SLIPPED INTO AJO TO HAVE A LOOK AT SOME MURALS

HERE IS SOMETHING FOR YOU MUSIC BUFFS…IN TONIGHT’S PHOTOS YOU WILL SEE MUSICAL NOTES PAINTED INTO A MURAL ACROSS A BUILDING IN AJO, ARIZONA…PAINTER MIKE (WANDERWOLF) TOLD US THESE ARE THE ACTUAL OPENING NOTES TO A VERY WELL KNOWN WESTERN SONG WRITTEN MANY YEARS AGO.  I WILL TELL YOU THE NAME OF THAT SONG AT THE END OF THE BLOG:))

A sunny 74F under another big bright sunny Arizona sky today.  Had the weather not gone downhill in New Mexico last week we might still be there but we decided before we left home this year that we just wanted to be where it’s warm.  I think we’re headed for 80F+ tomorrow:))

IT TOOK WANDERWOLF MIKE AND FELLOW ARTIST HOP DAVID MANY MONTHS TO COMPLETE THIS LARGE MURAL ON THE FRONT OF THE AJO COPPER NEWS BUILDING…

We slipped back into Ajo again this morning to pick up a few things at Olsens IGA that we had forgot the day before.  Nice well stocked grocery store.  You will remember us visiting Mike (WANDERWOLF) Saturday so we thought we would check out some of his murals in Ajo.  He had told us about one in particular that he worked on with fellow artist HOP DAVID.  Located on the south facing wall of the Ajo Copper News building we wanted to have a look at that.  He told us they put a lot of ‘little things’ in that mural and the more you look at it the more you will find.  These ‘artsy’ type people are a very clever bunch you know and in the photos below you will see why.

 

NOTICE THE 2 BLUE FEET PAINTED ON THE SIDEWALK IN LEFT PHOTO….KELLY STANDS ON THOSE BLUE FEET AND CAN SEE HOW THE NATURAL WAY THE BUILDING ON LEFT’S ROOF LINES BLEND INTO THE PAINTING

THE TWO BLUE FEET PAINTED ON THE SIDEWALK IS THE OPTICALLY CORRECT POSITION TO STAND WHEN VIEWING THE MURAL

I have always thought of Ajo as kind of a tumble down town that has fallen on hard times since the closing of the big copper mine years ago.  Yes, it has fallen on hard times but we drove through a couple neighborhoods today that were certainly not tumble down.  Noticed they had a nice park, community center and children’s playground.  Talked to a Snow Bird from Alaska at the Laundromat a couple of days ago who has been wintering in Ajo for the past 15 years.

 

LOOK CLOSELY AND YOU WILL SEE GHOST RIDERS HERDING STEERS IN THOSE ORANGE ARIZONA CLOUDS INTHE SKY

MANY HIDDEN FACES AND CREATURES IN THIS ROCKY MESA

 

Some readers have mentioned about the BLM land just south of Why.  It’s at mile marker 2 and we were actually boon docked there in early 08 before moving to Darby Wells at that time.  It seems the Verizon signal is smokin hot down around Lukeville at the Mexican border but tapers off further north where we are.  The BLM campground at mile marker 2 is about half way between Lukeville and Ajo. 

 

MORE OF MIKE’S MURALS IN AJO ARIZONA

We considered moving down to Why but the scenery at that spot is not nearly as nice as where we are.  Also, our Verizon is working slightly better now that we have changed a couple of things.  Moved our router up on top of the Motor Home roof plus we’ve discovered if only one of us is on line at a time things seem to work better.  Still no cell phone but Kelly is able to access her Deer Park Lodge messages now by using Skype so we plan to stay where we are until our black tank is ready to be dumped and at that point we’ll head for Gila Bend, dump our gray and black tanks, take on water and decide where we will head from there.  Could be by the end of this week.

AJO HAS A VERY PRETTY DOWNTOWN DONE IN A SPANISH STYLE

Someone asked what our co-ordinates are at Darby Wells road.  I’m hesitant to give that out until after we have left.  One never knows just who is reading these blogs of ours.  I can tell you that our nearest neighbor in a Class C is about a quarter mile away barely visible.  There are maybe a half dozen rigs in the area but they are a mile or more south of us scattered all happy and contented among the tall cactus growths. 

THE NOON COFFEE KLATCH IN AJO’S OUTDOOR CAFE

Had hoped to get some nice Moon and Venus photos tonight but I see they have moved too far apart now for me to capture them in a single telephoto frame. 

COULD THIS BE JUAN VALDEZ BRINGING MORE COFFEE BEANS TO AJO’S OUTDOOR CAFÉ……

It was nice enough tonight for me to write part of today’s post outside while waiting for the Moon and Planet Venus to appear in the evening sky.

GROANER’S CORNER:(( Friend: "I suppose you carry a memento of some sort in that locket of yours?"
Woman: "Yes, it's a lock of my husband's hair."
Friend: "But your husband is still alive."
Woman: "I know, but his hair is gone."

---------------------------------------------------------------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.

