HAD OURSELVES JUST A GREAT DAY JEEPING IN THE KOFA MOUNTAINS

ARIZONA’S RUGGED KOFA MOUNTAINS

After publishing our Christmas Eve post Pheebs & slipped outside under Arizona’s canopy of twinkling stars stretching from mountain top to mountain top.  To the south could be seen a soft glow in the sky.  Yuma.  A smaller puff of light to our north showed me where Quartzsite was located.  Dark skies to the east & west.  But there in the east just rising over Kofa’s Palm Canyon was the mighty hunter of the night skies himself.  Orion.  What a beautiful sight on Christmas Eve & one to be remembered.  Orion is my Aunt Jean’s favorite constellation.

SUNRISE OVER THE KOFAS

Guess it was bound to happen & this morning I fell out of my bunk.  I was in the process of climbing down when I guess my sleeping bag slid or something.  Lost my grip & tumbled to the floor in a heap.  No damage & Pheebs was right there totally worried & concerned trying to help.  Took me about half a minute to convince her all was well despite my crumpled state of affairs on the floor.  Took me another half minute to get myself back up on my feet again.  Close call & I will have to do things differently next time.

No TV channels at our location in the Kofas but we do have an excellent Verizon signal.  We have a small emergency radio & it was with this radio playing Christmas Carols on the kitchen counter that we had our morning coffee & browsed around on our laptops.  Our kind of Christmas morning.  Quiet & peaceful right here in the shadow of the Kofa Mountains.

DRESSED WARMLY FOR OUR MORNING WALK

Due to a cool breeze this morning we shortened up our walk & piled into the Jeep.  Scouted out a few campsites close by & headed up Palm Canyon road to the Palm Canyon trailhead.  Been a few years since we had been here last & I had totally forgot the overwhelming beauty of this spot.  Being it was morning the sun had not got round to lighting the Canyon yet & it was in shadow.  That meant cool temps.  We had already hiked up to the Palms a few years ago so we just rock scrambled ourselves around the trailhead area marveling at the grandeur.  And then a most amazing thing happened.  From somewhere up the Canyon we could hear someone playing a flute.  The Canyon walls acoustically wafted it’s sweet music to our ears.  Only lasted about a minute & it was gone.  Two cars were in the parking lot so we knew people were on the trail.

  

  

UNFORTUNATELY PALM CANYON WAS IN DEEP SHADOW THIS MORNING SO MY PICS DO NOT DO IT JUSTICE

To see the day we hiked into Palm Canyon click A LITTLE MAGIC IN THE KOFA MOUNTAINS

From Palm Canyon we backtracked back down Palm Canyon road turning onto another gravely desert road at Ann & Bill’s trailer.  A minute later we rolled by RV SUE'S place.  Didn’t see her, Bridget, or Spike, outside but gave them all a big wave anyway.  We were on a mission to find the big Rock Skull hidden back in the Kofa mountains somewhere. 

 

HEADING OFF IN SEARCH OF SKULL ROCK

Definitely best to have a 4 wheel drive on these desert roads.  Finally reached a spot where the road fanned out a bit & we thought maybe this was the area of the skull & sure enough Kelly spotted a big rock formation with what looked like a large skull on the northeast side of it.  Maybe half a mile or more away.  It was such an awe inspiring area we were in we decided to hike to the skull.  We never made it…………

WE BOTH SAW A SKULL IN THIS ROCK FORMATION BUT THIS PHOTO FAILS TO SHOW EXACTLY WHAT WE SAW

Before I tell you why let me just say how overwhelmed we were by the beauty confronting us.  Rock formations stretching into the crystal blue heavens like towering sky scrapers.  Reminded me a lot of some hikes we did in the Ajo mountains near Why Arizona in our early RV days.  Some folks like being by the ocean, some by a lake, others in forests of green while others in lands as flat as a pancake.  For me it is being surrounded by mountains.  If I can’t be enveloped in the mountains I want to at least be able to see the mountains.  And today was a treat because we got ourselves right into the mountains themselves with towering monoliths all around us.

