DESERT SUNRISE AND A RELAXING DAY AT HOME

Brace yourselves folks….this kind of Sonoran Desert scenery just gets me kinda photo crazy:))  How beautiful it was this morning at first light to open our side door to a world of sweeping enchantment.  The sun, just below earth’s horizon, cast an orange glow into the awakening morning sky behind a nearby silhouetted small mountain range to our southeast.  Between those mountains and where we stood were thousands of uninterrupted acres stretching wide across the Sonoran Desert.  Tall Saguaro Cacti marched silently in scattered ranks from horizon to horizon.  Only sound in the dead still air were distant Cactus Wrens waking to a new dawn.  I felt the Bayfield Bunch were truly back in their element and I was so happy just to be here and be a part of another truly beautiful desert sunrise.

We weren’t long in getting ourselves out for a walk in our new surroundings.  Despite the rocky footing little Cora did good but was much happier when we reached and followed a damp but sandy creek bed.  They call them ‘washes’ in these part and they carry small raging rivers in Monsoon season.  Just so nice to continuously see new things on our walks these mornings now.

PHEEBE WAS SO HAPPY TO BE RACING ALONG A DESERT CREEK BED >>>

Back at the rig it turned into a pleasantly busy morning.  The fire pit needed cleaning so out came my shovel.  Tables, chairs, and BBQ out as well along with our woven ground mat.  Transmission and oil to be checked in the Motor Home and we put our awning out for the first time in nearly 2 years.  Up on the roof to get the solar panels up.  Haven’t been up since we left Borrego Springs last winter.

CLEANING THE SOLAR PANELS BEFORE PUTTING THEM UP

Assembled my flag pole and up it went too.  Out came the iPod and Bose.  Soon I had the harmonious and melodious sounds of some very favorite music weaving it’s way through the Ocotillo and Palo Verde trees out across the desert floor.   The ‘Sons Of The Pioneers’ had gathered around once again to remind me why it is I love the southwest so much:))

A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THE GREEN SONORAN DESERT IN OUR BACKYARD

We tried setting up our Shaw Direct satellite dish again but I’m not even going to go there!!

<<< YOU CAN EVEN SEE THE CACTUS COWBOY’S SHADOW IN THIS ONE

Late morning, Pheebs and I headed off to climb a tall rock formation nearby and get us a lay of the land.  We carefully picked our way around a lot of prickly Mesquite shrubs and very nasty but very beautiful Teddy Bear Cholla cactus.  Pheebs did great in keeping herself clear of that stuff.  If you ever brush up against or slightly touch one of these prickly monsters you are immediately launched into a big world of pain.  I tangled with one nearly 4 years ago here and had to work the barbs out with a pliers.  I can still visualize that painful procedure to this very day. 

   

THESE BEAUTIFUL TEDDY BEAR CHOLLA ARE DEADLY IF YOU EVER TANGLE WITH THEM

How nice to be hiking in and around giant Saguraro and Organ Pipe cactus as Pheebs the Dusty Desert Dog and I scrambled our way up the rocky terrain looking for a and easy route to the top of those high round rock croppings. Turns out there were 3 of them and we were able to get ourselves up on top of the center one which was the second highest.  

WE MADE IT TO THE TOP OF THE ONE ON THE LEFT

Great views for miles and miles and miles.  What a great vast land this is and how fortunate some of us are to be out here not only seeing it but partaking in it as well.

 

We had a relaxing afternoon stretched out in our chairs soaking up some Arizona sunshine.  Kelly caught up on some reading and I just stretched out listening to my great Cowboy music.  

    

I was particularly moved by a post I read this morning that deals with dreams, the loss of a friend and living.  This single lady has a nice easy flowing and sincere writing style.  She is also an animal care giver and loves her dogs.  Meet JOOL.

Ever get your Tuscon mixed up with your Tucson.  Happens to me occasionally and Phil from Phoenix pointed out that error this morning in one of my post’s label section a few days ago.  Thanks Phil and I will try hard not to get my Phoenix mixed up with my Fill again:))

Turns out my assumption last week that commenter Butterbean was a her…..was wrong. Butterbean wrote back to say he was a him and it was him who invited us to him and her’s Texas Ranch. See, I sometimes get my hers and hymns mixed up to:((

Can’t remember the last time we ate outside but tonight was the first time since whenever last time was.  Steaks on the BBQ and a campfire.

