ICY WINDS & FREEZING TEMPS HELD US CAPTIVE ALL DAY:((

SUNRISE….ARIZONA STYLE

First thing I did when I got up this morning was to check the GRAND BEND WEB CAM back home.  I was really hoping I wouldn’t see any shadows!!  Had I seen the buildings or lamp posts casting any shadows I would have known for sure that 6 more weeks of winter were definitely in store for our Bayfield area.  And, what do I base that piece of absolute fact on??   Wiarton Willy of course!!   And who & what is a Wiarton Willy & what’s so big about seeing a shadow or not .  Wiarton Willy lives in Wiarton Ontario & is the chief Prognosticating Groundhog in that neck of the woods of Canada.  Every year on this day WW (not to be confused with WW WANDERING WILLY although I’m sure he would be quick to draw some comparisons) comes out of his burro to predict if we will have 6 more weeks of winter or not.   In the northern States you have ‘Punxsutawney Phil.’  Yaaaay Willy & Phil, Spring is on it’s way:))))))))

THOUSANDS OF HIGH FLYING SAND HILL CRANES

After receiving an email from fellow Canadian blog reader Robert (astronomer from the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory in Victoria) this morning good naturedly wondering when we would be continuing our travels I was bolstered enough to cautiously broach the subject again that maybe it was time we resumed our winter trek westward.  After all, we have been in one spot now since about November 15th of last year.  Waaaaaay too long for the Bayfield Bunch to be in one spot for sure!!!!  Coincidentally, while checking a past blog, it was one year ago yesterday (Tuesday) that we rolled out of the Ranch near McNeil Arizona & headed west for Quartzsite.  That led to some new areas & a nice time boon docking in the Kofa Mountains south of the Q.  Anyway, are the winds of travel beginning to stir……well, your guess is as good as mine because Kelly’s response wasn’t exactly, “Yaaaay, let’s rumble!!”  Stay tuned & wish me some travel luck…………

(FILE PHOTO) THE STEERING WHEEL ON THIS JOHN DEERE TRACTOR IS THE SAME WHEEL WHICH APPEARED IN TUESDAYS BLOG…AND YES, THAT IS ARIZONA SNOW AT THE RANCH ALRIGHT!!

Elfrida’s weather station tells us it’s 12F this morning with lows tonight of 9F predicted.  When I stepped out of the rig this morning the icy winds quickly froze me to the spot.  Quick thinking Kelly hurriedly unthawed me with a hair dryer so I could quickly slip around the yard breaking frozen ice in all the water dishes we have out for the birds & little critters.  I really do think it’s about time we headed for warmer temps in southern California’s Borrego Springs …..don’t you:))

MEXICO  IS 28 MILES SOUTH OF US ON THE HORIZON

 

Two new Blog Followers today:))  Didn’t see a blogsite for Pidge 1991 but we have had another reader by the name of Pidge who used to leave us a comment from time to time.  Both these ladies husband’s name is Don & have been full timing since 2007.  Hmmm, sounds like this could be one & the same person except Pidge 1991 appears to be in Indianapolis right now while Pidge from THE FRUGAL TRAVELERS is in San Antonio, Texas.  Sure doesn’t take much to confuse me these days but thanks for your interest in the Bayfield Bunch Pidge1991/Pidge:))  And, while I am still in confusion mode, I say welcome to Follower R Vin, if indeed this fellow is a true Blog Follower.  A little hard to tell sometimes…..

