We've moved....

Our Location: Mile Marker 91, AZ 95, Arizona

 

As you can see we've moved. Not far, but far enough to not be bothered by loud voices, constant dogs barking and music. The party carried on until midnight with music, singing, loud talking and dogs barking. 

 

 

 The view out the dining room window.

 

 

We were up and out the door by 9 AM this morning, a quick trip for a few things we needed, propane, water and diesel and a look around at some where else to park. We checked out a few places including Le Paz Valley and would have ended up there except this location we've been told is also BLM and is not marked no camping.  Closer to Q there are many 'no camping' signs.

 

 

A large propane tank, totally empty, filled at Pit Stop for $17 USD, I think we in Ontario are getting so ripped off. To get a tank this full I have to exchange it, and the price runs anywhere from $35 - $45 plus tax. I'm sure you can do the math well enough to know it's dirt cheap here. The Dogsled had a big drink this morning with about 20 gallons being slurped up at $3.17 per gallon. I can't complain. He's not completely full but he's close to the full mark. 

 

 

 Looking out and to the left a bit.

 

 

Back at Palm Canyon Road we closed up the Igloo, hooked up and headed out the road. We stopped numerous times to let others go by, around or past us. We have both agreed it's not the type of place we want to park again, nor the type of road we want to travel again. Sorry to all you folks that enjoy it there but it's just not for us. Dad the road into Palm Canyon is worse than the road you take to Whiskey Lake.

 

 

We pulled out and headed north a few miles to between Mile Markers 90-91. We pulled off and headed as far back as this little 'parking lot' allows us to go. We are closer to the road than our normal liking but we are finding it just fine here. We watched carefully on our way back home from Q for 'no camping signs' and found none in this stretch. The host at Le Paz Valley told us this entire side is BLM and there is no parking where the signs say 'no overnight parking' but he said he didn't know about the rest. So we shall see how it works out.

 

 

 We didn't go all the way to the end due to some evidence of horses being in the area for a while. Horse Apples if you know what I mean.

 

 

We were pulled in and set up by noon. Interestingly enough before long we witnessed a neighbour coming in. He isn't anywhere near us and we have no complaints. I just wonder if he would have parked here if we hadn't already been here. I think we have a herd mentality and will follow the leader in doing these types of things. How many times have you parked 'far' from everyone only to have someone pull right next to you almost immediately? Happens to us a lot. 

 

So the photos today are out the windows and the door of the Igloo. Nothing amazing but still pretty nice. 

 

 

We can still see the Kofa Mountains out the door. 

 

 

Thanks for stopping in, I hope you had a wonderful day!! 

 

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

 

Deb

 

 

 

Change of plans...

Our Location: Palm Canyon BLM, KOFA NWR, Arizona

 

 

A change of plans today had us lazing around again. Although I will admit I did go up on the roof and clean the solar panels. They actually weren't nearly as bad as I expected. Once that was accomplished it was pretty much a research day for me. A chat with Dad and making contact with my buddy from Kansas has me rethinking my generator choice so I'll be doing some more thinking before I purchase one. 

 

 

The barrel cactus here aren't as bright red in colour as they are on Ogilby Road near Yuma. 

 

 

 This dying Saguaro is easily seen from our window. 

 As you can see it's still a greenish hint in places but this one is definitely not going to recover.

 

Nephew Jason and his lovely wife Leah leave tomorrow for the second annual trip to British Columbia where they will be enjoying the wonders of the providence, including a great deal of snow mobile riding. Safe travels and have fun!! 

 

 

 Lots of pointy things to watch out for in the desert.

 The little one is tucked in and I didn't see it at first.

 

 

 

 

Today's photos were taken yesterday on a short walk. I thought if I got outside and walked around that I might see something inspiring toward the mountains but alas, nothing, zip, nada. I wonder why that is? 

 Yep, that's a sharp pointy thing too. 

The end of a dead limb on a stump in the wash.

 

 As I sit writing this post folks are coming and going. It seems we now have two new neighbours that have pulled into the space near us, much closer than we like and much closer than good RV'ers should even think about . We can hear them talking, their dog barking and pretty much every noise they make. I wonder why folks do that? Of course it's a rhetorical question, we all know why. They have no manners, no regard for others and they don't give a rat's behind about anyone but themselves. End of rant. 

