A LONG LONE DUSTY DESERT ROAD

SOUTHEAST OF THE EAGLES EYE NEAR AGUILA ARIZONA…HARCUVAR MOUNTAINS IN THE BACKGROUND

With cold air still upon on us this morning I figured I had 2 options.  Could stay in the house watching TV or spend time reading.  Neither held much appeal for me so my restless nature won out once again & Pheebs & I were into the Jeep & off down the road we went.

I WAS SURPRISED AT THE WIDTH OF THIS ROAD & HOW WELL IT WAS MAINTAINED

Knowing Wickenburg wouldn’t be quite as cold we headed off in that direction.  At Wickenburg’s Northeast end on the corner of highway 93 & Vulture Peak Mine Road along with a gas station & convenience store there stands a Jack In The Box eatery place.  Had only ever been to one once before & that was a bunch of years ago in Yuma.  We have wintered in Congress now nearly 4 years but had never stopped into the Jack.  This morning I did.  For under $5 I got a Jumbo breakfast including coffee.  Coffee was Ok but the breakfast was nothing to write home about but I ate it all anyway.  Scrambled eggs, bacon, a hash brown & about 8 small round pancakes.  Next time back I’ll try something else.

ONLY VEHICLES I MET ON THIS LONG LONELY STRETCH OF ROAD WERE 3 OF THESE BIG TRUCKS GOING THE OTHER WAY

HARQUAHALA MOUNTAIN CAN FAINTLY BE SEEN ON THE HORIZON BEHIND THAT SAGUARO CACTUS

Had a pamplet in the Jeep with a few scenic places around Wickenburg so this morning Pheebs & I decided to check out a spot near Vulture Peak called Dana’s Arch.  Followed the directions out to mile marker 22 then headed off-road into the desert in a westerly direction.  The already rough road only became rougher so we didn’t go too far plus I could never have let Pheebs out of the Jeep anyway.  With the slightly higher elevation out around Vulture Peak the area is covered in Teddy Bear Chollas & it is no place for a dog or human to run free.  The Cholla barbs are about as painful as it gets!!

STOPPING AT A WATER HOLE FOR A LEG STRETCH I THOUGHT IT’S NOT OFTEN ONE SEES SAGUARO CACTI IN THE SAME PICTURE WITH A BODY OF WATER >>>>>

The morning was still young so we didn’t want to go home yet.  Back to Vulture Mine Road we went & turned right heading in a southerly direction.  I knew this road intersected with another road that connected Tonopah & Aguila.  Had never been across the section from the intersection to Aguila so that’s the way we headed.  About the dustiest road I’ve ever been on I think but at least it was unusually wide & well maintained.

THIS LONG DUSTY DESERT ROAD IS HEADED STRAIGHT FOR HARQUAHALA MOUNTAIN

Not always signs telling one which way to go when intersecting with other desert roads & trails sometimes so one just has to use some common sense & dead reckoning.  Fortunately I have a reasonably good sense of direction plus I’ve made it a point over the years to familiarize myself with surrounding mountain tops & ridges.  And I know if I keep the sun on my left shoulder I will always ‘basicaly’ be heading in a westerly direction.  With Harquhala Mountain on the far distant horizon my goal was to come out on the right hand side of it where Aguila would be so whatever well maintained road I was on & as long as it pointed in the general direction of Harquahala’s north end & figured we should be just fine.  And we were.

DESPITE THIS PAINTED STEEL PIPE SIGN BECKONING ME TO GO THAT-A-WAY I WENT THE OTHER WAY INSTEAD

Overall it was nice drive through the desert this morning with some new scenery to boot.  Lots of Saguaros everywhere & I did notice the landscape is beginning to take on a very slight touch of green as Spring in these parts begins it’s early stage of plant growth.  A month from now things will be looking much greener everywhere as yellow grasses give way to new shoots & trees once again begin their new leafing cycle for another year. 