We sat around the campfire with a setting sun slipping behind the mountains to our west.  First bright objects out in the dimming night sky were the Planets Jupiter to the southeast and Venus in the west.  We sat in awe under the darkening skies as a canopy of jewel like stars emerged against the black velvety background of night.  Shimmering little points of light from horizon to horizon seemed to mirror the embers in our dying campfire.  We concluded this was our first campfire since last March in Lone Pine California and this morning’s sunrise was our first Sonoran desert sunrise in over three and a half years since last being here on Darby Wells Road way back in February of 2008.

In the morning we will slip into Ajo to do laundry, wash the Jeep and hopefully find a power cord for our Cradlepoint Router which will help boost our poor, unpredictable and patchy Verizon signal.  Maybe I can even catch up on a blog or two:))

WE ARE TRULY BACK IN OUR FULL BOON DOCKING MODE AGAIN:))

GROANER’S CORNER:((  A man sitting at a lunch counter has just been served his food when he calls the waiter back.
"Waiter," he says, "can you explain why there is a footprint in the middle of this food that I ordered?"
"Yes, sir," replies the waiter. "You rushed in here, asked for a large omelet and told me to step on it."

---------------------------------------------------------------Tourists see the world, travelers  experience it.
-Until one has loved an Animal, their  soul remains un-awakened.
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The only thing better than right now  will someday be the memories of
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TUCSON ARIZONA TO DARBY WELLS ROAD…AJO

HEADING WEST THIS MORNING ON HIGHWAY 86 WITH KITT PEAK AHEAD
How nice to not only step outside Thursday night under starry skies but to step outside in a warmer desert sky was a real treat.  The sky was alive with stars and constellations.  Spotted winter’s dominant constellation Orion rising in the East just above the large rock face behind our rig.  Orion will travel high across the southern sky for the entire winter.

KITT PEAK NATIONAL OBSERVATORY AS SEEN THROUGH MY CAMERA LENS EARLY THIS MORNING
Parked just across from us was a fellow and his dog camped in their Class A Motorhome.  His name was Mike and his little dog was Corky.  Corky and the Pheebs got along famously and ran, jumped and played together this morning while we talked to Mike.  Boon docking sites and information were exchanged and we now have a few more ideas.

MIKE AND CORKY’S HOUSE
 
CORKY, MIKE AND PHEEBS….CORKY
Almost 10 a.m. before got the big wheels rolling west along a familiar stretch of road.  The Ajo Way highway heading west out of southern Tucson is a scenic drive. It’s a quiet mainly straight road running across the floor of the Sonoran desert ending at a T intersection in Why Arizona nearly a hundred miles away. The KITT PEAK NATIONAL OBSERVATORY is accessed from this highway.

CORKY PLANTS A SMOOCH ON PHEEBE’S NOSE
The highway slowly picks it’s way through Saguaro Cactus, Mesquite and Palo Verde trees, Cholla, Sotol, Desert Spoons, Prickly and Beaver Tail Cactus to mention just a few of the abundant green growing desert plant life. I particularly enjoy the mountain scenery ringing the horizon all way round.  Highway 86 is a fairly straight and flat road for about two thirds of it’s way and is a nice quiet alternative heading west if your not in a big hurry and want to avoid going through Tucson along busy I-10.

EVEN LITTLE CORA GOT INTO THE ACTION THIS MORNING 
But, a few cautions about this highway. It is a narrow ‘no mistakes’ road with no shoulders as you travel further west. If you drop a wheel off the pavement you are in some very big serious trouble. But, the challenge and excitement are there and the scenery is great.  The road is guaranteed to keep you on your toes. At the western end maybe 20 miles east of Why Arizona the road also has enough tricky curves, dips and hollows in it for you to keep both hands on the steering wheel:)) 

HIGHWAY 86 HEADING WEST
Nice memories as we rolled past the road leading up to Kitt Peak.  We were driving a truck and fifth wheel the day we pulled of the road at the base of the mountain that time.  Unhooked the fifth wheel and I drove the truck up to see the Observatories.  Great scenic and winding drive up and down that mountain.  Kelly stayed with the 5th wheel digging up some cactus and gathering some rocks.

Our continuing drive west to Why today under cloudy skies was uneventful and it was nice to relive some more old memories as we passed by the Hickiwan Trails RV Park.  Kelly and I did their blogsite for them about 3 years ago.  I will always remember Hickiwan Trails for the many great morning desert walks we used to take.  It was our first Snow Bird year on the road and Hickiwan Trails was the first RV Park we really stopped at and spent any time.  Max, Checkers and the Motormouse were a little younger then and the two big guys really liked fanning out on either side of us exploring the flat desert floor ahead.  I miss those two big guys.

We will slip back to Hickiwan Trails in the next few days and visit with Hickiwan Ray who looks after the Park.  Nice personable fellow and easy to get along with.  He has made this Park what it is today.

