TRAVEL WITH THE BAYFIELD BUNCH:))

Monday, December 24, 2012

WISHING YOU ALL THE BEST:))

Well, it’s Christmas Eve once again & here at our digs in Congress, not a creature is stirring, not even a mouse. Christmas day for us will be quiet. We like that:))

---

Our first RVing Christmas in 2006 was spent in Columbus New Mexico where we had Christmas dinner at the town’s Senior center. 2007 found us in Borrego Springs California…WE DID LAUNDRY. We were in California once again in 2008 but this time we were out Christmas day SEARCHING FOR GOLD west of Yuma. Benson Arizona was our destination for Christmas Day in 2009 as we had Christmas dinner with fellow RVing Blogger friends, JERRY & SUZY. 2010 found us contentedly parked for a few months near the dusty little southwest cowboy town of Elfrida Arizona. CHRISTMAS DAY WITH SOME SNOWY MEMORIES. And last year, 2011 was spent at one of our favorite spots over the last 6 years. We were at ‘The Ranch’ near McNeill Arizona. CHRISTMAS DAY.....THE QUIET WAY. I actually spent Christmas morning cleaning out a couple donkey pens. Loved it:))

IS THAT THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PRESENT I SEE BETWEEN THE TWO SAGUAROS

---

Kelly, Pheebs, & I wish all present & past readers of the Bayfield Bunch the best for this holiday season. May you have yourselves a great Christmas day………..:))

LOOKING CLOSELY, YOU CAN SEE KELLY & I IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PHOTO

GROANER’S CORNER:(( And, tonight’s groaner comes from a reader……With the Holidays upon us I would like to share a personal experience with my friends about drinking and driving. As you may know some of us have been known to have brushes with the authorities from time to time on the way home after a "social session" out with friends.
Well, three days ago I was out for an evening with friends and had several cocktails followed by some rather nice red wine. Feeling jolly I still had the sense to know that I may be slightly over the
limit. That's when I did something that I've never done before - I took a cab home.
Sure enough, on the way there was a police road block, but since it was a cab they waved it past. I arrived home safely without incident. This was a real surprise as I had never driven a cab before, I don't know where I got it and now that it's in my garage I don't know what to do with it……

-------------------------------------------------------------
- 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.
- OUR PHOTO ALBUMS -https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295/
stargeezerguy@gmail.com

Sunday, December 23, 2012

KINDA LIKE PANCAKES WITHOUT SYRUP:((

For most of the day I didn’t figure on putting a post together tonight. Didn’t go anywhere today & for the most part didn’t do much of anything except scratch a bit a dirt here & rake a bit of dirt there. But, once again, if I don’t write something at night……what the heck else is there to do.

A LITTLE PAINTING WITH LIGHT TONIGHT

Never even bothered taking a camera along on our walk this morning. Oh oh, something wrong there:(( Rare to find a body of water in the desert, but we did find one earlier today. Complete with some bones. I’ll give myself an extra kick Monday morning & see if I can’t get myself back in the groove again. Christmas is not my favorite time of year & I’ll leave it at that. Except to say, for some of us Northerners, a Christmas without snow is kinda like pancakes without syrup. And, while on the topic of snow… What do you call Frosty the Snowman in May……….. A puddle:))

---

Our internet today was just about as slow as I have ever seen it here. Couldn’t even open Google or Hotmail. Figure it’s all the Kiddie-Pops in the area on a holiday Sunday afternoon doing their game stuff that has the signal bogged down. Or, more realistically…..maybe the world did end a couple days ago & I just haven’t figured it out yet.

HANGING A FEW CHRISTMAS LIKE CHILE LIGHTS ON ONE OF OUR FRONT YARD MESQUITE TREES

We have company coming from New York State in about 3 weeks. Kelly’s Brother Peter & wife Leslie will be flying into Phoenix, renting an SUV, & heading on up to our place. Seasoned travelers, this will be their first getaway since Peter’s full retirement from Robert’s Wesleyen College near Rochester. And, sometime the following month, or maybe March, we are hoping my Aunt Jean’s health has improved to the point where she can fly out from Sarasota Florida. Readers may remember my Aunt Jean from her week’s stay at the Ranch over in Cochise County last January. She is my Uncle Harry’s Sister. Harry is doing fine by the way……………..