LOOKING AT AGUILA’S EAGLE EYE FROM THE SOUTH

In 10 years we have never once been in the Southwest during the summer months to see what things look like but that’s Okay because winter here in Arizona sure looks a lot nicer than winter back in Bayfield & especially if they don’t have any snow & everything looks so dull, bleak, & dreary.  They may be having a mild winter up there but give me the scenicaly sunny Southwest during the winter months anyday………..:))

DOGGY WAS TIRED AFTER WE GOT HOME

GROANER’S CORNER:(( Every year, Smitty and his wife Martha went to the State Fair. And every year, Smitty would say, "Martha, I'd like to ride in that there airplane." And every year, Martha would reply, "I know, Smitty, but that airplane ride costs ten dollars, and ten dollars is ten dollars."  This one year Smitty and Martha went to the fair and Smitty said, "Martha, I'm 71 years old. If I don't ride that airplane this year I may never get another chance. "  Martha replied, "Smitty, that there airplane ride costs ten dollars, and ten dollars is ten dollars."  The pilot overheard them and said, "Folks, I'll make you a deal. I'll take you both up for a ride. If you can stay quiet for the entire ride and not say one word, I won't charge you, but if you say one word it's ten dollars." Smitty and Martha agreed, and up they went.  The pilot performed all kinds of twists and turns, rolls and dives, but not a word is heard. He even does a nose dive, pulling up 15 feet above the ground, but still not a word. They land and the pilot turns to Smitty, "By golly, I did everything I could think of to get you to yell out, but you didn't."  Smitty replied, "Well, I was gonna say something when Martha fell out, ...but ten dollars is ten dollars!"

SNOW IN PEEPLES VALLEY & AN ENJOYABLY MEANINGFUL CHAT WITH A CHARMING LIKE MINDED BLOG READER:))

SEEN IN YARNELL ARIZONA THIS MORNING

Despite a brisk icy cold north wind a-blowin I was happy to see a sharply clear sky full of twinkling stars early this morning.  Not a cloud in sight.  Had ourselves a big bright sunny day headed our way & the long range forecast is predicting temperatures to be in the mid 70’s a week from now.  Yes indeed a welcome sun filled warming trend headed our way:))

With our birdbath water froze I figured there might be some higher altitude snow up in the Weaver Mountains so without further ado I loaded up the little Spoogers & off we went up the big hill into the Weavers looking for some photos.  And some snowy photos we did find.

Cruised through Yarnell & around a few back streets looking for any photo opportunities.  I’d say there was maybe an inch or two on the ground which spread out across the valley floor & up the surrounding mountain sides.

A BUSY YARNELL SIDEWALK

Heading north on highway 89 from Yarnell up through the Peeples Valley we found us a couple nice Jeep roads heading off to the west.  Ruger Ranch Road led us in about 3 miles before ending at a locked electronic gate.  Could see maybe 3 ranches spread out in the hills ahead.  Noticed a lot of Manzanitta shrubs & trees dotting the landscape & could see the far off Sierra Prieta Mountains way over around Prescott with a light dusting of snow on them as well.

PRESCOTT ARIZONA LIES OVER THERE IN THOSE MOUNTAINS

SPOTTED THIS HAWK SITTING IN A NEARBY SNOW COVERED FIELD

Sorrells Road another well maintained dirt road in the Peeples Valley led about 5 miles in off the highway before it also dead ended at a ranch.  But no matter it was scenic drive all the way in & all the way back out again with the snow along the way adding a nice Christmasy touch to the sweeping landscape.  Although icy cold winds ripped at us everytime we stopped for a leg stretch or a couple photos it was always toasty warm in the Jeep with the sun beaming in the windows.  Poking along slow with the heater on as well we were also able to have both front windows down.  Pheebs likes to get her snout out & for me taking photos as we drive along it saves me putting the windows down & up all the time.

NICE MORNING FOR A SLEIGH RIDE THROUGH THE SNOWY COLD SCENIC COUNTRYSIDE….. SLEIGH RIDE ….. (Remember to Skip the Ad)

PHEEBER TRACKS IN THE SNOW AROUND AN OLD CAMPFIRE RING

PRESCOTT ARIZONA IS OVER THERE IN WHAT I THINK ARE THE SIERRA PRIETA MOUNTAINS

Think it was somewhere around 11 this morning when we finally pointed Libby’s nose South & set a course for home.  Back through Yarnell we went & down the big hill again onto the desert floor about 2,000 feet below.  I’d like to snap a GoPro cam onto the hood of the Jeep sometime coming down that Yarnell Hill with all it’s twists & curves.  I’m thinking it might make an exciting 5 minute video:))

