen was stopped and asked if she was lost after leaving the ranch in the Motor Home.

Your Federal taxes at work.





This was taken from a sign at the Palatki Ruins.


Clicking on the picture will enlarge it to full screen.






























A part of the ruins.



This is just a small part of the housing that remains. That's stacking a lot of rock.











All of witch is built in to an eroded part of the cliff.















Due to trees and other foliage the ruins are not visible from the trail.










Indian Paint Brush along the trail to the ruins.











As well as other colorful flowers.












From another sign at the site, a definition Art and graffiti.


















A room use presumably for such things as various ceremonies, education, and gatherings.









With a number of drawings.











Drawings of animals and people.










Symbols that meant different things to different people.










When and who the drawings were done are not necessarily known.










The cliff were these ruins are. Note the black stains left by warming and cooking fire on the cliff walls.









Moving on in to Sedona this is on the GPS tour of the area.











Chapel of the Holy Cross. Built on top of a cliff over looking the Sedona area.










Rock formations called the Nuns keep a watch of the chapel.













Courthouse Rock









Bell Rock











The Cathedral














The Cathedral stands above Oak Creek.
















A place where many weddings take place. There were two the day we were there. Each with there Owen photographer.





To the right of the photographer and on the other side of the creek you can see two painters.
Although my photo is a little soft the painting I can see looks like the Cathedral.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Lions and Tigers and Bears Oh My!


Loins, Tigers, Giraffe, Rhinoceros, Black Bear, Camel, Ostrich, Cobras, Zebra, Wildebeest, Jaguar, Leopards, Wolves, Hyenas and More!

http://www.outofafricapark.com/index.html
http://www.youtube.com/oawp







Ever want to feed a Giraffe, this is the place to try it out. They put us on a bus(no widows) and gave us carrots. Then took us on safari, were we feed our carrots to this guy and other African cattle.









Sticking there necks out is something Giraffes do real well. They would put there heads inside the buss to eat as many carrots as people on the buss would feed them.








Zebras another of the African animals who also eat carrots.












Baby Zebras have have brown not black stripes.












Eland, worlds larges antelope.
















Oryx antelope









Roan Antelope














Meet Boom Boom a White Rhinoceros.












Not limited to African animals they have both Bengal and Siberian tigers in there Tiger Splash show.

This is a fun and a must see. Our favorite as you will see.


Also why this guy is dripping wet.





Taking life easy before the show.


























When the show starts, they get serious.











Play can get ruff.










This is why they call it.......











SPASH!













Check out this sequence.























Tiger's going to get wet.










Another sequence.










Note, the trainers get wet also.












Get ready....












Get set.....













Go!









Wet kitty.











They have both brown and black bears.









These pictures are of the Brown or Grizzly Bears and are from North America.












Many of the animals at Out of Africa are rescues.
(Gee, I thought having a bear in my backyard would be a great idea. NOT!)












Prairie Dogs, also not from Africa.












Ever stare down a Hyena.














How to get animals out of hiding.


Though them some meat.











Yes, Lions are from Africa.
























Oh, I forgot to mention tigers are the only member of the cat family who naturally swim.










Looking across the Serengeti compound to the entrance.

Here you can take a bus to feed the giraffe or a tram to see all the other animals and the tiger splash.





So click on the picture to enlarge to full screen. Read about how Boom Boom came to the park.











Thats 4500lbs of beast.