Organ Pipe National Monument

I think this picture looks into Mexico. Many patrol cars. 
It was Monday, our first day of our fourth week. We left Long Beach after lunch, and wanted to see Organ Pipe National Monument in southwestern Arizona. We couldn't get there that afternoon, so we settled on Yuma Arizona, which would be the first non-California town on our trip back. Confession: We saw much of the Pacific Ocean, but it was not nearly as beautiful as in Oregon and Northern California. So, spoiled and rushed, we took no pictures on the way.
The road beyond San Diego was rocky and barren.
The map to the right illustrates our day. Organ Pipe National Monument was our first objective which is at the bottom of the map. Afterwards, we reversed course and headed for Phoenix to visit our nephew Russell and his family. 
    We have taken pictures of an organ pipe cactus last March, in Tucson,  but this region is the only place in the USA where they are indigenous. Between Ajo and the monument, we were stopped and inspected for carrying illegal aliens.
First stop, next day. Still on I8.
This is the one-hour trail we took. And almost immediately we see to the right an indigenous example of the cactus this place is named for. For some reason due to the climate, this species of saguaro cactus divides into many branches at it's base.
After Ajo, we came to the monument entrance.
Above, a Organ Pipe. Right, a two views of a saguaro with a red bloom at the top.

It's a well marked trail -- gently rising to a ridge.

The one above looks dead. But read below -- use after death?.

Do I look tired or what?

Like I said, we were the only ones mad

 enough to walk in this heat.

Looks like goal posts to me.
Looking back on our car from the highest point on trail.

What that sign says is below. Anyone with a disease to cure?

Two splendid examples of saguaro blooms

This barrel cactus always points south.
According to the clock on the camera, this was the last picture taken on this trip. The next one was the loo. Needn't show that.

Next, we drove to Phoenix, and visited with nephew Russell Miller and family.                                        

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