Flagstaff, Arizona, September 2014

From Mexican Hat in Utah we headed south west until we reached Flagstaff in Arizona. It was in Flagstaff in 1930 that the Lowell Observatory discovered the planet Pluto (now a dwarf planet). We went for a coffee break at Starbucks before we headed on.

Out of Africa, Camp Verde, September 2014

On our way south along the Interstate 17 we did a detour at Camp Verde. We wished to visit Out of Africa, a safari park. Here, we saw Jeff Harwell and the other keepers play with the tigers, wow!
We watched it all from a safe distance.

Phoenix, Arizona, September 2014

We stayed at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa just south of Phoenix. It was a lovely hotel.

Phoenix, Arizona, September 2014

The hotel had a big outdoor swimmingpool. The pool helped Roger to cool down in the heat. After all he was a polar bear.

Phoenix, Arizona, September 2014

Our owners had rented a Toyota Yaris and it enabled us to get around. McBear said it was very fuel efficient.

Phoenix, Arizona, September 2014

One evening our humans went on a shopping spree and bought watermelons! They decided to give us a watermelon as well to compensate for the single banana and the forgotten knife at the Goosenecks.
"Holy pumpkin!" Roger yelled. "First bananas, now watermelon! How on earth are we going to eat this monster melon?"

Phoenix, Arizona, September 2014

Next morning as we went out on the balcony, there were chunks of watermelon everywhere!
"Good God!" Roger yelled. "Our humans ought to tidy up the mess. It looks like the Battle of Watermelon ... eh, Waterloo! He he."

Phoenix, September 2014

We were going to explore the southern parts of Arizona, so in the evening we planned our trip. McBear had bought a GPS system to help us locate our position at any time.

Phoenix, Arizona, September 2014

Southern Arizona is famous for its organ pipe cacti. They can grow to a huge size.

Southern Arizona, September 2014

We came across a small ditch, which was bended.
"It's actually a mini version of a canyon", McBear explained. "Although is not made of sandstone or limestone, but soil and sand, it's the same process of erosion.

Southern Arizona, September 2014

We went further and suddenly we found ourselves standing at the edge of a cliff.
"Wow! Is this a larger version of a mini canyon?" Roger asked.
"Yeah," McBear said. "When it's raining, the water erodes the lower part of the vertical walls. Eventually, a piece of the walls collaps. That's how the canyon gets deeper and wider.
"Would this canyon have a name?" Roger asked.
"This canyon? No, not at all!"
"Okay, in that case we shall name it Roger's Canyon!"
"Excellent proposal!" McBear said in recognition.

Southern Arizona, September 2014

Here we are near the border to the Sonoran Desert. It was hot and dusty...
Tom said he wouldn't mind a pint...

Southern Arizona, September 2014

Here's Roger with his viking helmet. Roger pointed out, that the Vikings discovered America hundreds of years before Columbus did.

Southern Arizona, September 2014

We were driving around until we realized we had lost our way. We ended up in a tiny village. Luckily, there was a post office. "Stanfield" it said on the wall. At least we now knew our whereabouts.
"McBear," Roger asked, "can I just ask you: where did you buy that GPS? In Wallmart?"
"Wallmart? Eh... no, I think it was actually at home in Tesco..."

Sky Harbour, Phoenix, Arizona, September 2014

Unfortunately, time was soon up. We packed our luggage, returned the Yaris and went to the Sky Harbour Airport. Here, we waited for our flight to San Francisco, and then back to Ireland...

Check out our video from Utah & Arizona