 

 

  

MUST SAY I WAS DISAPPOINTED WITH MY PHOTOS TODAY, THEY JUST DO NOT CAPTURE THE TRUE BEAUTY THAT IS HERE IN THESE MOUNTAINS

Between us & the rock skull we had spotted were gulley's, ridges, Saguaros, Ocotillos, Brittle Bush….and one of the deadliest cactus’s we have ever come across.  Pretty as they are we have found Teddy Bear Cholla to be one of the worst Cactus plants to ever come in contact with man or beast.  We were making our way along when I crossed a gulley through a patch of Brittle Bush.  Pheebs was right behind me.  When I came through & up the rocky grade a bit….Pheebs wasn’t behind me anymore.  I called & could see her still in the Brittle Bushes.  She seemed to be having trouble getting through so I called her several times.  Her head slowly emerged but she was in difficulty & as she struggled free of the bushes I saw right away her paws were full of Teddy Bear Cholla spikes.  I had accidentally led her into a nest of deadly Cholla thorns hidden under the Brittle Bushes.  She couldn’t walk.  Luckily I carry tweezers in my pocket & we spent the best part of the next 15 to 20 minutes painfully extracting barbs from her paws, legs, & mouth area.  She came through the ordeal like the true little trooper she truly is but that was the end of our hike to the skull.  We carefully made our way back to the Jeep stopping along the way to work on the barbs when needed.  Pheebs got some out herself & we got the rest.  By the time we reached the Jeep she was A-OK again.

WHEN I SAW PHEEBS HAVING DIFFICULTY HERE I KNEW SHE WAS IN TROUBLE

 

THOSE ARE THE DEVILISH TEDDY BEAR CHOLLAS AROUND PHEEBS

We weren’t exactly sure if the rock formation skull we saw was the one Ann mentioned or not so we decided to keep following the road deeper into the mountains.  And it got rougher.  At several points we debated whether to turn back but the beauty surrounding us just kept pulling us further & further into the mountains.  Didn’t matter where one looked it was awe inspiring.  We knew we were far enough back that we were actually behind Palm Canyon somewhere. 

 

The early afternoon mountain shadows were beginning to creep across the rough & rocky trail we were on.  Certainly couldn’t call it a road.  And then we spotted something & said ‘WHAT’!!

Way back in the mountains where we figured no humans would be we spotted a van camper nestled into some rocks & trees.  How could a van get in here??  But as we were to find out it was no ordinary van.  As we came up abreast of the van Kelly said, “there it is”.  “There’s what” I said.  “The Skull”!!!!  And sure enough we had found the big rock skull Ann had told us about & it was right where the camper van was parked.

 

We went about a hundred feet past & stopped.  We certainly didn’t want to bother anybody but while standing by the Jeep deciding what to do we saw 2 hikers come over the ridge & approach the van.  Turns out it was two very outdoorsy  ladies from Phoenix.  We approached & said we had driven out to see Skull rock & a cave.  The ladies were very friendly & said come on over.  And that’s how we met Pam & Katherine today.  They showed us the tiny but fascinating cave.  It’s blackened roof had seen many campfires.  The ladies had stumbled across the campsite by accident a day before.  In fact they hadn’t even known the big rock formation they were camped beside was known as ‘the Skull although they had both figured out it looked like something between a Great Horned Owl & a Skull.  Had us a nice chat & decided not to go any further into the mountains.  It was already a long journey back.  Just as well because we later found out the road deteriorated very quickly just past the skull site.

PAM & KATHERINE FROM PHOENIX

 

THEIR HIGH CLEARANCE VAN IS SPECIALLY BUILT FOR RUGGED COUNTRY

AND THIS IS THE SMALL CAVE

We bounced, jostled, & scraped our way back down the wash from whence we had come, marveling all the way at our great fortune to be doing what it is we love to do in an area of the country we so much love to do it in.  We plan to return to the Kofa Mountains more often.  So much here to see & the Kofa’s are only a two & a half hour drive from our Congress house.

 

HEADING BACK OUT OF THE MOUNTAINS

 

  

SEE THE LARGE ROCK LIZARD CLIMBING UP THE MOUNTAIN

The rocky road leading back to Winnie The Bago runs right through Bill & Ann’s host campsite.  We saw Bill, Ann, & RV Sue sitting out alongside their trailer so we pulled over for a chat.  Sometimes conversations just roll & so it was with Ann, Bill, & Sue.  It’s enjoyable when folks with a common interest get together & talk about what it is they are all interested in.  No looking down, shuffling feet in the dirt trying to make small talk.  I don’t mind being around people like that.  Light hearted, easy going, genuinely friendly, helpful & caring folks.  My kind of people.  Not wanting to be intrusive we didn’t stay too long.  Seems we never do.

 

HEADING BACK OUT ACROSS THE DESERT FLOOR

We sure were happy to travel the last quarter mile or so down the road back to our temporary campsite.  We were tired from our 5 hour mountain Jeep scramble.  And we were hungry because we had not packed a lunch today.  I also knew I probably had a couple hundred photos to go through after todays great day in the mountains plus I had a blog to write.  Ann & Bill had graciously invited us for supper with Sue but we decided it was best we get back on home.  Thanks folks, perhaps another day, another time.