Thanks to everyone for their comments in Tuesday’s blog & a special thanks to Bill from NE in initially kicking off the topic in my mind & then coming back with his thoughts in the comment section of Tuesday’s blog.  All good thoughts, feelings, suggestions & opinions from everyone & it leaves us all with, ‘food for thought.’   As I have previously stated, I am not politically minded so I won’t follow up on the topic with any more discussion.  I’m sure there are far more people knowledgeable about these things than I am.  Now, let me see….where can I find me a nice Saguaro sunrise to photograph:))

How often have we heard the phrase, ‘if it sounds too good to be true it probably is.’  And, so it was, a month ago when we stopped into a store just north of Naco.  Three big bags of wild Birdseed on sale for the amazingly low price of $10.  Well, Cheap-O me fell right into that one.  Without checking the ingredients we hauled our big bargooooon of the day home & I promptly filled up two bird feeders we have hanging in a pine tree.  Well, sure didn’t take long to drive away the multitude of birds we had attracted in the past couple months…..and attract a whole host of new visitors we had not anticipated.  Yep, we had a whole gang of little buzzers at the feeders.  Bees!!  Something about that Bird Seed attracted the bees!!  Luckily, I have mostly always got along well with bees over the years so was able to wade in amongst the buzzers & gently retrieve the feeders from the tree, carry them a short distance & empty the contents on the ground.  Didn’t take the little bugg…er, buzzers long to swarm all over the dumped birdseed.  Noticed later that the bag said Wild Bird Food & not Wild Bird Seed.  Hmmmmm!!  Say, would anyone in the area like a really super good deal on a couple bags of unopened……Bird Food!!  Might be good for your Apiaries you know:))

Turns out our entire day was spent inside out of the icy winds & only 30 something temperatures.  It was a typically cold Canadian winter day without the snow.  Fortunately the big warming Arizona sun beamed through our windows all day long keep us toasty warm.  Gonna be a bad one tonight so we’ll have to run the furnace to keep our pipes from freezing.  Do I still think the Southwest has the best overall winter temperatures of anywhere…..ya darn right I do:))

GROANER’S CORNER:((  Despite our icy cold temperatures right now the locals tell us it still gets pretty darn hot here in the summer.  How hot you ask….well, let me tell you!!

• The trees get so parched they whistle for the dogs.
• You have to chew the air properly before you can swallow it.
• You realize that asphalt has a liquid state.
• You eat hot chilies to cool your mouth off.
• Hot water comes out of both taps.
• And, your biggest motorcycle wreck fear is, "What if I get knocked out and end up lying on the pavement and cook to death?"

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EMAIL THE BAYFIELD BUNCH:))
stargeezerguy@gmail.com

THE BISBEE ARIZONA PHOTO ALBUM

Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

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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.

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DON’T LET POLITICS STOP YOU FROM COMING TO ARIZONA

CAMPFIRE:))

I was surprised to see stars from horizon to horizon first thing this morning upon stepping out of the rig.  Monday’s cloud cover & winds were gone.  The temperatures may be down overall but for sure we’ll take another big bright sunny day here in Southeastern Arizona….…….10-4:))

SOUND ASLEEP IN DAD’S PAJAMAS:))

PB & J are the latest folks on our blog Followers list.  Here is a family traveling  the southeastern United States together enjoying everyday life on the adventuresome road.  A nice way to go.  Thanks for hooking up with the Bayfield Bunch folks:))

QUARTER MOON & PLANET VENUS SUNDAY MORNING

Unfortunately, our quiet sunny morning didn’t last & by noon the wind had picked up bringing with it a broken cloud cover.  Felt cold outside so I confined myself to barracks for a long day in my Poang chair reading & catching up on computer stuff.  Gonna be tough to come up with something readable tonight but maybe I will try responding to Bill’s comment in our Monday night blog.

A FLUFF OF SNOW ON THE MULE MOUNTAINS

Kelly & I aren’t gun people.  That doesn’t mean we are for or against guns.  It just means we are from Canada where guns are not a big issue like here in the States.  I don’t play golf so I don’t have golf clubs.  I’m not a model train guy so I don’t have model trains.  I’m not a hunter, gun collector or target shooting enthusiast so I don’t have a gun.    Aside from a neighbor back home who is a hunter we hardly know anyone who has a gun.  It’s just not part of our personal life or culture back home.  We do not live in a violent crime area so we see no need for weapons at our house.  Yes, traveling in an RV is different & we have thought about it but to carry a weapon for self defense opens up a whole different kettle of fish which I won’t get into here.