Highway 86 will also land you just a few short miles from Organ Pipe National Monument where you can take a very scenic 25 mile loop drive through the Ajo Mountain range. We have done that loop 3 times.

Eleven miles past Hickiwan Trails on the highway leading from Gila Bend to Lukeville on the Mexican border is the once booming town of Ajo Arizona.  Not too much booming there anymore but it’s a quiet little place and home to a fair few Snow Birders.  West of Ajo is a loop road called Darby Wells.  This is a great scenic boon docking area that we stayed at for about week back in February of 2008.  We knew it would be quiet here and easy for us to find a good spot this time of year.   Gets busier after Christmas when the boon docking Snow Birds land in this area.

The Sonoran desert is thought of as the ‘green desert’ because of it’s wide diversity of vegetation and plant life. It is the greenest of all desert types and for that reason it is our favorite. This whole area is just another great scenic part of big beautiful Arizona.

TURNING WEST ONTO THE SOUTHERN END OF DARBY WELLS ROAD…THE MOUNTAIN AT TOP LEFT WAS MADE BY NATURE AND THE ONE ON RIGHT WAS MADE BY MAN.
Parked the rig at the side of dusty Darby Wells road and unhooked the Jeep.  With laptop on board we Jeeped ourselves around the area looking at different spots among the tall cactus.  Some roads are not much different than a couple wide hard packed tire tacks and we had to keep in mind the size and ease with which we could get the big rig down some of these little tire track roads.  Every time we found a possible site Kelly checked the laptop for a Verizon connection.  Only saw 4 other rigs scattered about and I should add that we did later get an acceptable Verizon connection and half a dozen clear TV channels.  No cell phone.

JEEPING AROUND LOOKING FOR A SUITABLE BOON DOCKING SITE
Finally picked a spot not far from where we had parked the rig.  Managed to get me some fresh desert pin stripping on the coach as I wiggled and squiggled it in and around some scratchy Mesquite shrubs and prickly Cholla cactus.   Leveled it up near some towering Saguaro Cactus and that was it.   Ocotillo’s, Organ Pipe Cactus and a variety of other desert shrubs are now back dropped by yet another new set of surrounding mountains.  Love it when we can just change our surroundings any time we want.  Our weather is a bit on the cold side with a slight breeze under cloudy skies but I am sure the big Arizona sun will find us shortly once it knows we are here:))

THAT’S AN ORGAN PIPE CACTUS IN OUR SIDE YARD:))
A Shout out to Renee and Dave up there in that Datil place in New Mexico.  We plan to be in your area on our return journey in late winter or early Spring.  It has been on our list for the past 3 years.  Interested in the lay of the land and property values in your neighborhood:))
RV TRAVELS IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURE joined our Blog Followers list a few days ago and we say welcome folks and thanks for climbing aboard.

HOPE THAT HEAVY OVERCAST BLOWS AWAY OVERNIGHT
GROANER’S CORNER:((  After spending nearly half a day enduring the long lines, surly clerks and insane regulations at the department of motor vehicles, a lady stops at a toy store to pick up a baseball bat as a gift for her son.  Cash or charge, the clerk asks.  Cash, she snaps. Then, apologizing for her rudeness, she explains I’ve spent the afternoon at the motor-vehicle bureau. I am way past sane.  Shall I gift-wrap the bat the clerk asks sweetly, or are you going back there?
---------------------------------------------------------------Tourists see the world, travelers  experience it.
-Until one has loved an Animal, their  soul remains un-awakened.
BAYFIELD BUNCH PHOTO ALBUMS https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295
The only thing better than right now  will someday be the memories of
right  now...AL.

FROM A FREEZING 32F THIS MORNING IN NEW MEXICO TO A SWELTERING 81F THIS AFTERNOON IN ARIZONA:))

FROST ON THE JEEP’S WINDSHIELD AND FROM A FREEZING 32F THIS MORNING WE HEADED FURTHER WEST TO A SWELTERING 81F THIS AFTERNOON
After double checking the areas weather again this morning in Truth Or Consequences New Mexico we made a snap decision to change our plans and make some fast tracks further west into Arizona.  On Thursday we had planned to do laundry and take a drive over to Elephant Butte State Park to see if we could locate RV SUE AND HER CANINE CREW as well as another couple she knows there.  Friday we had planned to head up into the Silver City area to Glenwood and do the ‘Catwalk’ that John and Judy at RV LIFE ON WHEELS had done last week.  With the incoming storm front packing possibly heavy rains we just did not feel like sitting here in this areas colder temperatures for the next 3 or 4 days with a poor Verizon connection, no cell phone and few TV channels.  We also received an email that required attention so needed a strong Skype connection.  Our plans are to slide back this way on our return journey later this winter and do the Glenwood area and some other New Mexico spots then.  Just gotta love New Mexico:))

WE QUIETLY TIPPY TOED THROUGH DOWNTOWN TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES EARLY THIS MORNING
Due to our poor Verizon connection in T or C I have not been able to access photos in some blogs or leave comments in others. My ‘Shout Box’ and ‘Blog Followers’ list wouldn’t open either. Fell asleep waiting for my blog to publish Wednesday night so it may have taken nearly an hour or maybe more.