We were going to move the rig to a different location across the road this afternoon but decided to do it in the morning.  We will then scout out a few more desert roads south of us & see what sights we can see & what adventures we may find ourselves in.

Welcome to our latest reader on ‘Friend Connect’.  Lynne from OUR ROAD LESS TRAVELED has just joined us on our travels.  You climbed aboard just at the right time Lynn while we are here exploring around in Arizona’s Kofa Mountains.

WE SURE HAD US A TIRED LITTLE DOGGY WHEN WE GOT HOME

And last but not least I have a correction to make about my Christmas Eve post.  I put the wrong link in for Pronghorn.  It is actually the Desert Big Horn Sheep (not Antelope) that Ann & Bill have been helping with as part of their many volunteer duties here in the KOFA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE.

GROANER’S CORNER:))  And my last Christmas joke for the year………….                       

It's a romantic full moon, when Pedro said, "Hey, Mamacita, let's do Weeweechu."
Oh no, not now, let's look at the moon!" said Rosita.
Oh, c'mon baby, let's you and I do Weeweechu. I love you and it's the perfect time," Pedro begged.
"But I wanna just hold your hand and watch the moon." replied Rosita.
Please, Corazoncito, just once, do Weeweechu with me."
Rosita looked at Pedro and said, "OK, one time, we'll do Weeweechu."
Pedro grabbed his guitar and they both sang.....
"Weeweechu a Merry Christmas, Weeweechu a Merry Christmas, Weeweechu a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year."

-------------------------------------------------------------
- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot)
- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.

CHRISTMAS EVE SOMEWHERE IN THE KOFA MOUNTAINS & GUESS WHO WE COINCIDENTALLY MET HERE……..:))

Well wouldn’t ya know it.  After checking temperatures for warmer destinations early this morning we find out that Congress is warmer than the half dozen other areas we were hoping to head for.  Did that mean we would stay right where we are?  No way Jose…….we were in travel mode:))

<<< SPOTTED THIS RED TAIL HAWK ON OUR WALK THIS MORNING

Had ourselves a relaxing ‘getting ready’ morning.  Tossed the final few things in the rig, hooked on the Jeep, & about 10:55 we rolled out the driveway.  Picked up a bit of gas in Congress & swung Winnie’s nose westward on highway 71.  Had we traveled in a southerly direction we would have been heading for Ajo & Darby Well road but finally made up my mind getting gas we would head for the KOFA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE south of Quartzsite Arizona.  It’s an area we spent some time in 3 or 4 years ago.  Have always loved the Kofa Mountains ever since first coming to Quartzsite back in January of 07. 

NICE BEING ABLE TO TRAVEL LITE ON OUR SHORTER BOONDOCKING VENTURES NOW

Love the quiet drive from Congress to I-10 just a few miles east of the Q.  The road just rolls across the desert floor with hardly any traffic on it at all.  Rumbled into Quartzsite about 12:45 & made our first stop McDonalds.  Say what you will about McDonalds but I had a hankerin for a burg, some fries, & a coffee that beats Charbucks anyday.  Last time in Quartzsite was on our way home from Borrego Springs about a month ago & we noticed today activity is really picking up in the Q.  Dealers have already stocked up their lots with RV’s of all descriptions for sale.  Vendors tents are up & in the process of going up.  Quartzsite is once again readying itself for the month of January.  Largest annual gathering of RV’s in the world.

Our second stop in the Q was at K&B’s for a couple more LED lights.  From there it was over to another vendor suggested by K&B for a $9 Rodent Deterrent.  Will explain & have a picture in tomorrow’s post about that gizmo.

 

HERE COMES KELLY OUT OF K&B’S WITH OUR L.E.D. LIGHTS

We marveled at the warmer weather as we headed south out of the Q.  What a great feeling it was once again to be back on the road & heading off somewhere.  The Kofa mountains have always been on my favorites mountain list.  It’s the jagged & ragged peaks that I have always admired.  We knew of several roads heading off the highway into the desert towards the mountains & at first planned on returning to the area & the spot we were before.  But a last minute decision (& we have lots of those) took us down a different road albeit a road we had also traveled one other time.  Road was a bit wash-boardy so had to take it slow.  

THE KOFA MOUNTAINS WHERE WE WOULD END UP AT THAT LITTLE HUMP ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE

 

PALM CANYON ROAD & YES THERE ARE PALM TREES UP THAT SHADOWED CANYON ON THE RIGHT

We pulled off the road onto a wide flat area & stopped.  Got out & were just in the process of deciding about staying there for the night when heard & saw a white trailer coming along the road behind us.  I said to Kelly “oh no, I bet that rig will pull right in here beside us”.  And it did!! 

