Cities in California have green areas thanks to irrigation. Once you leave them, however, the view on both sides is flat scrub leading up to distant mountains. Trees like this are only found near water sources. Once you're into Arizona, the lush landscaping typical of the California oases gives way to miles upon miles of desert.

This is a more typical view and characterizes much of the unpopulated western United States. The main difference is the size and distribution of the sagebrush.

The drier it is, the smaller and farther apart the bushes are. Some stretches are so dry, they are mostly sand and rock.

The Phoenix area is full of these rocky hills.

Bands of color mark different minerals composing the mountain rock.

Sunsets are spectacular. The air is hazy and the mountains seem to glow. This stretch is between Phoenix and Tucson.

At dusk and dawn, there is a haze about the mountains.

We stopped for coffee. Landscaping here is done with native plants, rocks, and dirt.

A lone Saguaro Cactus graces the parking lot where we stopped. These are being killed off by pollution and population.

Picacho Peak dominates the landscape and lends its name to the State Park

Sunset comes suddenly as the sun moves behind the mountains.

We've moved off I10 for a side trip to Tombstone. This is hard country.

The mountains are a much prettier view than anything close. This farm owes it's green to irrigation.

In this country, you see more irrigation equipment than barns.

A very popular spot to stop is the rest area at Texas Canyon which is east of Tucson, just before you cross into New Mexico.

You're right among the rock formations and everyone is out with their cameras.

These formations are on the other side of the highway

The Little Dragoon and Dragoon mountains are the backdrop to this park. This land was home to the Chriacahua Apache. Cochise's stronghold was in the mountains

Many different minerals can be found in the rocks.

The rest area has separate parking places for trucks and cars. This is a lot of cars to stop in the middle of the day in August. The temperature is around 100 deg, but everyone is out clambering around the rocks and taking photographs.

Everywhere you look, there's a fascinating formation. These mark the boundary of the rest area.

Texas Canyon, fittingly, is in Cochise County.

Standing at attention, these mark the edge of the rest stop

Ahead of us are the the Dos Cabezas and Chiricahua Mountains. Around us, it's flat as a pancake.

The small size and distance between the bushes tells of virtually no rainfall in this area.