 

 

 

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you've all had a wonderful day. 

Until next time.. take care, be safe, 

Deb

 

Tent, Kofa photos....

Our Location: Palm Canyon BLM, KOFA NWR, Arizona

 

 

A bit of a breeze this  morning as we started getting around with some plans to do at least one errand today, although there are a few we would like to accomplish. We rested yesterday, both of us being very tired for some reason and I have no idea why. 

 

 

Driving through Box Canyon Road after leaving Truckhaven BLM, heading toward I-10 near Joshua Tree N. Park. 

 Some pretty amazing views.

 We didn't take too many photos though.

Today we wanted to check out the big tent, which we managed to do after finding a place to park the Dogsled. We parked at the end of La Posa West close to the big tent and walked. Lots of folks still around and the vendors are starting to get that glassy eyed look now. A quick tour through the big tent showed us there is nothing in there that is of any interest to us. We stopped at only one booth inside the tent, which was showing the ease of use of a wind screen, easy set up, easy take down, complete with carry bag, weight bags and spikes. We didn't buy one, we didn't price one, but we looked. Other than that we didn't find anything new and exciting for us.

 

 We passed over the Colorado River as we moved from California to Arizona.

 

 

This is the view out the dining room window. I believe that is Kofa Mountain. The day was cloudy and dull. 

 Also out our dining room window. As are most of the photos you will see.   

Our friends were not at the Passport American booth and although we didn't expect to see them, we thought we would know a few folks there, however it was folks we didn't manning it this year. 

 

 

 A splash of sunshine up there on the side of the mountain.

 

 

 

 

There is a fog or haze that comes stealing along just before dark and can be seen in the mornings as well. At times the mountains are not clear and for the most part, while I find them interesting, they don't call to me. I wonder why that is? 

 

 

Our reason for going to tent is very simple, I want a bigger generator and one that is light weight, easy to start, quiet and does what we want it to, which isn't much. I was disappointed that only a couple of vendors were there with generators for sale. Last year there were at least 5 lining one aisle. I found one that I like but when I checked the prices on line I can find it for a better there. So we shall see what happens when I go back on Sunday.  I don't want them to give it away but I also don't want to be taken advantage of either. 

 

We headed to a few vendors across the roadway, finding some nice plush blankets for spring and fall bed toppers. Riley also managed to find some Kettle Corn (which she loves) and other than that we headed back to the Dogsled and on back home. Enough crowds, enough smells and enough tight spaces for both of us. 

 The blast of sunshine in the foreground made the  mountain almost impossible to see in the shadows, clouds and darkness back there.

 This photo was taken out the door, facing southward.

And then the sun broke through the cloud cover to light up the mountain.

We checked out a few other places to park that are of greater interest to us but we'll have to leave them for another year I think. Truthfully, the views are nice here, stunning at times and I'm sure the hikes would be great but the 'getting to and from' are not fun and therefore we have no desire to do a lot of things here that require using the Dogsled. Which of course pretty much everything will require except for a few desert hikes to check out the saguaros which I will be doing one of these days. No complaints, just making note for myself for future reference. 

 

 

   

Yep, a very nice view indeed. The truck and trailer have now left and so we have no one in our view between us and the mountains. 

 

 

Tomorrow we have errands to do as well but will head down Yuma way to do them. I checked it out and the errands we want to do will have to be done either in Parker or Yuma and the difference is 10 miles. With Yuma being the winner since then we won't have to travel through Q with it's stop and go and bumper to bumper roads.  Crazy drivers and Razors scooting in and out of places. The road to Yuma is one we've never travelled before as we always leave from the area of Indian Wells/Salton City which means we don't take AZ 95. 

 Stunning but it doesn't call call to me, it doesn't seem to hold much interest for me and I have no idea why not.

A bit of the sunset over there in the sky.

 

Today's photos were taken the day we travelled from California to Arizona. We arrived here on Tuesday, Jan 21.  The night photos of the mountain are stunning for sure. 

 

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed your day. 

 

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

 

Deb

 

 

 

 

Moved, lots of badlands photos, birthday wishes....

