Sunday, February 11, 2018

Guest writer tonight.....




Our Location: Bouse Road near Parker, AZ

 
Today I’m taking the day off and Miss Riley will be your tour guide.  Sit back, buckle up and keep EVERYTHING inside.

This was waiting patiently for me this morning  as I went out to catch sunrise....

Hi, this is Riley, I thought I would talk about my whole trip tonight. 

The dark mountains had distinguishable features this morning...

When we left Ontario in late October I was excited to see new things, have some new experiences and to get away from the snow and cold again. The drive was long, but it was interesting and at times eventful. I thought the scenery was beautiful some times, and boring other times. The temperatures were pretty good but I didn’t wear short pants for the first few weeks on the road. I even had to wear a sweater. We found the up and down temperatures to be hard to regulate our bodies.
 
It was a hazy kind of thing again this morning....

The first while the scenery was very much like back in Ontario and not too exciting for me. As we drove further along into the middle part of the country the view outside the window became very different. It was flat, with long rolling hills. The sky seemed to be getting bigger the further we drove.

I know what's back of that mountain just waiting to pop out and greet us folks here....

I don’t remember much about the Mountains but i remember Amarillo,Texas. It was cold and very windy, and I mentioned to Mom that we should turn around and go back the other way since it was warmer back there. After we left Texas still going west  we found some warmer weather.

Yep, it's up.....

The desert weather is very different than I’m used to. It’s what I thought it would be like but Borrego Springs was too hot for me and I didn’t enjoy the weather there at all. I wouldn’t come to this area if the weather was that hot all the time. However the rest of the time I’ve been enjoying the weather and it’s a lot better than sitting in the cold and snow.  

I never get tired of seeing these views....

Some of the places I remember best so far are Tombstone, Arizona; Elephant Butte, New Mexico; Borrego Springs, California; Joshua Tree, California; and  Saddle Mountain, Arizona. At Tombstone I enjoyed the re-enactment of the gunfight at the Okay Corral. I liked the history about the Earp Brothers and enjoyed lunch at Big Nose Kate’s although it was pretty loud and busy. Elephant Butte was a really nice park, we stayed for a while and I enjoyed the peace and quiet there. Borrego Springs I remember for a few reasons. I enjoyed the time with Aunt Janet and meeting her friend Sue. The metal sculptures were amazing. The detail surprised me very much. I enjoyed meeting Doug & Yuma there as well. Joshua Tree National Park I enjoyed the slot canyon we found near by, the hikes in the park, and just the park its self. Meeting Sonya, Joshua and Jack again was also nice. The day trips into the Coachella Valley and Indian Wells to visit with Aunt Janet were entertaining and exciting. Saddle Mountain I remember because it was our first real experience at boon docking out here in the desert. It was very quiet there and I enjoyed the peace with so little noise. This is where we first met Sonya, Joshua and Jack. 

Who said the desert is boring brown?

Some of the other things I really have enjoyed here in the desert have been meeting George & Suzie, as well as Patsy & Bill. We kind of met Deb & Tom but haven’t really chatted with them. I’ve liked trying new things, like difference foods, and doing things that have shocked my mother since they are not in my comfort zone. Things like going in busy market areas, speaking to people before they speak to me, and actually speaking to people that I’ve not met before.  Doing some hiking that was much harder than I have done before. Figuring out how to help with directions while she’s driving.

 
Can you see the reptile head?

The desert has been educational too. I’ve seen lots of new kinds of trees, cacti, poky things, sharp pointy things and things that make me say ouch (or worse). I’ve learned to be less upset by change and more patient when things don’t go as fast as I want. I’ve figured I don’t like the sun as much as I thought I did since it’s much hotter here than back in our summer spot where I am outside much more.

 
Fly on a Palo Verde tree....


We aren’t finished our adventure but I think I will enjoy the rest of the trip just as much as I did the beginning and middle. We’re going home a different route than we came, and I  know we’ll see lots of different things.

 
It sure was dusty or hazy far off over Hwy 95 tonight...

I will back next year if Mom drives me and hope to have a chance to meet some of you again and some for the first time.  I hope I have done a good job filling in for my lazy Mother who didn’t think she could write a post today.

 
It's almost finished for the day.....

So as Mom would say, ‘ Thanks for stopping by, leave a comment or not.’

 
It's sinking fast....

Until next time…. take care, be safe,

 
Just the tiniest hint of the sun still there, can you see it?


Guest writer, 

Our last night at Bouse Road BLM this year....Good night...

 Riley




18 comments:

  1. Oh my! Riley, you are such a wonderful young lady! This was a real treat, not that your Mom isn't but you are telling the story of your trip from a whole new perspective and I love that too.
    We also loved Elephant Butte, one of our favourite State Parks from last winter. No one can say the desert is dull and brown all the time once they experience it first hand, for themselves. You can't describe it, can you?
    I hope you Guest Write again sometime, I've truly enjoyed it.......almost as much as meeting you and talking to you! Thank you! Hugs.

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    1. Thank you Patsy. I enjoyed writing and sharing my views.

