Half Moon Picacho
I normally have a decent sense of what to expect with respect to the moon and its whereabouts, but on this particular morning, I was coming off 4 days of work travel, and I was entertaining a violent stomach bug that struck at 3:00a several hours prior. I had intended to get up at 4:45a to make it to Picacho Peak for sunrise, and I almost didn't get there, due to the dire need to have a restroom handy at all times, and the passing waves of nausea. However, I figured I could keep it together long enough to get from Tucson to the trailhead bathroom, so I decided to risk the adventure, figuring I wouldn't likely go back to sleep anyway.
When I arrived, I was surprised to see the moon hovering over Picacho Peak, and the morning light hitting the rock put on quite a show. For a little while, I completely forgot the intestinal distress, and became absorbed in the landscape and the moment. I had hoped for wildflowers, and while the dry spring dashed those hopes, the stately saguaro more than held their own. But as all things come to an end, it wasn't long before the moment passed, and I had to seek out more cloistered surroundings back at the trailhead...
Half Moon Picacho
I normally have a decent sense of what to expect with respect to the moon and its whereabouts, but on this particular morning, I was coming off 4 days of work travel, and I was entertaining a violent stomach bug that struck at 3:00a several hours prior. I had intended to get up at 4:45a to make it to Picacho Peak for sunrise, and I almost didn't get there, due to the dire need to have a restroom handy at all times, and the passing waves of nausea. However, I figured I could keep it together long enough to get from Tucson to the trailhead bathroom, so I decided to risk the adventure, figuring I wouldn't likely go back to sleep anyway.
When I arrived, I was surprised to see the moon hovering over Picacho Peak, and the morning light hitting the rock put on quite a show. For a little while, I completely forgot the intestinal distress, and became absorbed in the landscape and the moment. I had hoped for wildflowers, and while the dry spring dashed those hopes, the stately saguaro more than held their own. But as all things come to an end, it wasn't long before the moment passed, and I had to seek out more cloistered surroundings back at the trailhead...