WELL, IT’S BEEN A BIT OF A DAY

A NEIGHBOR SENT US A PICTURE YESTERDAY OF OUR HOUSE IN BAYFIELD ONTARIO……LOOKING KIND OF SNOWY UP THERE!!

Kelly has a big roaring campfire going to-night so you can tell it's a tad less cold out……. the key word being tad.  Turned out to be a warm sunny day.  I like when that happens.

I went over to Belle's this morning & I guess the first thing I had better say is that the 'caretaker' job has been filled.....for now!!  Had a long talk with Cindy who with her husband Dave have been the RV boots on the ground at Belle's the last day & a half.  We talked about the condition of the ranch, work involved to bring it up to par, Dave's opinion regarding repairs & Belle's health & well being. We also talked about the 'new caretaker people' who showed up a few days ago!!

Cindy, Dave, myself, & Kelly are all very concerned about Belle but we are not sure what we can do now.  Kelly & I had hoped to find a caring & trustworthy RV caretaking person or persons to come & help Belle but now with the 'new rancher neighbor caretakers' in place we're not sure if that would work out.  Cindy expressed her genuine concern about Belle's well being & future of the ranch.    Cindy also gave me an email address for anyone interested in her & Dave's opinion of the ranch situation.  You can email Cindy at gtrgone@live.com

IT WAS A 6 DOG WALK THIS MORNING……7 IF YOU INCLUDE ME:))

I talked to Belle this morning & she was as chipper as ever despite her electricity being out again.  The only electricity she had when I left this afternoon was in the small area where her computer is by the door.  It had gone out a few days ago when we were there but someone came & put 2 new breakers in.  It went out again yesterday & Dave was able to get it on but today it was off again.  In fact, Cindy & Dave spent a very cold night in their 5th wheel because their electricity went out as well & they were out of propane.  Brrrrr!!  Obviously there is some kind of major electrical problem somewhere.  Belle said she had the whole ranch re-wired with 50 amp service when she first moved in & everything worked fine including her 6 RV sites.  She said a fellow she had working for her later made changes to the electrical set-up & it has never worked right since.  Of course that fellow is long gone down the road now.  Belle also informed me that her niece/cousin is driving in from Kentucky to-morrow & will be staying with her for a bit.  Hopefully that will give her some much needed help in the house.

                              

CORKY PULLS A PIECE OF ICE FROM THE POOL THIS MORNING & SOON KELLY HAS THEM ALL EATING THEIR VERY OWN ICE CONES

So, I guess the bottom line in all of this as of to-night is simply to say that because of the recent appearance by the new 'caretakers' a few days ago we don't know what to do next or if in fact if there is anything that we can do now.  One of the positive things to come out of all this though is the caring response we received from so many people all across the country regarding Belle's situation.  The RV community stepped up with offers of help, emails, comments, & genuine concern.  Some folks even sent in financial support directly to Belle.  Guess we'll just have to wait & see what happens.  Kelly & I may only be in this area another couple of weeks before moving further west but at least while here we were able to bring attention to Belle Starr & her Silverado Ranch.   Hopefully other folks can stop by & keep the ball rolling for Belle.  We’ll see what the next few days bring……………………10-4!!

                             

GUESS WHO GOT SOME NEW TOYS YESTERDAY:))

And welcome to our newest followers Judy & her little dog Emma.   They are adventurous  full timers traveling the country in TRAVELS WITH EMMA

GROANER'S CORNER:((   Morris, an 82 year-old man, went to the doctor to get a physical. A few days later the doctor saw Morris walking down the street with a gorgeous young lady on his arm.  A couple of days later the doctor spoke to Morris and said, "You're really doing great, aren't you?"
Morris replied, "Just doing what you said, Doc: 'Get a hot mamma and be cheerful.' "   The doctor said, "I didn't say that. I said, 'You got a heart murmur. Be careful.'"

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The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now....AL.

SOAKED UP SOME SUNSHINE & LISTENED TO SOME WESTERN TUNES

 

Needed a few groceries so figured we would head into town this morning but then Kelly dropped.....the 'S' word.  She decided if we were in town anyway she could hit a few stores.  Well, that was it for me.  After my Sierra Vista shopping day this past week I figured I was good until 2015 so had no interest in getting dragged through more stores.  Kelly headed off for Bisbee & I stretched out in a lounge chair with my 'Sons Of The Pioneers' CD shakin up the chickens.

