Monday, January 6, 2020

A good time .......




Our Location: Near American Girl Mine Road, BLM, CA
 
I was too lazy to blog last night after a lot of hours in the sun and so I decided to do a double blog tonight. Lots of photos, so be warned. 
 
 
 Tom & Jerry, not the cat and mouse, but our chefs for lunch on Sunday. Tom on the left and Jerry of course on the right. 


I asked some nice lady walking by if she would snap a few photos of us all and of course she said yes. Left to right, Tom, Deb D, Riley, Doug, Elva, Deb K, and Jerry. 
 
 
Yesterday (Sunday, Jan 5) Riley and I started the morning with a bit of food prep for later in the day. After that I chatted with a few folks back home, walked down to Ogilby Road to meet Doug Laning (Miss Adventure Travels) to help guide him to the neighbourhood. Yuma was pretty excited! 


Yes we drove up here. 


 We didn't take the washed out road.



 We are heading back into the middle of the Cargo Muchacho Mountains.



So many different types of rock. The textures, colours and even the feel is so very different. Some welcome, others repel, and some are neither inviting nor threatening. 
 
 
Around 2:30 pm Riley and I loaded a few things into the Dogsled and drove the short distance to the Stinger Bee where Deb & Tom (Celebrating the Dance) are parked.  We sat around chatting for a bit before friends Elva & Jerry Shannon arrived and just after that Doug & Yuma drove up as well. A happy hour lunch/visit enjoyed by all, lasted until after the sun sank behind the western horizon. Lots of laughter, a few stories, maybe a little taller tale here and there but it's true, RV'ers are such wonderful people. Back home I had a quick chat with my dad and decided I was too tired to do a blog. 
 
 
 I love the views, and never tire of them. We took the road you see down there on the left and then it curves out toward the center of the photo. It then drops down into a wash which I show a bit later on in the photos.



 We turned around up here at the top and went back down the same way. We couldn't get out if we had continued down the path and would have had to turn at the bottom anyway.




I thought you might like a nice photo of your Jeep Miss Elva. 
 
 
This morning (Monday, Jan 6) Jerry drove up in Miss Elva's nice silver jeep right around 9 AM and he didn't miss the turn this time. Yeah Jerry!!! Jerry and I headed back past the open pit mine and points further off into the Cargo Muchacho Mountains. We visited a few old mines, looked in some holes, climbed some steep banks, splashed through dry washes and dropped down some steep paths. Over rocks, around the corners, up the hills, down the hills, on the road, off the road. We played in the sand for a while and we even enjoyed some water views along the All American Canal. It was a wonderful ride and I enjoyed it very much. 



 A very large gopher made this hole.
 
 
And we know that because a person couldn't even come close to standing up in there.
 
 
 I adjusted this photo so you could see how deep it is but it never gets any taller. Of course we didn't go into this gopher hole but it was interesting to see it.
 
 
Jerry is an excellent driver and a very knowledgeable fella. Thanks for taking me along Jerry, it was a great adventure!! Thanks Miss Elva for the jeep and the driver again. You are a sweetheart!! 

 
 Deep in the Cargo Muchacho Mountains.



 Can you see the mine entrance over there in the middle right of the photo?



The views are always amazing. I love the colour. 
 
Back home I had some lunch and read my book for a while. I think I may have closed my eyes a time or two but only for a quick peek at my eyelids, and there are no holes, I assure you. 


 We followed that little road for a while.



 Again I adjusted this photo so you can see how deep it is. This is straight down and we couldn't see the bottom. Notice the broken ladder on the right, I couldn't imagine climbing down there.




We traveled that road down there and if you look you will see the stone walls of an old building down there. No roof but the partial walls. I am standing just in front of the large mine shaft in the above photo, turning around I snapped this photo. 
 
 
A quick text or 5 from Deb and we were grabbing our chairs and drinks before walking over to the Stinger Bee for a quick but later happy hour. Doug & Yuma also dropped by to enjoy the chatter. Deb & Tom found us all a spot out of the wind and we talked until after the sun slid, once again behind the horizon. We do enjoy spending time with these folks, lots of laughs and easy chatter. 


 We came down there and made a left.



 So we could go this way...


And it was a bit bumpy. I took a short video of Jerry coming along there but I've never posted a video here and I'm quickly coming to the end of my blogging limit for tonight, so maybe I'll post it another time. 

 
Back home I edited photos and typed this post. I'm tired tonight and I think I'll sleep well, I did last night too. This may be getting to be a habit. 