---

On our morning walks we generally leave the house all bundled up in warm clothes. Kelly wears a warm hat & mitts. Half an hour later, with the sun about 10 degrees above the horizon we are peeling off clothes like crazy. And how do you figure out 10 degrees above the horizon? Extend your arm out full length & make a sideways fist. Rest the bottom part of your fist on the horizon. The top part of your fist is then about 10 degrees into the sky.

---

Guess the best thing for me to do is simply come to terms with & accept the fact that the stiffening & sometimes painful Arthritis which has dogged my legs this past dozen years, is probably not going to reverse itself. Been on the arthritis medicine ‘Arthrotec’ for over a decade now & I think it has done all it can do for me. This leg thing sure has put a crimp in my hiking & rock scrambling. When we get back to Canada in the Spring I’ll just have to sit down with my Doctor person & see if I have any options. No complaints with my upper body, just my legs. Well Okay, maybe I could be accused of having a few screws loose, but…………………..

OH OH, LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE BEEN MOVING FURNITURE AGAIN

While garage sailing Saturday morning, Kelly came across 3 rather unique Mexican paintings. Not flat canvas & not prints. Surface is very textured & of course, Kelly didn’t like the price. She waited until late this afternoon, knowing the garage sale was over & went back, hoping the paintings might still be there. They were, & Kelly got them for a much lower price:))

HARD TO TELL FROM THE PHOTOS BUT THESE RAISED TEXTURE PAINTINGS HAVE A SLIGHT 3 DIMENSIONAL EFFECT

GROANER’S CORNER:(( 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."

Saturday, December 22, 2012

A FELLOW RV BLOGGER DEALS WITH A SERIOUS HEALTH CONCERN

KELLY ALWAYS SEEMS TO FIND A LITTLE SOMETHING AT THE SATURDAY MORNING GARAGE SALES

A health scare today when one of our fellow RVing Blogger friends ended up in a Parker Arizona hospital. When Kelly, reading a post early this morning, turned to me & said, “Jerry, from Jerry & Suzy, had a heart attack”, I thought…….Oh Oh. Out of the hospital now, Jerry writes about his experience….IT WASN'T 'SPOSE TO BE LIKE THAT!

Whenever I hear about things like Jerry’s experience I always think of all the great professional people who have seen fit to work & dedicate themselves to the medical profession, & to the assistance of the medical profession. Men & Women working tirelessly for years & decades trying their best to help their fellow man. People who have stuck it out in schools, Colleges & Universities to listen, learn & earn their medical training & degrees. Lab researchers & Scientists. Doctors, medical staff, nurses, paramedics, & specialists of all kind. These are the people, in my mind, who deserve the praise & the thanks for their personal & dedicated efforts. I have always had great respect for all those hard working people in the medical profession. And, when a life is saved or improved, it is generally the combination of many well trained people successfully working together as a team to help their fellow man.

PHEEBS HAS ADAPTED WELL TO THE RECLINER SWAP

A few weeks ago I posted some thoughts about maybe making some changes to our present vehicle line-up. As priorities & lifestyles change, so do vehicles. Mentioned at that time about maybe selling the Jeep. Well, shush my mouth, what a terrible thing for me to say!! Out in the desert Friday I was once again reminded of why we bought the Jeep in the first place. So no, the Jeep will not be going anywhere anytime soon. Still figure it is one of the best little vehicles I’ve ever had. And, I'VE HAD A FEW:)) Our 2006 2 door 6 speed Wrangler was the last year they made the straight 6 cylinder engines & I’ve heard many times, it is one of the toughest engines Jeep ever built. It is the Jeeps simplicity that appeals to me. Nothing fancy, not a lot of schnazzy electronics. Just a bare bones little buggy. Suits me just fine. I’m not too fancy either. And hey, did you know THE DUCKS just got a Geo Tracker.