And the name of that song in the mural……Ghost Riders In The Sky

TODAY WE DROPPED IN TO SEE……'WANDERWOLF’

(This is Saturday’s post)
I do not have to tell you it was another beautiful desert sunrise.  Some things are just a given:))

SUNRISE BEHIND THE MIGHTY AJO MOUNTAIN RANGE
Had us a whole boat load of laundry to do so loaded up the Jeep and headed the 6 minutes into Ajo.  Kelly remembered where the Laundromat was from a few years ago so it wasn’t long and we had things all sudsy and tumbly.  Slipped down the road to the big Shell station on the curve where they have a nice car wash.  The Jeep was covered in road grime from our Ontario trip down here so figured it was best to get that stuff off.  Besides, I wanted to have the Jeep nice and shiny for our return trip to the Motor Home on a very dusty road:))
 
WE ARE SURROUNDED BY SAGUARO CACTUS
From the gas station it was over to the Circle K store where we knew there was an outside tap on the building.  Filled up our water jugs with about 20 gallons of water.  This way it extends our stays in the desert.  A quick stop at the laundromat to switch the clothes from washers to dryers.  Across the street to Radio Shack we did go to get a power cord for our Cradlepoint Router.  Next came the grocery store and a quick stop for AL at a local Sub shop for eats.  And, then we went to visit somebody:))

Some fellow RV bloggers know Mike from his WANDERWOLF blog.  Good friend of FROGGI DONNA.  TIOGA GEORGE has dropped in to see Mike a couple times.  We were familiar with Mike’s blog, MEANDERINGS OF WONDERWOLF and the last time we were here we looked him up just as he was just getting his studio off the ground back in 07.  Mike is a very talented artist/painter/sculptor fellow who lives at his ‘Lizard Flats’ on 920 Rocalla.   Mike’s artwork hangs on many people’s walls and anyone in Ajo seeing some of the large building murals will be seeing much of Mike’s work.  He’s a friendly kind of a guy and another one of those southwest ‘characters’ you hear me talk about some times.  If your in Ajo you can find Mike, his art, and his playful tiny dog, ‘Little Bit’ alive and well at his quaint and artsy ‘Lonewolf’ studio.  Look for the big Lizard on the front of his building and the artworks in his yard.  Tell him the Bayfield Bunch sent ya:))

MIKE’S GROOVY RV HASN’T MOVED FOR A FEW YEARS BUT HE’S THINKING ABOUT IT…….
 
MIKE AND HIS LONEWOLF STUDIO AT LIZARD FLATS
Mike also gave us a smokin hot tip on another boondocking area close by with a giant Saguaro forest, rock arches and towering Chollas.  Might be a stronger Verizon connection there.  We’ll check it out later.

SOME MIGHTY FIERCE LOOKING SECURITY HERE AT OUR RIG

AND, SHE’S GOT BACK-UP TOO!!
We are having great difficulty where we are with a slow and sometimes non existent Verizon connection.  It fades in and out plus Kelly doesn’t have a phone connection.  It took my blog hours to publish last night and I actually fell asleep while it was doing so.  It timed out twice and the last time I hit ‘Publish’ at 4 a.m this morning it finally finished uploading.
   
A mutual friend of ours and LAURIE AND ODEL has just put her southeastern Arizona ranch up for sale.  Rosanna and her Mother, Carol from PAWS AND HOOVES ( can’t access link due to bad connection) have bought a little house near Placerville California.  I am quoting the following from Laurie’s post this morning in regards to the ranch sale just in case there is anyone out here interested in a fine little ranch just west of the Chiricahua Mountains near Sunizona.  “To Quote Laurie: Anyone looking for a horse property in SE Arizona (Cochise County)? Rosanna’s home is new-ish (15 years, maybe?), 3 bedrooms, two bathrooms, nice big kitchen. Lots of windows. BIG barn, corrals of various sizes. A good well. A big, outdoor, clay oven! A level site for a large RV with a 30 amp hookup and water. The acreage is completely fenced and gated. A covered carport - two, I think. Good horse riding in the area – John and Brenda took their horses over to Council Rocks in the Dragoons a couple of weeks ago”. Unquote:  Depending on our travel plans we may end up at Paws and Hooves in the new year sometime to possibly help the folks out a bit. 

RECENT RAINS HAVE REALLY GREENED UP THE OCOTILLO PLANTS 
Later in the afternoon after realizing the Verizon power cord we bought today wasn’t going to solve our problems we decided to check out the area Mike had told us about.  Hopped into the Jeep and found the dirt road off the nearby highway OK.  Headed out into the desert but after going about a mile on a bumpy, uneven road and fording a few small muddy water bogs we decided it was not suitable to bring the Motor Home out there.  Turned back and headed for the rig.  Ok, option B.

Another outside BBQ under a setting desert sun.  Kelly noticed how pretty the moon and planet Venus looked in the west and I was able to crack off a photo before the light was gone.  Tried taking a few hand held photos later but the shutter speeds were too low.  Took advantage of that and created a few moon and planet abstracts.  Tomorrow night I will set up my tripod and try for some nice clear crisp photos of the Moon and Venus.

LOOK CAREFULLY TO TOP CENTER FOR THE NEW MOON THEN LOOK LEFT FOR THE HARD TO SEE PLANET VENUS
Blog is going to be late again tonight because I cannot get a connection….:((

IN THESE MOON ABSTRACTS THE SMALL BRIGHTER LINES ARE VENUS TO THE LEFT WHILE THE LARGER YELLOW ON RIGHT IS THE MOON:))
GROANER’S CORNER:((  A tourist is sport-fishing off the Florida coast when his boat capsizes. He can swim, but he is so afraid of alligators that he clings to the overturned craft.  Spotting an old beachcomber standing on the shore, the tourist shouts, Are there any gators around here? Naw, the man hollers back, they ain’t been around for years.  The tourist breathes a sigh of relief and starts swimming leisurely toward the shore. As he nears the beach, he yells to the man, How did you get rid of the gators?
We didn’t do nothin, the beachcomber says…………….the sharks got em.

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.
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.