A Rare Treat

I did not have to go to my regular job today, after working 8 days straight I have a day off. So I decided to just relax and have fun. I was inspired to drive up to Pioneer Pass, in the Pinal Mountains, near Globe, Arizona. This is just a few miles from where I live. And it turned out to be the most awesome day!

I saw so many wonderful things! First I stopped under the little bridge and enjoyed to sound of the water trickling down.

And there was this tiny little frog, only about an inch and a half long.

And a lizard sunning himself on a rock.

Then there is the huge boulder by the bridge, with this blooming cactus growing from a crack in the rock.

And a pretty yellow flower growing by the stream.

As far as people go I had the whole picnic area all to myself for several hours, but there were many things to keep me company, like this huge butterfly!

And these little birds, not sure what kind they are but they are about the size of English sparrows

There were several deer

Some pretty orange flowers

Thistles and butterflies

I took a walk and just soaked up the smell of the woods and the sigh of the wind high in the treetops. And then the best part happened! An animal jumped out and ran across the road in front of me into the trees on the other side.

Can you guess what he is? Have you ever seen one before?

Look at his long tail and strong claws. He looks a little shaggy, perhaps he is shedding his winter coat.

Look, he can even climb trees! Did you guess he is a coatimundi? If you did then you are right! Coatimundi's are related to raccoons and eat both plants and animals. I hadn't seen one in the wild before but the Forest Ranger I talked to later said there are a lot of them around the picnic area. So that was my most awesome, wonderful day off! How was your day?