NO WAY WE WANT TO GIVE UP OUR DESERT TRAVELS

While at home in Bayfield Ontario for half the year we have a fast internet connection & are not on any kind of limiting Gigabyte plan. Different story when we are traveling south of the border. Verizon is our internet carrier & we are on a 10 Gigabyte limit each month. If we go over that we are financially penalized. Our connection here in Congress is not lightning fast & to download anything can take a long time using up many precious bytes. My posts & photos plus both of us being on line with 2 separate computers each day eats up a lot of bytes as well. For the winter months we cannot do ‘You Tubes’, videos, on-line music downloads, animated jokes & cards etc. I do save many of them to have a look at when we return home in the Spring though.

FINALLY GOT OUR OUTSIDE DRYER UP & RUNNING

And again, just a reminder to readers, I do not accept Facebook Friend requests. Been burned twice by scammers with Friend Requests so accepting a friend request from anyone is now a ‘no-no’ for me. I’m not an active Facebook user. Just there to drop my post in most nights & that’s it.

SINCE CHANGING RECLINERS, PHEEBS IS ABLE TO JUMP UP ON MY LAP AGAIN

Relaxing in the backyard this morning I heard one of the sweetest birds I think I have ever heard. It’s sweet sound was that of half a dozen Spring songbirds. It was so melodic I thought for sure it must be some kind of exotic creature because it did not sound anything like the ‘chug-chug-chug’ of our Cactus Wrens. Not the sharp loud ‘whit-weet’ of a Curved Bill Thrasher, not a Gila Woodpecker, & definitely not a raspy Raven. Maybe a small Parrot, a Meadowlark, somebody’s pet Canary. Maybe a combination of all three. Grabbed my camera & set off to find this Rhapsodiun songster. Took a bit of looking, but at last there it was, sitting on a post among the Cactus & Mesquite. It was none other than an orange eyed……’Curved Bill Thrasher’. Never knew they could sing so beautifully………

Kelly was off to Wickenburg late this morning while Pheebs & I held the Fort for the day. Still lots to do here but without the materials to finish up my projects I’m kind of in limbo. Need another load of crushed stone, more rails & posts for our fence, more plants, more rocks, etc. Need to get myself back into work mode again. This sitting around doing toooooo much relaxing stuff is for da birds…..

SSSSHHHH, THESE TWO GUYS ARE ASLEEP

GROANER’S CORNER:(( Did you know that according to the song, "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer", Santa has twelve reindeer? Sure, in the introduction it goes "There's Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen..." That makes eight reindeer. Then there's Rudolph, of course, so that makes nine. Then there's Olive. You know, "Olive the other reindeer used to laugh..." That makes ten. The eleventh is Howe. You know, "Then Howe the reindeer loved him..." Eleven reindeer. Oh, and number 12? That's Andy! "Andy shouted out with glee." The proof is in the song!

Friday, December 21, 2012

WAS IT A ROCK THAT LOOKED LIKE A HOUSE OR A HOUSE THAT LOOKED LIKE A ROCK…ACTUALLY, IT WAS NEITHER

Instead of our usual morning walk we piled Pheebs into the Jeep & headed off out into the desert just a short block behind our house. Locals have told us of a place called ‘House Rock’ just a few miles distant. One of those places they tell you to ‘just head out that road thar & ya can’t miss it’. Well, miss it we have for this past month because we kept looking for a big rock or hilltop that looked like a house. No wonder we couldn’t find it.

SOMEWHERE OUT THERE NEAR THOSE MOUNTAINS IS OUR DESTINATION

AT LEAST THE PUDDLES WERE NOT FROZEN THIS MORNING

A few days ago, neighbor up the road, Jerry, pointed out a large round kind of oval shaped boulder about a mile & half out in the desert at the foot of a high rock outcropping behind his place. Said that was ‘House Rock'. Sure didn’t look like no darned house to me. This morning we went looking for that round oval shaped boulder & by gum, we found it.