THIS ONE PHOTO ABOUT SUMS UP THE CHILI PEPPER NEW MEXICO TOWN OF HATCH
I had unhooked the Jeep Wednesday night in preparation for our stay in Truth or Consequences but first thing this morning at 32F I scraped the ice off the Jeep’s windshield and hooked it back up to the Motor Home.  Total distance driving the Jeep while unhooked…oh maybe 30 feet!!  We were back on the road by 7:20 heading for that big old Arizony State and the Sonoran Desert.  I programed Tucson into my computer head, pulled my hat down, fixed me a stare on the western horizon, wiggled my ears, twitched my nose and we were off. Oh, how we are looking forward to warmer temps and big Saguaro Cactus again:))))))))

NOW, THAT IS A LOT OF SOLAR POWER
Ok, before I go any further, here’s something I messed up in Tuesday’s blog.  I mentioned about a self guided audio Auto Tour at Valley Of Fires.  That is incorrect!!  I got the Auto Tour mixed up with the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge.  No driving tours over the Lava Flow!!  I have since made the correction in Tuesday’s post.
I THINK SOMEBODY HAS A ‘MAD ON’

Once again a beautiful clear morning for driving.  Heading south on I-25 the surrounding distant mountains looked majestic wrapped in their early morning blue gray haze.  Took the shortcut to Deming through Hatch and rolled through there at 8:10.  A distant wave and hello to fellow RV Blogger BOONIE somewhere in the desert south of Hatch.  We met Boonie up in Silver City one time.

THE TEXAS CANYON REST AREA ON I-10 JUST EAST OF BENSON ARIZONA
About 25 minutes later I recognized a familiar mountain ridge looming out of the desert floor on the southwestern horizon.  It was the razor backed ridge of the Little Florida Mountains.  I knew Deming was just to the northwest of them and by 9 we were in downtown Deming itself.

LOOKING WEST ALONG I-10 IN THE DIRECTION OF BENSON
An hour later we were westbound out of Deming with a full fuel tank, full propane tank and 4 full tummy tanks.  I was able to share a couple McDonald’s Burritos with the Kids:))  Looked southward as we left Deming to see another favorite set of mountains.  The 3 Sisters just north of Columbus were still there so all was still right with the world.

Two heads are better than one and not long after leaving Deming we had another example of that again.  First, let me say, just as I always have….I believe women are far smarter than men…period!! At normal highway speed our rig’s tachometer usually runs about 2100 rpms.  I noticed after awhile we were running at 32 and 3300 rpms and the rig didn’t seem to want to shift into it’s final gear.  I spent a fair bit of time thinking about this, slowing down, speeding up, shifting gears and just basically grumbling to myself with all kinds of worse case scenarios.  Finally mentioned it to Kelly who took all of 3 seconds to diagnose the problem.  She said, “is that overdrive switch in the right place?”  BINGO!!  Seems a little Pheebs nose, paw or happily wagging Bum had clipped that switch which is low on the dash.  I flicked the overdrive switch back to where it should be and the rig immediately shifted into it’s normal drive mode and the revs dropped back down to 2100.  Let me tell you folks, I happen to know a few things about the fair opposite sex and when I tell you they have it all over us guys I know what I am talking about.  Trust me:))

THESE TWO LITTLE DOGGY BUMS ARE FOCUSED ON MY TURKEY SANDWICH WHICH JUST CAME UP FROM THE RIG’S GALLEY
East of Lordsburg I began scanning the mountain ranges to the south because we were approaching some very familiar territory and it wasn’t long before I spotted the long hulking grey shape of the mighty Chiricahua Mountains towering higher than the closer Peloncillo Mountains.

A big wave to John and Judy at RV LIFE ON WHEELS who we knew were just down the Animas Valley at RUSTY'S RV RANCH near Portal Arizona.  Crossed the Arizona State line 5 minutes later.  If any of you folks have not been to the Portal Arizona area, mark it down in your travel plans because you are going to want to go there.  Type Portal or Paradise or even John McAfee into our ‘Search’ bar.

