GETTING WARM DOWN HERE

The weather is getting a little warmer down here in southern Arizona.  We had a pretty bad night of sleeping the other night in the Ajo area as it did not seem to cool down at night that much.  The next night (our last night in Ajo) Connie and Zeus slept outside in our bug tent.  Everyone got a good nights sleep.  Now the question is - when we get back out in the desert will they sleep outside or inside?  Right now we are in the Famcamp at Davis Monthan AFB in Tucson so we all are sleeping in the camper.  It is supposed to cool down in the next few days and we are also headed north and to higher elevations so my two traveling partners might get to sleep inside.  We have resupplied our cupboards and will fill our water tank tomorrow morning then leave heading to Tortilla Flat east of Apache Junction.  There we will spend a few days kayaking on Canyon Lake.  After that we will go to Apache Lake and Roosevelt Lake. 

Tucson is a big city for us.  I hate driving around here, but this Air Force Base is a great one.  Their Famcamp has won the best in the west for the last 6 years in a row.  Nice and clean and they really take good care of all who stay here. 

Flower buds on the top of a saguaro cactus.  We have never seen this cactus bloom as it blooms in May generally. 

Connie and Zeus sleeping outside.  

Sunrise on our camp.

Connie taking Zeus for his morning stroll.

Some of the moth balled airplanes at Davis Monthan.  This is from our spot at the Famcamp.

HANGING AROUND AJO

We got to Ajo yesterday afternoon and camped in our favorite spot.  Kind of a long way from anywhere, but we like it.  Nice weather down here although a little warm in the afternoons.  Nights are cool though so sleeping in the camper without air conditioning is okay.  Did a few hikes around the area yesterday and today.  Also ran into Ajo this morning to hit the grocery store - Olson's IGA where we bought some carne asada for supper tonight.  It is getting to be a habit or tradition when we get down here.  It is very good though.  Pictures below.  Click on any picture to enlarge.

Lots of chollas in bloom this year.  Guess that is because we are down here at least two weeks later than usual.

And hedgehogs are prevalent. 

An ocotillo with organ pipe cactus in the background.

This area was prospected and mined years ago.  There are many holes like this one just out in the desert. This one was at least 12 feet deep with steep walls -no chance to get out if you fell in.

Our camper is the light spot in the middle.  Not to many people camp out here.

An ocitillo bloom.

Cholla blossoms by our camp.

Sunrise this morning.  Desert sunrises are the most colorful.

And speaking of colorful, Connie in the cab of an old work truck that is still working putting in a well system a few miles from our camp.  This is for watering the dersert pronghorns and any other creatures in the area.

This might be their refreshments after after a long day in the desert.

  The watering trough.

DOWN IN MEXICO

26 March 2012:  Drove down to Yuma yesterday in some pretty strong winds.  We seem to have more headwinds this year than tailwinds.  Camped at Senator Wash at Imperial Dam near the Long Term Visitors Area.  We have a great campsite on the western end of the lake right next to an old Ironwood tree.  Lots of shade for Zeus.  

And there are lots of burros running around here.  We had a bit of a problem the first night.  The wind was really blowing and we heard some noise thinking it was just branches blowing against the camper.  But it was really some burros chewing on the cab of the truck.  Pulled the weather stripping from one of the windows a little bit.  Also slobbered up the window pretty good.  

 Went into Algadones, Mexico today and we both bought some glasses.  They were having a special so we got 4 pair of glasses for $200.00 – not bad.  My two pair were only $70.00 (one clear and one sunglass) and that is because I bought frames that were cheaper than Connie’s!!  We had a great lunch then headed back to our campsite.  Algadones has more shopping area now than they did 2 years ago and the place was not as crowded.  And that is probably because we are down here later than we usually are – a lot of the snowbirds have headed back north.  

Having a coffee while waiting for our glasses.

This guy was helping his dad sell jewelry.

One of the shopping alleys.

Lunch spot.

Lunch for 2 with beer - $16.

Part of one of the plazas.

Our campsite.

Some of the friendly "wild" burros.

Lots of shade under the iron tree.

DOWN SOUTH

23 March 2012:  Left Valley of Fire and stopped at Echo Bay on Lake Mead where we camped for the night.  Went out on Lake Mead in the Kayak for a few hours -   good to be back on the water.  Connie and I headed south to Quartzsite and Ike and Brenda headed north to Montana this morning.  We drove into a headwind or quartering crosswind all day.  Fuel mileage was not so good today!  We are camped out in the desert just south of Quartzsite in the BLM land.  Hot down here.   

The kayak ready to go.

Brenda rode a bike down to the lake to check out our progress.

 Connie has spent to much time in the sun hiking!  Her backpack line is showing!

Our camp at Quartzsite.

20 March 2012:  Went for a nice walk this morning around the loop of the campground area.  Saw on old, and I mean old buck Desert Sheep.  When everybody got up and going, we headed over to the White Dome area and did a nice hike.  Some good slick rock hiking over there and the colors of the rocks are just amazing to me.  When we got through with our hike, we headed into the town of Overton to the Inside Scoop for an ice cream. 

 

19 March 2012:  Left Corvallis on the 17^th and headed over to Interstate 15 through the Big Hole.  The weather was just too bad down through Nevada so thought that route would be the best.  Ike and Brenda had already left the day before and were holed up at a RV park in Pocatello, ID awaiting calmer winds.  We had a first going through the Big Hole – had to put it into 4 wheel drive to go over Big Hole Pass which had at least 6 inches of very wet heavy snow on it.  The rest of the roads were either slushy or snow packed.  And it was still snowing when we went through there.  Made it to the interstate where it was much better, but the wind was pretty strong with sleet and rain.  Made it to Pocatello and stayed there for the night.  Next morning we headed down to Mesquite, NV and stayed in a new RV park there.  Really nice place.  Then it was on to Valley of Fire near Overton where we camped.  It is much warmer down here and the hiking is great as always.  The weather is warmer and forecast to even get hot.  Connie has a smile on her face.

Mesquite RV park.

Hiking around Valley of Fire.

The old sheep.

UPDATE 5 MARCH 2012

Thought I had better get this blog updated as it has been quite awhile.  We seem to be pretty busy and spring is really starting to show up.  We have robins hanging around and there are iris, lilies, poppies, and a few other perennials starting to come up.  The horses are starting to shed their winter hair.  And of course the tom turkeys are really strutting up a storm.

Connie and I went skiing last Thursday and got to ski some really nice powder.  And what was really great is that there were hardly any other skiers out in the out of bounds area.  Did not go last Sunday though as it was clear,warm, and no new snow.  Just spring skiing on groomed runs - no thanks.

Carl was over here getting his hunting license and putting in for special drawings Thursday thru Saturday.  Had a good visit with him and his son Andrew.  They stayed in our cabin because Gary and Margee were really sick with bronchitis and Carl's cabin is all winterized so it made sense to just stay here for a couple of nights.

Connie making a few turns on a run called Lewis and Clark just before we head to the out of bounds area.

Carl went for a walk with me early in the morning and we ran into some turkeys at the lower part of our place.

The toms are really starting to put on a show in our barnyard.  I am always amazed how their feathers change colors depending on the sun.

This is our marker tree that we use for a drop in place.  I have a lot of pictures of this tree, with and without people standing by it.