Our Location: Palm Canyon BLM, KOFA NWF, Arizona

 

 

As you can see we've moved. That was yesterday of course. We pulled out after saying our goodbyes to Doug & Yuma (Miss Adventure Travels) around 9 am and heading toward CA 86. It took us a while to reach the roadway but once there we travelled only a short distance of a couple of miles and stopped at the Red Earth Casino where we made use of their dump station. We used the middle one, which worked well after a swipe of the credit card. Some fella behind me said the other two didn't work but I can't verify that. 

 

 

A few days ago I took photos from the other angle, looking at where I'm now standing. 

 

 

Today's photos aren't of our travels but of my last hike in the edge of the badlands on Monday morning. I'll catch up with the photos some day but just not today.  

 

 

 Can you see the person on the bike down there? Right in the middle of the photo.

 Lots of green tinges out there.

 I am now much closer to that road I wanted to follow but I'm too tired to follow it.

Lots of up and down while walking here. 

 

 

Our travels took us through Box Canyon Road near Joshua Tree NP. Last year Box Canyon Road was closed due to severe flooding in the fall of 2018.  It reopened in May of this year. 

 

 

 I can't imagine trekking through here for longer than an hour or so, at least on foot. Horseback would be interesting but I think you would need to rest the horses often. Still amazing to see.

 That is the Salton Sea you can see off in the distance.

They don't look it but those are pretty steep climbs and in some places almost straight up with only bare hard packed sand, like cement showing in the tracks. 

 

 

We crossed back into Arizona which means a time zone change for us and so we are now 2 hours behind Ontario, Canada. The drive thru Quartzsite to catch AZ 95 south bound was busy, bumper to bumper with a 5 minute stop and go, stop and go until the light and then we sailed along pretty well. We will at some point visit the big tent while in the area.

 

On my last walk through here I was looking in the direction that I now stand. Things look very different from this angle.

I was too tired to walk closer but I'm sure it would have been interesting. 

The colours are different back here, less reds, more grays and greens, off browns. 

 

 

We reached Palm Canyon and turned into the roadway. Stopping at the first off branch but couldn't find anything we could fit into. Continuing on we both agreed, it's a beautiful place but the main road in from the road leaves a lot to be desired.  If I say it's pretty rough, you can bet it is pretty rough. We parked in a location that wouldn't normally a place we'd park but due to the rough road we agreed it was far enough. We have a beautiful view of the KOFA mountains out our window though. 

 

Isn't it amazing how many colours are in this photo? 

 

 Now I'm certain that would be fun!!

 I would love to stand on the highest point and look down but I'll settle for this one. That greenish coloured hill is called Telephone Hill. Apparently some one put an old fashioned telephone booth up there. I didn't see it and I've been told it's very dangerous to climb to it.

The desert is perhaps one of the most beautiful and inviting places that I've ever visited. It is also dangerous, cold, stark and standoffish. Perhaps a Jekyll and Hyde thing. 

 

A call to dad once we reached our end spot and chatted with him for about 15 minutes. Catching up on the news and the weather back on Manitoulin Island. 

 I opted for the wash on the way home, faster and less hills or up and down but harder in some ways. Loose sand, more curving and not as breezy meaning it's easier to get warm and stay warm without cooling off.

 I wonder how long that will stand before it crashes into the wash. Between the undercutting from water and wind, to the pressures of being ridden over/around by Razors, Quads, dirt bikes, and such, I think its days are limited.

 

 

A very special birthday wish today to daughter Courtney. She turns 32 today. She is the oldest of my three girls. Courtney is a bubbly person, always smiling and easily excited about things of interest to her.  She has an enthusiasm that is hard to beat. Courtney works in Toronto doing before and after school programs with children.  She also tutors in both english and french. Happy Birthday Sweetheart. 

 

 I've photographed this arch at least 3 times now, once with Riley, once with the sunrise behind it, and now empty.

 Growing down here in the wash. It's a very different environment down here in the bottom of a wash than it is on the desert floor. A bit of water and out of the wind but in the extreme warmth. Life has learned to adapt here in the desert.

 This guy flew over us on our last night at Truckhaven BLM. He wasn't very high and I thought he would land on the top of the mesa behind us but he didn't, he simply made a tight turn and headed back to the area between us and CA 86. I think he may have taken off from there as well.

 

 

So there you have it, our moving day in a nut shell. I hope you enjoyed today's photos (even though they have nothing to do with today's post but I want to have a visual memory of them for myself), I hiked a bit over 3 miles to get them. 

Until next time.. take care, be safe, 

Deb