A rainy day, laundry finished and the desert smell......

Our Location: Saddle Mountain BLM, Tonopah, AZ

 

I woke around 3:30 am and was finished sleeping for the night. Although that would be about my regular time back in Ontario it's just too early here. However what is one to do when sleep proves elusive and can't be found no matter how much one promises to pay the sandman. 

 

It showed some promise.....

 

I read blogs, made comments, chatted with my sister for a few minutes on facebook and just did a bit of research. I knew the weather folks were calling for rain and cloudy skies so I wasn't in any hurry to roll out of bed but did so when I noticed the sky appeared to be brighter than I thought overcast should look. I hustled outside in my jammies and a fleece sweater to snap a few pictures. Sure enough it looked like it might be a decent day with some sun after all. 

 

A possibility.....

 

Back inside Riley and I started changing bed linens and sorting laundry, as today no matter what the weather it was going to be laundry day. A look outside had me realizing that the hopeful splash of sunlight was just that a splash and today wasn't going to see any further sunlight unless a miracle happened or a late afternoon clearing. I can tell you neither of those things happened. No more sunlight for the rest of the day. 

 

Could those clouds dissipate?

 

We had our hot drinks, loaded everything in the truck and headed out toward the suburb of Buckeye. However we stopped to chat with a walker who happens to be a fellow Canucky but from BC. Laura and her hubby Rick, along with a couple of other Canadians whose names I can't recall are parked back in the spot we had been hopeful of snagging. We chatted for about 20 minutes, exchanging information about water, dump, etc. Nice lady, maybe we'll have another chance to chat before one of us leaves. We also passed by Matt's location just as we emerged onto Courthouse Rd West but heading east. 

 

A definite possibility.....there looks to be some blue back there...

 

Can you believe we didn't have the laundromat in the gps? Neither one of them and so we had to wing it. It worked out fine except for the construction. Oh well, we still managed to find it but from the opposite direction. A few rain drops were splashing down as we loaded our dirty laundry into the basket and headed inside. I really like this laundromat, it's clean, the machines are wiped down often, the floor is swept often, and there are two ladies that roam the floor looking to help anyone in need. Had trouble getting my quarters to go into one machine, it didn't want to swallow one up and wouldn't kick it back out either, had to be fished out with a paper clip. Long story short, we got the laundry going. 

 

Well maybe there is still hope....

 

Shortly after the hour and fifteen minute mark we were starting to fold dry laundry and before we knew it we were finished. Outside putting the things in the Dogsled we noticed that it was still spitting rain drops, but had picked up from little spit balls to bigger drops, still not enough to make us wet but if out for more than about 20 minutes would have made us damp. 

 

This cacti is somewhat scarred but must still be young as it has no arms....

 

We needed a couple of things from Walmart and headed up to Watson Road to make those purchases. While we were inside the store it rained as when we came out the Dogsled was considerably wetter than when we had left it. We dumped in a bottle of Blue Def in the parking lot as we were down to less than 500 miles to go before we ran out. I purchased two jugs (still had one  in the lock box in back of the truck) but will need them when we start to drive longer distances on the way home. We pushed through at least 3 on the drive out here. 

 

A look inside that hole.....

 

Heading back home we noticed that things were considerably wetter but still no puddles to be seen. We made note of a few spots we might like to hike while we're here before turning into our long driveway  and heading back to the Igloo. Riley noticed Matt was no longer in his space. He hadn't mentioned leaving but oh well, that is the way things go. 

 

 

As you can see the promise of the early morning just didn't pan out.....

 

Back home we unloaded the Dogsled, slipped inside and fended for ourselves for lunch. Neither of us felt like cooking. I spent a lot of time reading today, enjoying my book, had a little nap and slipped outside around 5:30 pm or so take a few more pictures. The ground around the Igloo is wet but underneath is dry as a bone. It's rained or misted all day, no breaks in the clouds and it's been a rather gloomy day in which we've run the heater a couple of times just to take the dampness out of the air. When last I looked  yesterday the weather guessers said we'd have a nicer day tomorrow and Friday for certain. Hope so, we have plans for Friday and dry weather would be a bonus. 

 

There truly are mountains over there....

 

The desert has once again sent its particular wet smell wafting into the air with the scent of creosote and damp dust. It is a smell that lingers in the mind and the senses after one has smelled it for the first time, a smell one will never forget, a smell that smells differently the second time, more accurate, less new. It's a lingering scent, not a cloying thick scent but yet, one with a heavy feeling to it. It's not crisp, like a clean smell but a sharp scent of something scorched. It gives off a feeling of old, a sense of history, a tough silent strength. It is a war of sorts, between the heat and the cool, a violent clash that leaves the air heavy but not the clinging oppressive way. It is comforting in ways and pleasing as well. It awakens the senses like the dawning of a new morning, filling one with hope and a new sense of being. Promising to cleanse the stains of dust, dirt, and heat from all living things, giving the knowledge that soon there will be a fresher, cleaner, more vivid landscape. It promises us a more pristine world under our feet, before our eyes and in our nose. There is nothing quite like a desert rain!

 

Definitely no blue sky showing here....

 

As I write this post the heavens have turned on the sprinkler system once again. Not at full pressure but at a steady falling of drops that will linger long enough to be absorbed before the sun rises again. So there you have it, our not so exciting day here at Saddle Mountain BLM. It's been pretty quiet and we like it that way. It's been pretty gloomy and we don't like it that way but we do appreciate that into every life a little rain must fall. The desert has been patient for pretty much all winter that we've been here raining only 2 days out of our entire time here. We have no complaints at all. Soon it will clear up and be spectacular again.  As I finish this post the wind is picking up, perhaps it will be a nice blue sky tomorrow.

 

Not wet under the Igloo.....

 

So thanks for stopping by, hope you enjoyed the visit. Feel free to leave a comment, I read them all. 

Don't believe that idea of a brighter sky, it started raining harder after this picture....

Until next time..... take care, be safe, 

  No hint of any thing but more rain.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

A dark end to the day......

Deb