OH OH, THE ROAD BROKE

NOT MUCH OF A PROBLEM FOR A JEEP, BUT THOUGHT I’D STOP & TAKE A FEW PICS ANYWAY

There is history behind ‘House Rock’. It’s called a Rock simply because it is a rock. A big one. But it’s also called a House, because it was one….a long time ago. Indians lived here & their existence & past presence has been left, carved into & onto the rock. Smoke from long ago fires have blackened one side while numerous Mortero holes are evidenced around the base of the rock. Morteros are round holes ground into rock by countless hours of grinding with another rock. Indian folks ground their corn this way & we have seen Morteros in other ancient Indian villages we have seen in our southwest travels.

KELLY UNDER HOUSE ROCK WHERE ONCE MANY COOKING FIRES BURNED

ROUND GRINDING HOLES (MORTEROS) CAN BE FOUND ALL AROUND THE BASE

Indian people, centuries ago were a smaller people than we are today & ‘House Rock’ provided them with shelter from the summer rains & the winter winds & cold. The locals tell us there are many petroglyphs in the area & we did see a couple on House Rock.

KELLY & PHEEBS UNDER HOUSE ROCK LOOKING FOR PETROGLYPHS…THIS IS ACTUALLY WHERE PEOPLE LIVED

But, finding ‘House Rock’ this morning was not as simple as it seems. We headed straight back into the desert along a hard packed bumpity Jeep road. Couldn’t seem to locate the round boulder. Backed up, retraced our steps to another road, made a few U-turns, & headed south a bit through some washes & ended up following an ATV trail for a bit. No Rock. Backtracked again & while stopping to take a few photos of the Jeep angled down into a rut I heard a couple ATV’s come rumbling up behind us.

With our Jeep angled into the wash I new the ATV’ers figured we were stuck & in need of help. They stopped & I quickly walked over to assure them we were fine. Just as they were going around us the fellow on the lead ATV stopped & said, “hey, you guys ever seen ‘House Rock’? Well, what kind of a coincidence was that….. He said they were out looking for it too & had a pretty good idea where it was because of a ride through the area a few years ago. They headed off down the road in a cloud of dust & were soon out of site.

PARKED THE JEEP & HEADED OFF ON FOOT

A QUICK ‘STICKER STOP’ BUT PHEEBS ALREADY HAD IT OUT

We made our way back to the main Jeep road & turned west for about a mile. Having an image in our minds now of what we were looking for, we soon spotted ‘House Rock’ just about where the ATV’ers thought it might be. Went as far as we could with the Jeep & parked it. Saw the ATV tracks heading off through the rocks & scrub in the direction of the rock about a quarter mile away. We were on foot now.

PHEEBE SPOTS ‘HOUSE ROCK’ AHEAD ON THE LEFT, & SENSES SOMETHING, WHICH SHE SOON FOUND OUT WAS…ANOTHER DOG:))

Following the ATV’ers tracks it was a nice walk for us as we both marveled at how well Pheebe has adapted to the desert with all it’s prickly thorns & barbed Cactus. She has learned about the Prickly Pear, the thorny Mesquite, sharp edged Yuccas, jagged rocks, & Cholla plants. She deftly picks her way through the Cactus, avoiding this barb, that spear, & this knife edge. She has also learned how to quickly pick a thorn out of her paw too because we have seen her do it. But, occasionally, she still need’s Mom & Dad’s help to repair one of those flat tires. For all the running around in the desert this morning she did really well.

‘HOUSE ROCK’ IS ONE HUGE BOULDER

Approaching ‘House Rock’ on foot, we could see the two ATV’s parked by the Rock. We knew there was a Pal waiting there for Pheebe too because when they went by earlier we saw a Blue Healer dog riding in a box on the back of the green ATV.

WITH A BIT OF EFFORT, PHEEBS & KELLY MAKE THEIR WAY THROUGH THE PRICKLY MESQUITE & ANKLE TWISTING ROCKS

HEY, WAIT A MINUTE………THAT’S NOT PHEEBS

Now, as readers know, I am not good with names at all but I can tell you the Blue Healer’s name was Gila (Geela) & the young fellow driving the green ATV was Carson. Carson’s Mother & Dad were on the red ATV but I didn’t get their names. Carson’s Mom was holding down the fort at the ATV’s when we got there while Carson & his Dad were already high up in the rocks climbing for the top. Gila & Pheebs hit it off right away of course so the two of them bounded around exploring.

