San Xavier del Bac: The White Dove of the Desert

by Richard Quinn | Jul 25, 2023 | Arizona and New Mexico, Travel

Arizona didn’t become a state until 1912, the last of the contiguous 48 states to get the upgrade from U.S. Territory to full statehood. Prior to that time, which wasn’t so very long ago, it was still the Wild West, complete with real cowboys and renegade Apaches, a...

Granada Park: An Avian Oasis in the Heart of Phoenix

by Richard Quinn | Jul 18, 2023 | Arizona and New Mexico, Photography, Travel

I’ve lived near Granada Park for most of my life. It’s hardly an exotic destination, and it’s far too popular to be considered “less traveled,” but over the course of time, I’ve discovered that there are goings on here that not everyone sees. Granada...

A Sunset at White Sands

by Richard Quinn | Nov 20, 2020 | Arizona and New Mexico, National Parks, Photography, Road Trips, Travel

I’ve always been a big fan of sunsets. I grew up in the southwest, where we have big skies that are just chock-full of particulates like sand and dust, coupled with auto emissions that pour into the air from the regions sprawling urban centers. Throw in a few...

New Mexico’s Golden Autumn

by Richard Quinn | Oct 15, 2020 | Arizona and New Mexico, Photography, Road Trips, Travel

If I was to ask you to name your top five favorite destinations for viewing fall foliage, good odds that New England would make your list, and possibly New York, as in the Catskills and the Hudson Valley. But what about New Mexico? The Land of Enchantment won’t...

Grand Canyon Rafting

by Richard Quinn | Oct 25, 2014 | Arizona and New Mexico, Grand Canyon, Travel

A major perk that comes along with living in Arizona is the fact that the Grand Canyon, one of the great natural wonders of the known universe, is, like, right there, practically in your back yard. All you have to do is take a little drive, three hours or so from...

Grand Canyon Rafting Expedition: Day One

by Richard Quinn | Nov 24, 2014 | Arizona and New Mexico, Grand Canyon, Travel

A Grand Canyon river trip is no ordinary experience. From Lee’s Ferry to Lake Mead is a distance of 280 miles, and there are close to 100 named rapids along the route, many of them serious business for even the most experienced river runners. The scenery is...

Grand Canyon Rafting Expedition: Day Two

by Richard Quinn | Nov 24, 2014 | Arizona and New Mexico, Grand Canyon, Travel

Day two, our first full day on the river, dawned clear and cool.  I awoke even before first light, restless on my cot, and slept out, after going to bed so danged early. The crew was up and running around before most of the rest of the passengers even stirred, and a...

Grand Canyon Rafting Expedition: Day Three

by Richard Quinn | Nov 24, 2014 | Arizona and New Mexico, Grand Canyon, Travel

Day three!  The call to “COFFEE!” was welcome indeed, followed by another good breakfast of pancakes and whatnot.  With the confluence of the Little Colorado beckoning, we struck camp and loaded the rafts in record time.  We started out by immediately running Kwagunt...

Grand Canyon Rafting Expedition: Day Four

by Richard Quinn | Nov 24, 2014 | Arizona and New Mexico, Grand Canyon, Travel

We broke camp perhaps a bit less eagerly on Day Four, most of us thinking about the huge rapids we’d be hitting, pretty much straight out of the gate.  Whitewater—that was one of the main attractions on this river trip, but yesterday we’d had our first taste of the...

Grand Canyon Rafting Expedition: Day Five

by Richard Quinn | Nov 24, 2014 | Arizona and New Mexico, Grand Canyon, Travel

After breaking camp and setting out on the river, we immediately hit Tapeats Rapid, right at the mouth of Tapeats Creek.  Compared to the big ones, this was just a toddler, only 4-5 on the scale, but in the early morning, before the sun shines full on the canyon...