PHEEBS COMES RUNNING TO TELL ME WHO’S HERE:))

Well we have all had our share of coincidences over the years & the term ‘it’s a small world’ often applies to RV folks & it sure applied to us today as well as the driver of the white van pulling the white casita trailer.  She recognized our rig & we recognized her as soon as she pulled in behind us.  Well Holy Smokes it was none other than RV SUE & HER CANINE CREW.  She had slipped over from Ogilbe Road west of Yuma to visit friends Ann & Bill for Christmas.  Ann & Bill are volunteers here at the Kofa Refuge.  You can imagine how surprised we were to see Sue.  What a huge coincidence.  What were the odds of being in the same part of the desert on the same road at the same time of day.  Of course Spike & Bridget are Pals of Pheebs so it was like old home week with all the wagging tails, smells, & smooches.  How great to see Sue again.  Been about a year since we last saw her boondocking just south of North Ranch near Congress.  Course we did spot her rig near Dome Rock west of Quartzsite from I-10 about a month ago on our way to Borrego Springs.

 

 

Sue & the crew motored on up the road a short distance to Ann & Bills travel trailer.  It’s the only one out here besides us & we can their trailer from where we are.  I think Sue plans on staying in the area for a few days so we will probably see her again.  We can see her rig parked about a quarter mile north of us in a copse of trees.  You know how we boondockers have the greatest respect for each others privacy.  We’re kind of a funny bunch that way & it’s not something easily understood by most folks who like to gather together & socialize in RV Parks.    

SUE, SPIKE, & BRIDGET, HEAD FOR ANN & BILL’S TRAILER WHICH IS THAT WHITE DOT UP THE ROAD

 

SUE STOPS AT BILL & ANN’S & LATER FINDS HERSELF A NICE BOONDOCKING SPOT NESTLED IN AMONGST SOME MESQUITE TREES

Sue’s friends Ann & Bill dropped by to say Hello later & give us some helpful info about the area plus a map.  We had thought of moving a little further south but after talking with them I think we’ll scout out a better campsite in the morning & stay right here in this area.  Lots of Jeep roads & things to see.  They gave us a good lead on a cave that looks like a skull.  Good time to be here too because Palm Canyon is a popular scenic destination for folks & right now there’s nobody here.  Bonus:))  We hiked Palm Canyon a few years ago.  Bill & Ann by the way have been helping with the re-location of PRONGHORNS.  The sedated Pronghorns are flown from the Ajo Arizona area here by helicopter.  Bill & Ann help off load them to a recovery area.  We first met Ann & Bill over on Darby Well road west of Ajo a couple years ago.

BILL & ANN HEAD BACK TO THEIR RIG AS THE SUN SETS ON THE KOFAS

MY WRITING SOMETIMES EVEN PUTS PHEEBS TO SLEEP

 

YEP, WE SURE ARE COZY IN HERE ALRIGHT

So anyway, that’s where we are tonight very happily & nicely nestled into the 655, 400 acres of the Kofa Wildlife Refuge somewhere between Quartzite & Yuma Arizona.   And it was Christmas Eve 9 years ago tonight when Kelly & I sitting on a rocky ridge in BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK Texas watching the sun go down decided we did not want to ever have to spend another Christmas at home in Ontario Canada.  With the exception of 05 we have spent all our Christmas’s stress free going where WE want to go & doing what WE want to do………..Merry Christmas everybody & thanks for all the great wishes:))

CAN YOU SEE THE GIANT KOFA ROCK SNAKE??  BODY STRETCHES UP FROM LOWER LEFT & THE SNAKES HEAD & EYE ARE JUST ABOVE & TO THE RIGHT OF CENTER…SNAKE IS LOOKING UP TOWARD THE TOP RIGHT HAND CORNER…THE SNAKES EYE IS PROMINENT       

And before I forget, a guest in our Shout Box asked, “Did you ever find out what was making the noise in the attic of the house”?  Answer to that question is ‘no’.  After Kelly banged on the ceiling with a broom handle all has been quiet.  Not a creature is stirring not even a mouse.

<<< SUNSET OVER THE TRIGO MOUNTAINS TONIGHT

GROANER’S CORNER:(( 

Q: What did Mary Poppins want from Santa?
A: Supercalifragilisticexpialisnowshoes!

Q. Where does a snowman keep his money?
A. In a snow bank.

Q. What do you call Santa when he stops moving?
A. Santa Pause!

Why was Santa's little helper depressed?
Because he had low elf esteem.

What do you call people who are afraid of Santa Claus?
Claustrophobic.

An honest politician, a kind lawyer and Santa Claus were talking when they all noticed a $5 bill on the floor. Who picked it up?  Santa of course, the other two don't exist!

-------------------------------------------------------------
- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot)
- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.