Turned out to be a very busy morning on the computer anyway so was glad I had stayed behind.  I had emails to respond to, photos to sort, emails to organize, & fellow bloggers to read.  I responded, sorted, & organized but didn't get any blogs read so I may keep this post short to-night & do some catch up.

Noticed we have some new followers so want to welcome Belle Starr, Jeanie, & Yarntangler.  Do you suppose Yarntangler might have something to do with quilting.  Seems like every third or fourth RV/Blogger we meet is a quilter person.  Geeeezzzz, some of the guys are even married to quilters:))  Jeanie's husband has just entered the blogging world as well so you might want to have a look at ROJOS RAMBLINGS.  Tell him The Bayfield Bunch sent ya:))  And check out Gerri & Art's blog at THE 2 BALLS.  Sounds like amongst a bunch of other things, Gerri is a very experienced reptile handler!!

On our Middlemarch Road drive a few days ago we came upon something we had not expected to see in this area.  On the east side of the Dragoon mountains about half way to Pearce we spotted a Saguaro Cactus standing tall on a hillside.  First one we've ever seen this far southeast of Tucson.

  

RARE TO THIS AREA……A SAGUARO CACTUS NEAR PEARCE, ARIZONA

BELLE'S UPDATE

We had an email from Cindy & Dave this morning.  They are set up at Belle's place in their 5th wheel & have run into a few work related problems.  There is a problem with the electric running to the boxes at all 6 RV sites so Dave is having problems running his power tools.  At the time Cindy sent the email Dave was working on fixing a sink for Belle.  Kelly & I are so grateful to Cindy & Dave for coming to Belle's aid.  As many of you blog readers know I am not mechanically inclined whatsoever & to have a caring couple arrive carrying their own tools with the ability to use them is nothing short of a miracle.  This Wisconsin couple & their dog Shadow arrived at a perfect time.  Kelly & I were able to get the ball rolling but it is people like Cindy & Dave who can keep it rolling.  I am hoping to get over to Belle's to-morrow for a couple hours so we'll see how things are going & how that Belle gal is doing.  She is having a few problems getting onto her blogsite so maybe we can work on that for a bit too.  I would like to take a few more pics for Belle's blog as well.  If anyone RVing in the area knows how to set up a full blown website that would be much appreciated.  Belle had a nice website but the fellow who did it put everything in his name including passwords, etc.  When he finally 'got lost'......so did Belle's website!!

Ok, that's about enough out of me for another day!!

GROANER'S CORNER:((  During my brother's wedding, my mother managed to keep from crying---until she glanced at my grandparents. My grandmother had reached over to my grandfather's wheelchair and gently touched his hand. That was all it took to start my mother's tears flowing.
After the wedding, Mom went over to my grandmother and told her how that tender gesture triggered her outburst.
"Well, I'm sorry to ruin your moment," Grandmother replied, "but I was just checking his pulse."

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The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now....AL.

THINGS ARE BEGINNING TO HAPPEN AT BELLE’S:))

 

BELLE DISCUSSING RANCH PLANS WITH CINDY & KELLY

"Brrrrrrrrr!!!!"  And that's all this Canadian boy has to say about this morning's Arizona's 21F temperature near Douglas.

We were on the slow side getting ourselves mobilized but managed to pull things together well enough to head over to Belle Starr's Silverado Ranch about 11.

We had printed out all the emails for Belle that we received from folks expressing an interest to help out at the ranch.  Belle was overwhelmed at the response & there was an extra sparkle in her eye for sure.

KELLY MAKING NOTES ON THE PRINTED EMAILS FROM PEOPLE ON OUR WAY TO SEE BELLE

The young fellow Belle had helping her has left  & the undesirable drifter who showed up a few days ago was asked to leave & has done so.  A neighboring horse rancher has stepped in to help along with his two nephews so the animals are being cared for.