As we headed west on I-10 between Wilcox and Benson Arizona my head was awhirl with countless great memories from our time spent here in the Sulphur Springs Valley between the Chiricahua and Dragoon Mountain ranges.  There was Bowie peak which brought back our hike to Fort Bowie a couple years ago.  Remember to type these places into our Search bar.  The twin peaks of Dos Cabezas brought more memories.  Passed the Cochise Stronghold exit at 12:20 p.m.  Caught a distant glimpse of the Swiss Helm Mountains and the memories in my head just rolled on and on.  Tombstone, Elfrida, The Ranch, Sierra Vista, Douglas, Paws and Hooves, Pearce, Grapevine Canyon Ranch, the Lazy W Ranch, Bisbee, Rucker Canyon and on and on and on.  I am already looking forward to getting back to this whole area later this winter.  The very area that has been so good to us these past 3 years and an area I definitely consider our second home.

KELLY AND THE MOTORMOUSE ARE DWARFED BY THE HUGE ROCKS AT THE TEX CANYON REST AREA
A big Hi-Ho Silver wave to JERRY AND SUZY as we rolled past Benson Arizona at 1 o’clock.  See you guys later this winter:))  Noticed the traffic really picked up at Benson and was steady all the way to Tucson.

PICKING OUR WAY WEST ON THE AJO WAY IN SOUTHWESTERN ARIZONA
There is a stretch of I-10 where we always closely watch for our first Saguaro Cactus every time.  Watch for the small sign that says Davidson Canyon and look immediately down to your right.  Saguaros:))  Yaaaay, we are in the Sonoran desert once again.

PHEEBS KICKS UP DUST AS SHE RACES FOR THE MOTOR HOME AFTER KELLY CALLED HER FOR SUPPER…WEST OF TUCSON ARIZONA NEAR THE AJO WAY
It’s the day before Thanksgiving and one of the heaviest traffic days of the year so I wasn’t wasting any time as I swung the rig off I-10 onto the Ajo Way.  Traffic was heavy stop and go from traffic light to traffic light with a couple jamming stops for amber lights which re-arranged some furniture for us.  But, it wasn’t long and we were free of the City’s grip and out onto the desert floor.

SUDDEN STOPS HAVE A WAY OF RE-ORGANIZING THINGS IN RV VEHICLES
A few years ago we had spotted a boon docking area on the northeast corner of Ajo Way and San Joaquin road so that is where we headed and that is where we are right now nestled up against a large rock face with the whole city of Tucson just on the other side.  It’s 81F and we are just a cookin.  Didn’t take me long to haul off my too warm T-shirt and get myself into a light cooling shirt.  Looking forward to the cooler desert nights.  Yep, we are finally in nice warm air and that’s a big 10-4:))  In the morning we will be on the road again for another hundred miles and tomorrow night we’ll be all set up in one of our all time favorite boon docking areas. But, if there is poor or no Verizon service there we will have to move on.  It is imperative that Kelly has a good Verizon and cell phone connection for her Deer Park Lodge work.

WE ARE ALL SNUGLY TUCKED AWAY FOR THE NIGHT UNDER WARM ARIZONA SKY’S
While typing this tonight I suddenly remembered something.  We have 4 boxes of Shreddies cereal packed away for an RV couple camp hosting at the Kartchner Caverns.  We totally forgot to drop those off today and blew right by that exit back in Benson.  I hope those folks can hold out until we get back in the area later.

THIS IS A 300mm SHOT OF KITT PEAK ABOUT 45 MILES AWAY FROM WHERE WE ARE BOON DOCKED…YOU CAN SEE A COUPLE OF THE OBSERVATORIES JUST LEFT OF CENTER…I SPENT A COUPLE HOURS UP THERE 4 YEARS AGO AND REMEMBER TOURING THE TALLER ONE VISIBLE IN THE PHOTO…IF I WOULD HAVE HAD A STRONGER VERIZON SIGNAL TONIGHT I WOULD HAVE INCLUDED THE LINKS
GROANER’S CORNER:((     A professor was walking along a very narrow hall when he came face to face with a rival.
The passage way was too narrow for two to pass. The rival, pulling himself up to his full height, said with a sneer, "I never make way for fools!"  Smiling, the gracious professor stepped aside and with a bow replied, "I always do."
---------------------------------------------------------------Tourists see the world, travelers  experience it.
-Until one has loved an Animal, their  soul remains un-awakened.
BAYFIELD BUNCH PHOTO ALBUMS https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295
The only thing better than right now  will someday be the memories of
right  now...AL.