      I will see if Mom will take another holiday from writing. She's old and I shouldn't have any troubles getting her to take a day off now and then. She can get lazy at times.

      You are right, it is very hard to describe the desert because it is breathtaking and I don't have the words to describe the things I have seen. It's not the same all over, it changes often and in many ways.

      Take care, be safe,
      Riley

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  2. Hey Riley that was a wonderful post. Right from the heart. Glad that you are enjoying some of the neat places to explore and yes the desert sun is very intense but you now have a sunshade that will help a lot. Lots of new places to explore, new places and new faces all make for a fun adventure.
    Travel safe and take care of ma for us.

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    1. Thank you George.

      You are right, there are many things to see and do, and people to meet. It's all part of the adventure.

      I'll do my best since you know I wear many hats.

      Take care, be safe,
      Riley

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  3. Great post Riley. Time to take over for your mother 😋.

    Interesting to get a young person's take on boondocking, bouncing from one place to another and meeting stranger's. I feel the same way, so I guess I'm not too old after all.

    I promise you that it is not this hot in the southwest every year. So come again. It will be different.

    I'm glad I met you. You may be quiet but you're one sharp cookie! Make sure Mom doesn't get lost and stay safe.

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    1. Thank you Doug. I am not sure about the taking over part. It's not as easy to write a post every day as she makes it look.

      I didn't think you were old, and I guess we do feel the same way about boon docking. Looks like Yuma takes good care of you too.

      I plan on making Mom do this drive again, and if I can't make her, then I'll bribe her. I'll offer to buy her lunch at the Julian Pie Place with a slice of pie included. That should do it.

      I am happy that I met you too. I'll try to keep Mom from getting too lost but it's a big job.

      Take care, be safe,
      Riley

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  4. Out standing blog today . I'm envious of all your adventures and thankful that you. and your mother blog about them. Always great pictures . Please keep up the wonderful travel blogs . Thanks Vern in Boise Id.

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    1. Mom says Welcome to A Long and Lonesome Highway Vern. We hope you continue to enjoy the ride.

      Thank you Vern. It's nice to share our adventures with others and I'm sure Mom will continue to write about them and I will share my own thoughts from time to time.

      Mom just points and shoots and the pictures come out pretty good. Glad you like them.

      Take care, be safe,
      Riley

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  5. You said "The sky seemed to be getting bigger the further we drove" I couldn't help but agree with your statement. The skies do seem to open right up the farther south you go. Thanks for sharing your version of the trip. Susan and I really hope to meet up with you and your mom somewhere along the road. We will be in Quartzsite tomorrow if all goes well. Safe travels

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    1. Your welcome Lorne. Glad we agreed on something. The sky is one of the most amazing things ve seen out here. It is so big.

      We are leaving the Quartzsite area today (Monday) heading for Saddle Mountain. We will wave at you and Susan as we pass on the highway. Maybe we can try again next year to met up.

      Safe travels.

      Take care, be safe,
      Riley

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  6. Riley, I really enjoyed your post today! You are quite the writer, just like your mom. That's the beauty of traveling, you always get to see such interesting things as the country changes. I hope we get to meet up next year with you and mom. Pictures are beautiful too. Glad you sat in for your mom, please continue to be a guest writer, as it's always nice to see from a young person's perspective! Great job!

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    1. Thank you Shirley. It's not as easy as Mom makes it look but she's happy to take a day off from time to time.

      Yes, the view is always changing and I always like seeing new things and places.

      Perhaps we will meet next year and I think that would fun.

      Mom says she just points and shoots and the sun does the rest. The other shots are just luck.

      Take care, be safe,
      Riley

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  7. Hi Riley, Good job on the blog. Nice to hear what you think about the places you have been and what you thought about the things you have seen. I'm glad you are enjoying yourself. Keep up the good work.

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    1. Thank you Anonymous. I will admit Mom helped me a bit to remember a few things but most of them I remembered on my own.

      I'm glad you liked my post and maybe I'll fill in again some time.

      Take care, be safe,
      Riley

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  8. That is an excellent summary of your time so far this trip. Well done and lots of detail. I like that you let us in on your personal feelings, good and not so good. Well done!

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  9. Hi Riley, it's Kelly, Pheebs, and Al over here at The Bayfield Bunch. That was a great post you wrote and I liked your perspective on the South-west. First time I have read a younger person's views and I found that very refreshing and had to agree with you in that I feel the very same way you do about not only the traveling part but the camping part as well. Hope you and your Mom can make it back to the Southwest again and enjoy it as much as we have over the past dozen years. And hopefully next time you come it won't be so disappointingly hot. Keep up those great writing skills you have and continue to share your thoughts and experiences. All the best......

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  10. Thank you Kelly, Pheebs and Al. I am happy that some one else agrees with me. I want to come back many more times and see some things again, but also some new things too. I can see why my mom wanted to come out here and why some many people keep coming back. Hopefully it's not quite so hot next time but it sure was a lot nicer than back home in Ontario. Maybe I'll guest write again in a few months when the trip is over.

    Take care, be safe,
    Riley

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