Dave Hatton Photography

This is something you will rarely see from me: a fully AI-generated image. All of my real photographs are authentic images of Arizona. This is simply an AI rendering of an experience I recently had out in the Sonoran Desert.

I thought this would be a good time to remind everyone that when you venture into the desert, always bring a fork! If you “encounter” some jumping cholla (like I did), a fork is one of the easiest ways to remove the spiny joints. (And, for the record, Jumping cholla do not jump, you just simply have to lightly brush against the joints and they will easily stick and detach.)

And yes, underneath that smile is considerable anguish from the pain.

These are all taken with my iPhone and cannot possibly project the peace and serenity I am feeling right now as I sip my morning coffee. Nothing sets a mind straight like being able to sit out in nature on a beautiful morning. I am camping near the town of Rimrock, but I am just thoroughly enjoying the chittering of the birds, the acrobatics of these little small black bees that joined me this morning.

I am so glad I decided to move campsites yesterday. Not only did I get a better night’s sleep (my camper was titled too much), I also have a beautiful cliffside view. I was fortunate to get a picture of it from another “discovered” road. That little white rectangle is my camper trailer. LOL

I look forward to being in Prescott this weekend for the Phippen Museum Western Art Festival at the Courthouse Square in downtown Prescott, May 23-25, 2026 (Saturday thru Monday).