A better day today....

 

 

Our Location: 

Road Runner BLM, Quartzsite, Arizona

 

Again this morning we were at the freezing mark but the day did warm up to around the 60F/15C with a breeze kicking up now and then but it was a nicer day than the last few have been. Tomorrow is supposed to be better still. We shall see how it goes. 

 

We stopped at some of the vendors along Kuewn Street.

It's very empty.

 

This morning Riley and I decided we needed to do something and so we climbed into the Dogsled and headed into town. Our first stop was RV Lifestyles to make an appointment for later next week and to get a tank filled with propane. After that we managed to stop in a few other spots to check out a few things, we managed to find a loaf of bread and soon we were heading back down the US/AZ 95 but we didn't stop at Road Runner. Instead we kept going to check out a few places we might like to camp in the future years. We also checked out some more of the Road Runner LTVA area before coming home. 

 

I love this grouping of saguaros.

Those are part of the Kofa Mountains back there.

 

After lunch I hauled myself out for a bit of a walk, my first in a long time. I didn't go very far or very fast but I did get moving. It wasn't too bad sitting outside for happy hour but I came home long before the sun set as I could feel the cold seeping around my blanket and my left knee wasn't impressed. I'm truly hoping for warmer drier days ahead, it's been the dampest and coldest year we've spent out here. 

 

These are also part of the Kofa's.

Back at Road Runner LTVA area.

 

Chatted with my dad, they had snow yesterday. He and my brother Rick are almost finished cutting wood and hauling it home. Later in the spring Dad will split it all. It sounds as though some of the Maple Sugar operations are starting to get their lines ready and the trees tapped, they seem to feel that the warm weather will come quickly and they want to catch the first run. No tapping happening on the Dad's/Rick's farm yet. 

 

Three from one root.

The outside one is growing two arms.

A bit blurry but the this is the saguaro in the above two photos.

 

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

 

Until next time.....

 

Take care, stay safe, 

 

Deb

 

 

A busy day for us.....

 

Our Location: 

North of MM 4, Ogilby Road, Winterhaven, California

 

This morning started off with a walk back to the mountains for me. I crossed multiple arroyos and followed a hint of a path most of the way. I've been back in this area before but not for a few years. 

 

I kind of followed this path for a while this morning.

Those rigs are way back off of Ogilby Road.

Those same rigs from my vantage point later in my walk.

Some day I'm going to climb around over there.

I climbed to the top of the small hill above the hole you can see on the left.

 

Coffee time with the general folks and we made plans for a part of the day. Doug & Tom went one way and the three ladies went the other way. Propane proved to be difficult to get but eventually we managed to get one 30lb tank and one bbq filled/exchanged. Picked up groceries at the pick up spot, found the post office but didn't make use of it today. Back home in time for a happy hour. We had to borrow Tom for a few minutes to get the small bbq tank valve to turn, we just couldn't move it. Thanks Tom.

 

First I had to get through this arroyo. The rocks were flat but tilted, and very little sand.

It was actually easy walking here.

I wasn't alone! This person followed me all morning.

I've been here before but someone has cemented it again.

A small sample of things left inside.

 

We notice a truck bringing Doug and Yuma home from his walk, our friend Ivan  ( Road Trip ) dropped by for a visit. We were surprised to see him, we didn't know he was in the area. He joined us for happy hour with  Deb & Tom (Celebrating the Dance ) and Doug ( Miss Adventure Travels ) and Yuma.  We all said our goodnights as the sun was starting to sink in the sky and the coolness was becoming apparent. 

That's for a chimney I think.

I climbed up above the half building along these rocks.

Very soft rock, the wind and water seem to cause these.

Looking back behind this small foothill I'm standing on above the roofless stone structure below.

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

Those small white dots about center picture is our general location, we more to the right of those dots.

I know the sun is in the wrong place but I loved this view, almost eerie.

My friend Anita is on my mind a lot out here because she would know what causes this and what it means.

Tom, Deb, Riley, Doug, Ivan at Happy Hour at the Stinger Bee.

Until next time....

Take care, be safe, 

Deb

More photos.....

Our Location: Saddle Mountain BLM, Tonopah, AZ

 

Another quiet day, we managed to get rid of some trash, get some water and propane. For future reference there is a transfer station past Base Line Road, near Hickmans. 

 

Today's photos are from my hike a couple of days ago. 

 

 It's hard to see the rocks and holes in all of this growth.

 I think the blooms will be coming along in a few weeks. 

 

 Can you see the camper at the bottom of one of those towers over there? 

Yep, we are over there. 

 

 

 All of that growth makes it difficult to see how rough and steep the climb is. 

 I climbed up there but not all the way to the top.

 A couple of rigs over there in the distance. 

 If you look closely you will see a saguaro about the middle of the photo. I climbed to just that pile of dark rocks at the base. 

 You can see it better now. Those brown rocks were about as far as I went. Too difficult to climb with all the growth. You can't see where you are stepping and it's difficult to pick a good path. 

It is so green over there. 

 

 I don't remember seeing many with arms this low to the ground. 

Just one arm close to the ground on this one. The top of this saguaro looks to have rings instead of up and down bands. It doesn't but it looks like it.

 

One would wonder how this arm continues to be green.

 Lots of arms all around the same area on this guy.

Interesting little growths on the left side, as you can see it looks like two or three new arms are growing there.

Some colour but mostly I took this shot so you could appreciate what I was walking through.

 You can't see where you are stepping and must watch closely.

The Ocotillos are no longer green but a deep red/burgundy colour. 

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

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

Deb

 

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