And into Arizona

They were predicting 4 - 6 inches of snow in NM tomorrow, so we beetled west for warmer climes.  Arizona is certainly different than New Mexico, at least along the I-10.  Different rock formations and much more vegetation diversity.  Barrel and Prickly Pear cactus, many types of agave, and a general wealth of vegetation we are trying to assimilate.  

You can tell we're close to the Mexican border.  Border patrol trucks towing trailers with quads go by on the highway, helicopters patrol along, and there's a permanent station along the I-10 where they stop and inspect every truck, and stop and chat with every car and RV.  

We're staying in Kartchner State Park, south of Benson, AZ, until Monday morning.  This is Arizona's youngest state park, with the cavern's true extent only being discovered in 1974.  Campground facilities are wonderful, and the interpretive centre and butterfly garden are very well done, and in immaculate condition.  The down side is no cell service, this post will be prettified once I have better net access.

We achieved another trip milestone today, succesfully dropping the Accord and touring about in it.  Tomorrow, depending upon the forecasted rain (the trouble with Florida is the rain, they said, you should go to the desert where it's always sunny, they said...) we're headed south-east to the San Pedro river valley, rumoured to have 400 species of birds in the winter.  If so, Nancy will have a bird-gasm.