While we were there a pick-up truck rolled in with an RV couple who had read about Belle's situation.  They are currently staying at the Turquoise Golf & RV Park in Naco just south of Bisbee & came over to see if they could be of help.  We walked around the property with Cindy & Dave & their dog Shadow pointing out areas needing attention.  Turns out Dave is a retired contractor so has expertise in many of the repairs & updating that the ranch needs.  As an added bonus, he travels with his own tools.  And would you believe, Dave even has his cement mixer with him.  Now, that is a dedicated contractor!!

DAVE, CINDY, & KELLY LOOKING OVER THINGS AT THE SILVERADO RANCH

We introduced Cindy & Dave to Belle & the sparkle in Belle just grew.  Dave & I walked around the outside area a bit more & had a look where they could best set up their 5th wheel.  Before Kelly & I left Cindy & Dave had headed back to their RV Park to hook up their rig & bring it over to Belles.  Nice feeling to know things are beginning to happen.

<< ONE OF BELLE’S OLD RANCH POSTERS

(click to enlarge)

Now, I am going to answer questions folks have been emailing about helping Belle.  I am also in the process of emailing each & every person who emailed us & Belle hopes to respond to everyone as well. 

First & foremost, the position at Belle's is not a paying position.  It is strictly a volunteer effort in exchange for free RV parking & a helping hand around the ranch.  Belle has a fondness in her heart for RV folks because of the respectful way they have treated her & the Silverado Ranch over the years when stopping in. 

CINDY & KELLY TALKING ABOUT THE RANCH

We think the neighboring rancher is going to assume responsibility of caring for the horses but that's not a hundred percent clear yet.  Two of his nephews are going to stay on the property in one of Belle's small cabins as night security & daytime help for now.   Belle is relieved to have someone on the property 24/7.  Someone asked if this would be a full time or part time caretaker volunteer position & that is a hard question to answer at this point & will depend on how things shake out over the next few months or so.  As stated, it will depend on how much time the newly arrived neighboring rancher (couple days ago) is willing to put in. 

                             

THE SILVERADO SADDLE ROOM

In the meantime there's lots to do here & I will be going over this coming week to help with the beginning clean up.  I'm pretty darn handy with a shovel & rake you know.  I urge everyone to put Belle's Silverado Ranch on their list if your heading into this area & if your not, drop in anyway & say hello to Belle & the critters.   And while your here just park your rig at Belle’s & enjoy some time exploring this historic valley.  For anyone who has been following our blog these past few months & last spring you know how historic & beautiful this area is.  Feel free to email Kelly & I with any questions regarding things to do & places to go.

        

LOTS OF BOONDOCKING ROOM AT BELLES RANCH

Now, I'm going to wrap this up for to-night because I have more emails to answer & I want to get on that right away before I get behind & miss someone.  I seem to have a habit of doing that sometimes.  Kelly reminded me to-day of a fellow RV'er needing a hand setting up a blog & I had forgot about that.  Gonna get back to you Gerri:))

GROANER'S CORNER:((  Q. When is a retiree's bedtime?   A. Three hours after he falls asleep on the couch.

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The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now....AL.

TOMBSTONE TO PEARCE THROUGH THE DRAGOON MOUNTAINS

 

NEW YEAR’S EVE FULL MOON ………………from the ranch:))

No frost on anything this morning so I was outside at dawn running around in my pajamas taking some photos of the Moon setting in the west somewhere over in the direction of Tombstone.

 

THE MOON SETTING IN THE WEST THIS MORNING

Kelly had an exercise class at 9 so we loaded the computer in the car & off we went.  While Kelly was pumping iron I uploaded a bunch of updates that we had been getting behind on because of our Verizon megabyte limit.  What a big pain in the assparagus that Verizon 5 Gig cap is!!!!

From the Elfrida library we headed up the highway & turned west heading for the little old ghost town of Gleeson.  We had never traveled the dirt road from Gleeson to Tombstone before so figured to-day was a good day to do that.  Always so nice to see new scenery.  Rolled right through Tombstone & headed north a couple miles before turning east onto the rough & washboardy MIDDLEMARCH ROAD.  Our destination was another little ghost town on the other side of the DRAGOON MOUNTAINS.  Wanted to see the route Tombstone residents took over a hundred years ago to Pearce after gold was discovered there.