A BIG TRACTOR-TRAILER LOST PART OF IT’S HEAVY LOAD LAST WEEK WHEN IT’S TRAILER DIDN’T MAKE IT AROUND THIS HAIR PIN TURN

DRIVER WAS UNINJURED AS THE CAB & FRONT END OF THE TRAILER REMAINED ON THE ROAD

Below are a few more photos of our Peeples Valley drive this morning

POINTED LIBBY’S NOSE FOR HOME

LOOKS LIKE ONLY 1 OTHER VEHICLE HAS PASSED THIS WAY SINCE IT SNOWED

THE LIGHT DUSTING OF SNOW ADDED A NICE TOUCH TO OUR DRIVE

LUCKILY THE MORNING’S SUN WAS ALREADY IN THE PROCESS OF TURNING THIS OVERNIGHT ICY STRETCH INTO MUD

Of course by the time we got home the Jeep was in a bit of a muddy mess from the icy back roads which were in the process of thawing as we drove them this morning.  Too cold to wash the Jeep of course but maybe in a couple days when temperatures come up I’ll get myself at that.  I’ll maybe have a go with some rubbing compound to buff out some of that desert pinstriping Libby has picked up over the past few months as well.

GOT ANOTHER WINDMILL FOR YA MIKE & THIS ONE LOOKS TO BE IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE:))

After a few emails back & forth a Bayfield Bunch blog reader dropped in this afternoon to say Hello & I must say it was a pleasure to meet Rhonda.  Here’s a retired teacher in our age bracket driving a 35’ diesel Class A Motorhome towing a Honda CRV.  Rhonda & her husband of 25 years RV’ed for awhile until his unfortunate passing.  After a couple years she has now decided to continue the RV lifestyle & has just spent a couple weeks boon-docking with the Escapee Club BOOMERS in Quartzsite.  Here’s a Gal with determination & resolve who is also planning to blog about her new & upcoming travels as well.  Rhonda has some of the same Nikon camera equipment I have & how nice to talk a bit of photography with a fellow photog.  But it was our discussion about blogging that really struck a chord with me.  Not so much the physical side of blogging as much as the psycological side of blogging.  The nitty-gritty if you will, the thoughts & feelings side of it.  That honest stuff that comes from the heart.  Not often I meet a like minded person such as Rhonda who shares many of the the same feelings I do.  Today I felt comfortable enough to open up a bit & enjoy a meaningful conversation about the emotional & theraputic side of writing & what leads a person to write & feel the way they do.  Both Kelly & I thank you for dropping by today Rhonda & by golly I just may have learned a few things for a change.  Take care & when you get your blog up & running be sure to let us know:))

GROANER’S CORNER:(( A woman walked up to a little wizened old man rocking in a chair on his porch. "I couldn't help noticing how content you look,"she said. "What's your secret for a long happy life?"  "I smoke three packs of cigarettes a day," he said. "I also drink a case of whiskey a week, eat fatty foods, and never exercise." "That's amazing,"the woman said. "How old are you?'  "Twenty-six," he said.

A COLD WINDY DAY WITH A TOUCH OF SNOW

The pace for our day was set early on when Kelly stepped out the front door with Pheebs & shouted back, ‘It’s snowing’!!   Well that was it for me & aside from slipping out to fill up the bird feeder I resigned myself to an inside day & that was it.

SURE WAS LOOKING NICER IN GRAND BEND ONTARIO (NEAR BAYFIELD) THAN IT WAS IN CONGRESS ARIZONA THIS MORNING

TWO GAMBLES QUAIL SCRATCH AROUND IN OUR BACKYARDS SNOWY GROUND FOR SOME SEEDS EARLIER TODAY

Both wind & rain were hard at times Sunday night & we did lose most of our TV stations.  Even with headphones on plugged into my music I could still hear the occasional rumble of thunder.  It only took a slight adjustment of our satellite dish this morning to bring back our lost channels & we were fine for the rest of the day.  Good thing too as there wasn’t much else going on.

THIS LITTLE FLUFFED UP GAMBLES QUAIL SKITTERS ACROSS A THIN LAYER OF SNOW

Needless to say it turned out to be a cold gray overcast day so rather than let any of that seep into my post tonight I’ll just wind it up here & hope you all had yourselves a nice day”.

KELLY BRIGHTENED UP THE GLOOMY DAY WITH SOME YUMMY QUESADILLAS THIS MORNING

As I post this tonight I am encouraged by clearing skies:))

GROANER’S CORNER:((  An eighty-year-old man's golf game was hampered by poor eyesight. He could hit the ball well but he couldn't see where it went. So his doctor teamed him up with a ninety-year-old man who had perfect eyesight and was willing to go along to serve as a spotter.  The eighty-year-old man hit the first ball and asked his companion if he saw where it landed.  "Yep," said the ninety-year-old.  "Well where did it go?" the eighty-year-old demanded.  The ninety-year old replied, "I don't remember."