KELLY TAKES A DEER PARK LODGE CELL CALL ON OUR MORNING WALK

  

I do understand farmers & ranchers having guns for protection.  There are rabid animals out there as well as wildlife that will kill livestock & people sometimes.  There are injured cattle that may have to euthanized in areas where Vets cannot get to.  Along the border with Mexico here there may be other reasons for carrying a gun & with the death of a rancher near here awhile back some ranchers along the border feel there is a need to be extra vigilant.  Maybe a business owner wants to protect his property.  I understand that.

“I THINK YOUR CUTE”……..”WELL, I THINK YOUR CUTE TOO”

I can honestly say I feel safer here in southern Arizona than I would feel in many downtown big city areas across north America including Canada.  To see someone here visibly carrying a gun always attracts our attention but so do police officers carrying guns back home.  When a policeman walks by, a woman might notice the color or cut of his uniform & what material it’s made of & does the shirt match the shoes.  I’m a guy & when a policeman walks by I always look at what kind of gun he has in his holster.  Probably just a guy thing.

Now, as far as traveling in different States based on that States laws & politics or the life threatening things in that State which may harm someone, I have the following thoughts.  Would I not go to the States of Louisiana, Florida & Georgia because they have Alligators & poisonous snakes?  No!!  Would I leave out Montana & Wyoming because they have wolves & rattlesnakes?  No!!  How about bears & Mountain Lions in a lot of places.  No!!  Would I stay out of Arizona because of it’s politics, gun laws or the fact some people may wear guns in public?  No!!  Doesn’t matter what State you are in I’ll bet most of us would be totally shocked if we actually knew how many people right around us every single day are carrying concealed weapons, legal or not.

<<< SAND HILL CRANES

To not see the wonders of the Grand Canyon, to miss the awe inspiring drive through Arizona’s Monument Valley, to forego the Apache Drive east of Phoenix, to deny yourself the experience of hiking the Chiricahua Mountains or the Sonoran Desert surrounding the Organ Pipe National Monument is an unfortunate result of media hype, misinformation & politics.

THE HOLLOWED END OF AN OLD SQUARE BUILDING LOG

Fortunately for me I am not a politically minded person.  With the exception of the Mexican border, our travels are not decided by State or Provincial lines, gun laws, immigration policies or who did what to whom a hundred years ago.  We come to the Southwest because we love the beauty it has to offer, the history that is still alive, the great ongoing weather & the freer laid back lifestyle of it’s people.  Remember, we are from Canada & our lifestyle there is much different from the way we choose to live here in the Southwest.  Yes, there is still a part of the old wild West going on and it is that older laid back adventuresome lifestyle that attracts us.  At this stage of the game I much prefer the excitement, history, adventure & environment of the Southwest to our more suburban like lifestyle back home during the summer. 

SAND HILL CRANES FEEDING IN A CORNFIELD…McNEIL, ARIZONA

For any travelers out there, I suggest trying to set your politics & prejudice aside & go wherever you wish while you still can & enjoy the beauty this land has to offer, coast to coast.  This life will end soon enough for all of us so don’t deny yourself this valuable time to see this great country because of politics.

PANORAMIC VIEW OF OUR LOCATION

Now, before the war wagons roll up to my gate let me just say again that these are just my opinions, right or wrong.  They are not meant to stir up any dust or ruffle any feathers.  Just a little something to think about for anyone putting together future travel plans.  We all have our own journeys.  We all have our likes & dislikes & we are all, fortunately different.  It is these well intentioned & constructive differences of opinion that keep this ball of life rolling & our thoughts moving forward…….…10-4!!

