After a successful 2014 trip to Catalina State Park in Oro Valley, Arizona, Sean and I decided to venture back to the beautiful campground and hiking spot for another go around last week. It's a gorgeous spot. Plenty of trails (which allow dogs, hurrah!) and campground facilities, all the while making you feel remote and alone at your campsite.We pitched tent on Friday early evening and settled into a relaxing evening of margaritas and snacks. A black widow scare later and breakfast the next morning, we set out on our first hike of the weekend. Little did we know, a dog would come out of no where and maul our poor pooch Jack, forcing us to scamper down the mountain and to an emergency clinic. Jack is lucky to be alive; we are lucky to have him, and a few hours of surgery later, we were packing up our campsite and returning to Phoenix.I don't know how I feel about ever going back to Catalina. It held such fond memories, but now, all I can think about is that dog, ripping Jack's throat, and the panic that ensued. For me, living in Boston, an escape to 85 degree Phoenix was plenty enough. All I wanted was sun and warmth, cocktails like Sean's famous Moscow Mules in the copper mugs I bought him last year.... and of course cacti. I got all of those things.