The Dragoon mountains ahead of us stood majestically in the high noon sun & I was reminded of our hike to the COCHISE STRONGHOLD this past March from the east side of the mountains.  (OUR COCHISE STRONGHOLD PHOTOS)  The Dragoons ahead marked the very spot where Cochise's many Apache lookouts took up posts on high rocks scanning the valley we were currently driving through.  Troops from Fort Huachuca on the west side of the San Pedro valley would set out across the desert floor in force to chase Cochise & his men down.  The Indians could see the troops coming for miles & miles & always had the advantage in any battles that took place & Cochise was never captured.  Thought about all that as we approached the natural rugged mountain fortress ahead.

 

Turned off the Middlemarch Road onto a smaller dirt road & headed north past a sign saying, Coronado Forest.  Road was a bit rough for a short distance then smoothed out reasonably well.  We had gained some altitude so Agave, Yucca, Prickly Pear began appearing along with a lot of trees that we couldn't identify.  These trees stand about 15 feet high with a spreading canopy but we just don't know what they are.  Alongside the road we saw campfire rings where people have pulled in & set up camp.  Saw a windmill slowly turning in the breeze amongst a cluster of trees.  A road led in that direction so we followed it stopping to take some windmill photos.  A cluster of tents marked the end of that road but we didn't see anyone around.  Could have been a group of rock climbers.  We backtracked to the main dirt road & headed a little further north before taking another road which led us a short distance right to the very foot of the beautiful Dragoon Mountains. 

    

CAN YOU SEE THE INDIAN HEAD PROFILE LOOKING TO THE LEFT IN THE LARGER PHOTO?

Parked the car & looked up at the large rounded rocks climbing into the sky.  It was so beautiful here that you just wanted to jump out of the car & run right up those huge boulders into the canyons beyond & the towering heights above.  It was a perfect place for rock scrambling because the rocks had a sandpapery surface & with good hiking boots the traction was phenomenal & I just felt like I could walk straight up the mountain.  Didn't take us long to scramble up a hundred feet or so just reveling in our great fortune to have found such a perfect camping spot for future days.  We could see the darkened Huachuca mountains probably 40 miles to the southwest & Bisbee's Mule mountains as many miles to the south.  Sunlight glinted off distant rooftops in Tombstone.  The towering Whetstone mountains led north to Benson which we could also see at the far end of the valley.  Beyond Benson the Rincon mountains spread across the horizon.  Just wanted to stay at this place forever.  It is days like these & places like this that remind me of how truly fortunate Kelly & I are.

We continued our journey back to Middlemarch Road & wended our way along the bumpy dirt trail winding it's way up & over the summit of Middlemarch Pass.  Patches of snow & cooler temperatures marked the highest point but overall it wasn't that high & it wasn't that cold.  Nice views of the Sulphur Springs Valley far below as we began our descent & I could see the town of Sunizona way out on the valley floor to the northeast.  Finally rolled through sleepy little Pearce east of the Dragoons around 3, picked up highway 191 & headed for home with a quick stop in Sunsites for a very late 2 o'clock coffee.   Awwwww, my kinda day:)))))))

(click on photos below for captions)

       

ALIEN DINOSAUR MOUNTAIN GOAT

Well, it's New Year's Eve & the thing I am most happiest about to-night is that I don't have to do all that silly New Year's Eve stuff anymore!!  I have now been over 30 years free from New Year's Eve's parties.........yaaaaaaay:)) 

JUST HAVING A LAZY AFTERNOON IN THE DRAGOONS

BELLE’S UPDATE

Emails have been rolling in again to-day with questions, suggestions, & offers.  We plan to go over to the Silverado Ranch in the morning & have us a sit down with Belle & talk about all the positive things that have been happening the past couple of days & her vision for the ranch.  Some decisions will have to be made & a direction forward found.  Emails have to be answered & work has to be started.  Again, Kelly & I thank everyone for their encouragement & support & I will post updates as they happen............................:))

GROANER'S CORNER:((  A man was telling his neighbor, "I just bought a new hearing aid. It cost me four thousand dollars, but it's state of the art. It's perfect." "Really," answered the neighbor. "What kind is it?" "Twelve thirty."

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The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now....AL.

ALL THE BEST TO EVERYONE IN THE NEW YEAR FROM THE BAYFIELD BUNCH:))