CARSON, HIGH IN THE ROCKS, NEARS THE TOP

CARSON’S DAD, AN 18 WHEELER FUEL HAULER FOR FLYING J UP IN MICHIGAN, MAKES IT HALF WAY TO THE TOP

Kelly & I explored all around & under House Rock & once again the history just comes alive as one’s imagination tries to imagine a tribe of people living here. Cooking fires burning, grain being ground, water being carried from somewhere & just an every day life going on for a bunch of primitive people centuries ago. It’s a real kind of history & not a manufactured kind.

KELLY, GILA, & PHEEBS

Carson made it to the top of the ridge & his Dad made it about half way before coming back down. He said he remembered a couple deep mining shafts close by so we took us for a walk down a dirt road (more about that road in a minute) for a short distance. Sure enough, a deep pit going straight down into the ground on the right side of the dirt road & a second pit angling in on the left side of the road. No barriers around these pits & if you slipped into the one going straight down….you were toast.

THE MICHIGAN FELLOW CHECKS OUT A ‘STRAIGHT DOWN’ DANGEROUS MINE SHAFT

THIS SHAFT ANGLES IN & IS DOABLE, BUT DOESN’T GO FAR

Back to ‘Rock House’ we walked, just as Carson made it back down from the ridge. Said good-bye to these folks as we headed back towards the Jeep & they headed off back to Congress on their ATV’s. Turns out they were from near Saginaw Michigan just right across Lake Huron from Bayfield Ontario. They are in Congress visiting this fellow’s Brother for the Christmas Holidays.

THE MICHIGAN FOLKS…KELLY HANDED THEM A ‘BAYFIELD BUNCH’ CARD:))

HEADING BACK TO WHERE WE LEFT THE JEEP

On the way back we were determined to find the Jeep road that led right to House Rock & now that we had our bearings we had a pretty good idea where to find it. Sure enough, following another road past an old windmill & watering trough, with many cows around it, we were able to Jeep ourselves all the way right back to ‘House Rock’. Now, for anyone visiting, we can Jeep them right to the Rock easy as pie. Nothing to finding something when you know exactly where it is eh:))

KELLY SPOTTED WHAT LOOKED LIKE A DEER IN THE MESQUITE

Rest of the day we spent in Relaxville. Kelly seemed pretty busy with the tape measure so I kept my questions to myself. Kept busy soaking up some sun in the back yard, plugging away at the blog, & wandering around outside for a bit letting my imagination wander along with me on how to do a little more desert landscaping here & there. The kind of landscaping we don’t have to spend any money on that is…………..

WHAT HAD LOOKED LIKE A DEER…WAS REALLY JUST AN OLD KNARLY MESQUITE TREE STUMP

Noticed a question in our ShoutBox about ‘fill in flash’. This is a little something that can make a great difference in your photos. Rather than try to explain it again I will just give you a couple links to a few previous posts where I have touched on, ‘fill in flash’. First, this recent OCTOBER 2012 POST & about half way through this 2010 POST I mentioned fill in flash as well.

AND THEN, FROM THE JEEP WE SPOTTED WHAT LOOKED LIKE A REAL DEER

RE-FOCUSED & YEP, IT WAS REAL ALRIGHT…IN FACT 3 OF THEM RAN ACROSS IN FRONT OF US

There are many phrases around to sum up bad luck. ‘Can’t seem to win for losing’ is one & ‘if it doesn’t rain, it pours’ is another one. We all have those days & times sooner or later & for Denise over at SASSY'S ON 'DA ROAD, she is right smack in the middle of some troubling times. ‘If it isn’t one thing, it’s another’ is a third thing that comes to mind. I remember hearing a phrase one time that said, ‘I complained about having no shoes….until I met the man who had no feet’. Sassy seems to be kind of in a situation somewhere between no shoes & no feet right now. An unfortunate spate of bad luck……………:((