FINALLY FOUND US SOME WARMER WEATHER IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA:))

WESTBOUND ON I-8 SOMEWHERE BETWEEN GILA BEND AND YUMA

A starry night sky for me is always a fascinating place made even more fascinating some nights by mysteriously unexplainable things going on.   Wednesday night was one of those nights where I stood watching 3 pairs of colored lights simultaneously in 3 different parts of the sky.  I heard a distant thunder yet knew it not to be thunder.  And several times a curious 2 second ‘Viruuuuuum’ sound somewhere to the north.  Worried??  No not at all because we were parked right at the edge of the huge Barry M Goldwater military range and strange things go on there all the time day or night.  F-16 fighter jets were overhead darting about among the stars so I figured those colored lights to be yellow flares from those jets or several other unknown military sources.  I have seen those flares before but not hanging in the air for so long and never in such perfect formations of two in completely different areas of the sky.  The thunder like sound was obviously munitions going off in the desert somewhere and the ‘Viruuuuumm’ sound which I’ve heard before in this area I believe to be the firing of a 30 mm Hydraulically Driven 7 Barrel Gatling Gun.  Yes indeed night skies can be a fascinating place here in southern Arizona and that’s just one of the many things I like about it.

SPOTTED THESE GUYS DUKING IT UP IN GILA BEND THIS MORNING

Also identifiable about 8 hours later was a familiar sound on our Motorhome’s roof.  The lite pitter-patter of raindrops is unmistakable and the predicted rains were upon us for a short time and then were gone.

GILA BEND’S EAST END SHELL STATION JUST OFF I-8

EVEN THE INDIANS AND THEIR HORSES WERE DEPRESSED ABOUT THE CLOUDY MORNING

In case you missed Pat’s comment on my Wednesday night post their dog’s name is Kumori and that Chimney Sweep duo at their house were a married couple.  Thanks Pat:))

QUIETLY RELAXED WATCHING TODAY’S DESERT SCENERY GO BY

Due to a completely overcast sky and a lower altitude than Sierra Vista it was nice not to have ice on the roof this morning.  It was just getting light with a slight drizzle when we had the big wheels rolling along an old black bumpity road which I was quick to name, ‘The Old Road of 10 Million Road Patches’.  It was only maybe a half mile back to highway 85 where we turned north and headed off to Gila Bend.  At Interstate 8 we turned east.  East!?!?  Yep, went to the eastern Gila Bend entrance and swung off there into a Shell Station on the north side.  Dumped our tanks, took on some water, topped off the propane tank and threw a little gas into the Jeep bringing the gas gauge up to half.  There is a Subway sandwich shop there so grabbed a bite to eat before climbing back on I-8 this time heading West.

About 30 miles west of Gila Bend we drove out from under the cloud cover into big blue skies and welcoming sunshine.  And of course sunshine is always good for whatever it is that you think ails ya.  An uneventful drive to Yuma with the Motorhome running perfect.  And we’re not doing so bad ourselves either.

It was Ogilbe Road we were headed for so breezed right through that Yuma town and out the other side into California.  Lots of room out here in these wide open spaces so it was no problem for us to find a spot to camp for a bit.  But only for a bit.  We are in search of new places to go and new things to do.  

CLIMBING THE GILA MOUNTAIN RANGE EAST OF YUMA

MOTORING THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS

COMING DOWN THE OTHER SIDE AND THAT IS A GLIMPSE OF YUMA WAY OUT THERE ON THE DESERT FLOOR

ROLLING THROUGH YUMA AND RIGHT ON OUT THE OTHER SIDE

WE’RE IN THE AGRICULTURE BELT AGAIN

WE’RE HEADING FOR THE WEST SIDE OF THE CARGO MUCHACHO MOUNTAINS AT THE LEFT END OF THAT MOUNTAIN RANGE ON THE HORIZON

Wind and rain are predicted over the next couple days so we were careful in setting up the rig so as to have it’s nose facing the predicted wind heading up out of the South and Southwest.  We always try to use the Motorhome and Jeep to shelter our satellite dish from the wind gusts as well.

NORMALLY WE DON’T PARK FACING THE TREE LINE ALONG A WASH LIKE THIS BUT WITH WINDS PICKING UP WE DIDN’T WANT THEM HITTING US BROADSIDE

WE ARE NOSED IN BEHIND A CLUMP OF PALO VERDE TREES

SHELTERING OUR SATELLITE DISH IS ALWAYS A PRIORITY IF AND WHEN WE USE IT WHICH THIS WINTER WE’VE HARDLY WATCHED TV AT ALL SO FAR

There are many things I have always and still do enjoy about RV travels and one of those things is simply being on the move.  With my constant restless nature I am not one for sitting in one spot for prolonged periods of time.  I am always happy to be changing locations keeping the RV experience alive, challenging and changing.   I have always been a person of change in many respects and wouldn’t have it any other way.  Boredom is my constant nemesis and I have to always be on the ball keeping one step ahead of it or I can all too easily slide into a depression.  It seems the older I get the more restless I become and for me a week in one spot seems like a really long time……………..

