It's a Duck in the Rain
October 5, 2014
I took this photo of the duck in a decorative pond at Pipe Spring National Monument in Arizona. It was raining lightly, but within moments it was raining cats and dogs.
Bill and I saw a sign on the highway for Pipe Spring National Monument and decided to go investigate. According to http://www.americansouthwest.net/arizona/pipe_spring/national_monument.html:
"Pipe Spring National Monument may be the least well-known of over 20 National Park Service units in Arizona, due in part to its isolated location at the edge of the wide, empty Antelope Valley in the Arizona Strip, cut-off from the rest of the state by the Grand Canyon. This stretch of high desert has long provided a route for cross-country travelers who pass between the great canyon to the south and the high cliffs and mountains of Utah to the north. Historically, the remote far north west corner of Arizona has more in common with Utah, and this region was (or is) the last outpost of polygamy as practised by breakaway groups of the Mormon church.
A reliable water source is a rare feature in this generally dry and rather barren country, but early Mormon settlers found such a supply in the mid nineteenth century, about 15 km from the Utah/Arizona border on land which now forms part of the Kaibab-Paiute Indian Reservation. Over the next few decades the spring became the focal point for various buildings and eventually a small fort (named Winsor Castle after its constructor, one A.P. Winsor), intended to protect the spring and neighbouring cattle grazing lands against Navajo Indian raids from the south, although this threat never materialised. Now, the fort, outbuildings, and various agricultural relics are preserved and serve as an interesting illustration of pioneer life."
Bill and I throughly enjoyed visiting Pipe Spring, the old fort, the grounds, the awesome little museum and talking with the Ranger that was on duty that day. Indeed it is off the beaten path, but if you're ever in the area, it's a stop worth your time.
"Don't quack like a duck, soar like an eagle." ~ Ken Blanchard
Have a soaringly good day today my friends!
Linda
http://lgood.smugmug.com