SAND HILL CRANES HOMEWARD BOUND AT THE END OF THE DAY

GROANER’S CORNER:((   And, here’s a few reasons you might want to consider buying a new car sometime in the not too distant future.

.Your passenger seat is on the National Register of Historic Places.

.Instead of an air bag, there is a whoopee cushion taped to your steering wheel.

. The 15 minute Jiffy Lube needs to keep you car for 3 days.

.While sitting at a stop light, people keep running up to you and asking if anyone was hurt.

.For the last five years, you've had to settle for making "vroom, vroom' noises while in the driveway.

.When you gas up, the attendant asks, "Can I re-duct tape that windshield for you?"

--------------------------------------------------------------
EMAIL THE BAYFIELD BUNCH:))
stargeezerguy@gmail.com

THE BISBEE ARIZONA PHOTO ALBUM 
Tourists see the world, travelers experience it. 

BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/
OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

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.

A STORM FRONT MOVES IN WITH WINDS, THUNDER, SLEET & RAIN:((

RAINBOW AFTER TODAY’S STORM

A partial cloud cover kept the temperatures from dropping below freezing last night for the first time in a long time & that was sooooo nice for a change.  I really do miss my warm stargazing nights!!

 

I took the photo below on a totally wrong camera setting a week ago & the image that came back was black & totally underexposed.  I saw a faint line between mountain & sky so was able to bring the image back a bit.  The photo is not exactly what I saw but does have an unintentional old effect to it that is kinda different.  It’s just an example of what Google’s free Picasa 3.8. can do for you even if you make some very bad photo mistakes.   And we all make them……:))

 

PHOTO AT LEFT IS TOTALLY UNDEREXPOSED …..SALVAGED PHOTO AT RIGHT. 

Today the ‘Bunch’ welcomes new blog Followers, Jim, Sandie, Scooter & Skittlez from, WHERE ARE THE DIXONS TODAY.  Thanks for tagging along folks & hey, you got a great header photo on your blogsite:))

  

Slipped into Elfrida this afternoon & popped into the Library at 1 where the weekly meeting of the Tumbleweed Photo Group takes place.  Always nice to be around folks with like minded interests.  Todays photo topic centered around the Whitewater photo shoot we were all out on last week.

OUR HAPPY FACE TUMBLEWEED PHOTO GROUP:))

It’s not unusual to see people carrying guns in these parts & I must admit we still do take notice whenever we observe someone with a gun & holster.  We just never see that in Canada.  Below is a couple ranchers we saw in a restaurant for breakfast just a couple miles from the Mexican border.  These fellows wearing guns don’t bother me but while getting gas a week ago in Elfrida a young guy pulls in for gas with an old car, a bunch of dingle berries hanging on the mirror, baseball cap on backwards & gun so big on his hip that it almost pulled his pants down.  I nodded a cordial hello & he totally ignored me.  Young guy with a big gun carrying an even bigger attitude.  Now, that  bothers me!!!!

 

The country wide storm blew into our neck of the woods about 2 this afternoon with thunder, high winds, sleet & rain.  Temps dropped & by the time I got back to the rig Kelly had the heat cranked & all was cozy & warm in Paradise.  We had planned on going Geocache Jeeping with Jeanie & Ray tomorrow but this weather has changed our plans & we will head out next week instead.  Could be in for a few mighty boring days until this storm front moves out of the area.

GROANER’S CORNER:((  Did you know it gets so hot in Arizona that Roadrunners have to use pot holders to pull Lizards out of the ground & ranchers have to feed their chickens crushed ice to keep them from laying hard boiled eggs.  Yep, it’s true alright:))

---------------------------------------------------------
EMAIL THE BAYFIELD BUNCH:))
stargeezerguy@gmail.com
 
Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
 
BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/
OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

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.

Technorati Tags: Elfrida Arizona,Tumbleweed Photo Group,Gun,Ranchers,Mexico border,Jeeping,Geocache,Thunder,Sleet