Dear Maia, Isaac and Virtual Wanderers,

I woke up somewhat early today and wanted to get going. Of course, it’s never that early by the time I walk dogs, feed dogs, and pack everything up in the car.

We headed to Besh ba Gowah, about 5 minutes from our hotel in Globe, AZ. However, the road winds and you have to make a lot of turns. Zs and Ws.

It’s always a stunning site to me because it’s the first real huge desert plants of the trip – and all surrounding the magnificent ruins.

We started with the movie and gift shop, which is all 💯 dog friendly. I found a deep southwest pattern carry bag that Cimarron fits in – because she decidedly doesn’t fit in the stroller with the sisters. Then, we walked the ruins grounds, had a picnic lunch, and went down the hill to the botanical gardens.

After a wonderful couple of hours, we headed south towards Tucson. I decided to vary the day a little and visit Oracle State Park. I’ve always wondered about it, but the photos don’t have a lot of the low desert images – so I’ve just never gone even though it’s on the way.

It was fun enough. The ranger said our stroller wouldn’t get far because of the rocky trails. We did OK, but the heat was a bit much pushing 2 dogs and carrying another. We didn’t go too far, but enjoyed sitting in the shade as the quaint old farmhouse turned Visitor’s Center.

Now, we are in Tucson, our far point but not our time halfway point. For some reason, we have 5 nights going home but only 3 coming down. I guess I was in a hurry to get here.

PS Eudaimonia means happiness, but at a deeper level. Morals, values, meaning all play into the definition. My trips to Arizona may sometimes bring stress and they are a lot of work with rescue dogs. But, Eudaimonia isn’t just about feeling momentary joy. Helping my rescue dogs see my favorite places is a deeper kind of happiness.

Love, GM ❤️ (Cathy)