TONIGHT’S SUNSET

It was one month ago today we left our Congress home for the last time.  Any regrets about selling the house??  No, none whatsoever and we hardly even ever think about it.  We still believe it was the right thing to do at the right time all way round.  Just as the house came along for us at the right time in March of 2012 so did selling it come along just at the right time in December of 2016. 

And I just noticed today our Bayfield Bunch blog has passed the 5 million page views mark.  Who would have ever thunk it eh.  Certainly not me……………………..

GROANER’S CORNER:(( A guy who had forgotten the dates for a number of his friends' and relatives' birthdays and anniversaries, decided to compile a list on the computer and have the dates highlighted on screen when the machine was turned on.  He went to a number of computer stores to find a software program that would do the job but had no luck at the first few. Finally, he found one where the clerk seemed experienced. "Can you recommend something that will remind me of birthdays and anniversaries?" the guy asked. "Have you tried a wife?" the clerk responded.

-----------------

Q: what is the brunette doing when she holds her hands tightly over her ears? A: Trying to hold onto a thought.

----------------

The maharajah of an Indian Province issued a royal decree. He ordered that no one was to kill any wild animals while he was the country's leader. The decree was honored until there were so many Bengal Tigers running loose that the people revolted and threw the maharajah from power. This is the first known instance of the reign being called on account of the game.

FROM MY RECLINER I SEE THE END OF AN AIRPORT RUNWAY OUT MY SIDE WINDOW AND A GOLF COURSE STRAIGHT OUT THE WINDSHIELD…..’WELL WHERE THE HECK ARE WE NOW’??????

With clear overnight skies I knew it was a cold one Tuesday night soon as I stepped out with Pheebs this morning and saw the Jeep coated in a heavy frost.  It was time to head for warmer weather so with that thought in mind we began packing up the rig making it ready for travel.

THE JEEP’S WINDSHIELD WAS TOTALLY ICED UP

ONE LAST LOOK AT THE HUACHUCA MOUNTAINS AND WE WAVED GOOD-BYE

OH DAD I’M GONNA MISS MY PAL CURLY

We had mentioned to our friends Nancy and Pat we’d be heading out this morning so they met us at the gate where we had stopped to hook up the Jeep.  These folks are truly the nicest down to earth people and their lifestyle fits so well with our own.  They are a quiet couple like ourselves and we are always so thankful to meet people like that.  I purposely respected their privacy so didn’t take any photos of them but I did catch Pat in a few Chimney Sweep photos when they had a chimney sweep company come out to service their woodstove and adjoining chimney pipe.  I do regret not getting any photos of their Japanese Akita dog and Pheebe playing together.  Those 2 guys had a blast.  Pat and Nancy’s dog has a Japanese name and I’ll be darned if either Kelly or I could remember it so we referred to him as Curly.  They invited us to come back and stay any time and there is an outside chance we could be back in their neighborhood late next October. 

THAT’S PAT ON THE PORCH AS THE CHIMNEY SWEEP GUYS HAULS A PIECE OF CLEANING EQUIPMENT BACK TO HIS TRUCK

OOOPS FORGOT SOMETHING

SO WHAT’S BETTER THAN A CHIMNEY SWEEP GUY??  WELL 2 CHIMNEY SWEEP GUYS OF COURSE

ALL PACKED UP AND AWAY THEY GO AFTER MAKING A…….CLEAN SWEEP OF THINGS OF COURSE

We rolled out Nancy and Pat’s gate at 9:15 this morning under a clear blue sunny Arizona sky heading for Sierra Vista and beyond.  Our destination today was based solely on weather so we set a course westward where we knew warmer weather to be.

HERE’S A FELLA GASSING UP HIS HELICOPTER AT THE BENSON I-10 INTERCHANGE

PHEEBS IS HAPPY BECAUSE HERE COMES BREAKFAST:))

A stop at Benson’s McDonalds at the highway 90 and I-10 interchange netted us some breakfast plus coffee.  Thank heavens for McDonald’s coffee while in the States or we Tim Horton coffee fans would be seriously in dire straights as far as finding ourselves acceptable coffee to drink.

DIDN’T HAVE ANY TROUBLE WITH THE TUCSON TRAFFIC

Climbed aboard 1-10 and headed west in thankfully lite traffic.  Wasn’t long and we were making our way through the south end of Tucson along Ajo-Way.  Close to a dozen traffic lights and some major construction southwest of Tucson and we were back out into the peaceful desert again with Kitt Peak in sight.  We were on one of my favorite roads from years ago as we headed west on highway 86 towards Why Arizona.