 
Made it with a little slippin', slidin' and bumpin'. Good job Jerry. 


Do you recognize that mountain over there? I bet you do. It's Picacho Peak.


 We are now all the way thru the Cargo Muchacho Mountains and not far from the Valley of the Names.
 
 
Thanks for stopping by, I hope you all had a fantastic couple of days. 


 I never tire of the views. 


 I think this view is stunning. The colour difference is so eye catching.


 We played here in the sand for a while.


Again I adjusted this one a bit so you could see the natural hole here. The wind, rain and sun all helped to make this natural hole in a massive sand wall. 
 
Until next time... take care, be safe, 
 
 
                                                            
                                                I thought this was something stuck to the side of the tire.                                                     

 
But it isn't, it moves. 
 
 
Deb
 
 
 


 
 

14 comments:

  1. That was an exciting ride today. I think that drive through those large rocks would have made me sea sick and knock my back out too. Some neat looking mines. Those old timers had determination and guts to chisel out those holes in solid rock. Thanks for taking us along.

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    1. It was a bumpy ride but I enjoyed it. I've never been that far back into the mountains and now that I know a bit more I could probably do a few hikes back in that area another time. The mines were very interesting to see. I think you are right, some folks perhaps are too brave for their own good. Glad you enjoyed it Doug.

      Take care, be safe,
      Deb

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  2. I never get tired of all the colors the southwest has to offer. Looking at the pictures I can see what you mean when you said it was a bumpy road. Another wonderful ride. I can see why you thought the views were worth the bumps.
    So glad you and Riley took the stroll over and then Doug joined us. Such a nice way to end the day chatting and laughing with friends while watching the sunset.

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    1. Like you, I never tire of the views and the colours. There is something almost haunting in their call. I think the ride was well worth the bumps and now I can say I've been around and thru the Cargos.
      It was a wonderful way to end the day visiting with friends. Thanks for letting us squat on your mat for a bit.

      Take care, be safe,
      Deb

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  3. I call those stick bugs. They are really cool!! Looks like it was a fun ride. Great mine entrance pictures. I would be so tempted to go in, but my Southwest explorer friends say no.

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    1. I figured it was something to do with sticks as it was very 'stick like'.
      The ride was fun, I had a wonderful time. I agree with your friends, these are not the kinds of places to enter. When I stomped my foot outside of the gopher mine entrance there was a hollow sound that echoed for a while. The other mine the ladder was broken in many places and so very old. Better to see than to experience in these cases I think.

      Take care, be safe,
      Deb

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  4. Love the group picture of you all! The rest of the picture are beautiful! I'm sure it was a great ride you all had. Love the mine pictures too, that one going straight down,,scary! I wonder the last time it was entered or what's at the bottom?

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    1. We've been having a good time, lots of laughs and giggles. Some tall tales, some short tales and just fun times.
      The rides have been fantastic. The mines are interesting but I stand at the entrance and look, turn on the flash and give it a try or I just lighten until we can see something. Not the best looking photo but informative.

      Take care, be safe,
      Deb

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  5. Awesome pictures. I don't think I have been in this area. If I have it was back in the early 70's.....you know, a couple of years ago.

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    1. It's a nice area, very bumpy but fun to see. The guide should be able to direct you, should you want to go. Haha
      A couple of years ago seems about right and I'm sure you enjoyed the sights just as much as we did, even if you don't remember.

      Take care, be safe,
      Deb

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  6. What a fun time you have been having. Quite the gopher hole, perhaps it was the beginning of a hole to a mine. So gad that you did not go in there. Thanks for the Picacho Peak photo, now I have an idea where you are.

    I have been reduced to commenting as anonymous but at least my commenting has been returned somewhat, well at least for today.

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    1. We are having fun time for sure. The gopher hole was the mine, it was not possible for a person to walk upright but to be bent at the waist with hands almost dragging on the ground. A hollow sound when you stomped your foot at the entrance. Much better to look in and wonder than to enter and get injured.
      We are camped on the other side of the Cargo Mountains from Picacho Peak but from our jeep rides we seem to be able to seem the Picacho Peak each time.

      Take care, be safe,
      Deb

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  7. You are right about never getting tired of those views. Touring the mines looks interesting but you are right, I would not want to go in them!

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    1. I sometimes wonder if I'm posting to many of the wonderful views but then think that it's for me in my future to help me remember and so, there can't be too many. Haha. However I am glad you like them.
      The mines are interesting to see and speculate about but I have no desire to go anywhere past the entrance.

      Take care, be safe,
      Deb

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