KITT PEAK NATIONAL OBSERVATORY NOTICE ONE OF THE MANY OBSERVATORIES VISIBLE ON TOP OF KITT PEAK

THIS SERIES OF DRIVE-BY PHOTOS WERE TAKEN WITH THE D3400

I TRIED TO FIND MY POST ABOUT THE DAY I DROVE UP THERE TO HAVE MYSELF A WALK AROUND AND LOOK AT ALL THE OBSERVATORIES BUT COULDN’T FIND IT

With Kelly on the computer checking weather reports we figured out an onboard plan as to where we wanted to be when a predicted 2 days of rain begins over southern Arizona in the next few days.  Would it be Ajo or Yuma??

HEADING WEST ON HIGHWAY 86

SPOTTED THIS ALONG THE ROAD SOMEWHERE BETWEEN TUCSON AND WHY ARIZONA

PASSING BY THE HICKIWAN RV PARK IN WHY ARIZONA

Figured the hard packed rocky surface west of Yuma would be the place to be, but not today so we figured on an overnighter just north of Ajo.

HEY THIS PLACE LOOKS MIGHTY FAMILIAR

Not wanting to un-hook the Jeep we needed a simple boon-docking spot large enough to pull in and be ready to roll in the morning.  We remembered a small Airport and adjoining Golf Course north of Ajo off highway 85 and that’s where we went.  Found us a flat level spot alongside a dirt road about a quarter mile from the end of the runway and pulled in.  Across the road we could see people golfing and were surprised at the number of golf carts we saw motoring around out here on the golf greens in the dry desert.  Palm trees even…………

OUR OVERNIGHT SPOT

THE GOLF COURSE IS JUST OVER THERE IN THOSE TREES

YEP IT’S GOLFERS ALRIGHT

LOOKS LIKE THE END OF A RUNWAY ALRIGHT

About an hour after we had set up for the night a car pulled in and we figured it was someone here to tell us we couldn’t park here.  But nope, it wasn’t that at all.  In fact it was a pilot who said he would be taking off shortly to do border security and didn’t want us to be bedazzled by bright lights around midnight when he comes back to land.  Thought that was right nice of that feller and he also told us we were welcome to come over and park near the hangers any time.  About half an hour later I heard an engine running so slipped outside with my camera and sure enough there he was way down at the other end of the runway turning into his take-off roll.  Seconds later I heard his motor power up and he was rolling.  He lifted off the runway and seconds later came right over top us and as I took a close photo he waggled his wings and was gone up into the late afternoon sky heading south.

HERE HE COMES AND HE’S ALREADY OFF THE GROUND

HERE HE GIVES US A WING WAGGLE

AND THEN HE WAS GONE

It was long about dusk when I decided to take Pheebs for a walk over to the end of the runway and take a few photos. 

STANDING AT THE END OF RUNWAY 3-0

AN 18mm WIDE ANGLE SHOT OF OUR RIG FROM THE RUNWAY

THIS IS A 55mm VIEW WHICH IS ABOUT WHAT THE EYE SEES SO THIS IS A RESONABLY ACCURATE SHOT OF HOW FAR WE ARE FROM THE END OF THE RUNWAY

PHEEBS ON THE SOUTHERN END OF RUNWAY 3-0 A FEW MILES NORTH OF AJO ARIZONA

‘HEY DAD I THINK I HEAR AN AIRPLANE COMING’

I AM SOOOOOO PLEASANTLY AMAZED AT HOW WELL THIS D34OO SHOOTS IN LOW LIGHT

Maybe it’s a little early but must say I am very pleased with my new Nikon D3400 camera.  Auto-Focus is very fast and that’s a huge bonus for me.  Love how it is so much lighter and nimble than my D90.  I have taken it off automatic and tweaked it in Program mode.  At some point they built a new 18-55mm lens and the diameter is slightly bigger than my D90’s lens which means I will have to get a new UV filter and lens hood for it.  Other than that, two thumbs up so far:))

GROANER’S CORNER:(( During a fire at a convent, a group of nuns are trapped on the third floor. Thinking quickly, they took off their habits, tied them together and used them as a rope to climb down from the window.After safely reaching the ground, a reporter asks, “Weren’t you worried that the habits would have ripped as you were climbing down? They look old and worn.”“Of course not!” said one of the nuns. “Don’t you know how hard it is to break an old habit?”

---------------------

Knock Knock
Who's there?
Bitter Bianca!
Bitter Bianca who?
Bitter Bianca next train out of here, pardner!

---------------

Knock Knock
Who's there?
Bolivia!
Boliva who?
Boliva me, I know what I'm talking about!

---------------------

The football coach walked into the locker room before a game, looked over to his star player and said, "I'm not supposed to let you play since you failed math, but we need you in there. So, what I have to do is ask you a math question, and if you get it right, you can play." The player agreed, and the coach looked into his eyes intently and asks, "Okay, now concentrate hard and tell me the answer to this. What is two plus two?"
The player thought for a moment and then he answered, "4?"  "Did you say 4?" the coach exclaimed, excited that he got it right.  At that, all the other players on the team began screaming, "Come on coach, give him another chance!"