Thursday, January 20, 2011

JEEP RUN TO THE GATES OF MULESHOE RANCH

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THE JEEP GANG MEETS IN SANDY’S RESTAURANT PARKING LOT IN SUNIZONA, ARIZONA…RAY, JEANIE, CAROL, ROSANNA, KELLY & JEEP

We met our 4 Jeeping Pals Jeanie & Ray & Rosanna & Carol in the parking lot of Sandy’s restaurant in sunny Sunizona this morning at 10.   Arizona highways 191 & 181 meet here & it is a good jumping off spot for Jeep trips in the area.  Sandy’s is a ‘new owner’ restaurant with a growing ‘good food’ reputation.  Sandy’s also has an RV Park attached.  Now, how convenient is that:))

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It was a beautiful morning for an outing with warm temps & a big blue Arizona sky.  We formed up our little convoy with Jeanie & Ray leading, we the Canadians in the center, with Rosanna & Carol riding shotgun in the rear.

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Today’s destination was the MULESHOE RANCH CONSERVANCY AREA northwest of Willcox Arizona.  This is a 49,120 acre tract of land that just goes on forever & ever through rolling hills of yellowing grass.   Beaver Tail Cactus are in abundance everywhere.  Not a lot of trees but a generous helping of Soapstone Yuccas & Agave plants.  Beyond the rolling hills are distant mountains towering above the horizon all the way around us.  This was new territory for us so my mind was busy scrambling through it’s mapping memory banks trying to put names to the various mountain groups.  

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The road was dusty & a bit bump infested in spots with a few sections of nasty washboard trying it’s best to turn the Jeep sideways.  We never hit any stretches where 4 wheel drive was required & after a couple hours of scenic driving we reached the trailhead for the Muleshoe Ranch.  And, the Ranch was closed today!! 

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We determined from the reader boards at the trail head that from this point on the road became rugged & only 4 wheel drive vehicles were allowed.  In fact, drivers are required to sign a register stating name, type of vehicle & purpose of visit before proceeding further into the Muleshoe range. 

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We decided, because of the time of day, we would return again in two weeks after getting a much earlier start to the day.  Apparently there is lot to see once the Muleshoe Range is entered including a movie location from the latest TOMBSTONE MOVIE starring Kurt Russell a few years back.

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We decided this trailhead area was a good spot for lunch so without further ado out came the snacks & we all stood around by the Jeeps kibitzing & munching our oats & hay.  Then, it was back into the Jeeps & back out the long winding dusty road heading for home. 

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NOTICED CAROL SEEMED TO HAVE EYES FOR OUR LITTLE ORANGE MONKEY PAL

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I THINK THESE TWO GOT SOMETHING GOING ON HERE:))

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HERE’S ROSANNA BELTING OUT A FEW BARS OF ‘THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER’    :))

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IT WAS KIND OF A STAND UP JEEP BUNCH LUNCH TODAY

At a fork in the road we parted with our Jeepster Pals as they headed for Benson & we headed back down to Willcox.  Kelly wanted to stop in at the Bonita Bean Company located south of Wilcox so that was our destination on the way home.   Grabbed a couple sacks of beans.  One is a 9 bean soup mix & the other one is Pinto beans.  Kelly is a big bean person & I am just kind of a little mashed potatoes & gravy guy:))

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PICKING UP A FEW SACKS OF BEANS AT THE BONITA BEAN COMPANY SOUTH OF WILLCOX, ARIZONA

It was late afternoon when we arrived back at the rig & tonight I have been outside cracking off some pics of the full Moon coming over the Swiss Helm Mountains.  It’s late now so I probably won’t do all the photos tonight & will save some for Thursday night’s blog.

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CRACKING OFF A FEW FULL MOON SHOTS AFTER SUPPER (MOON PICS IN THURSDAY’S BLOG)

GROANER’S CORNER:((  A research group on sea mammals captured a rather odd porpoise on one of its trips. Its peculiarity was that it had feet. After they had photographed and measured the poor thing, they prepared to set it free.

"Wait a minute," said one of the researchers, "Wouldn't it be a kindness if our ship's doctor here were to amputate the feet so that it would be like other porpoises?" "Not on your life," exclaimed the doctor,

"That would be defeeting the porpoise."

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13 comments:

  1. Aren't you glad you bought that Jeep! Glad to see you're having fun with it. I've had 4WD since 2003 and have ever used it, even once, and I hope I never have to.

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  2. Would love to tow a jeep when I get my RV, but I think it would be too much trouble if I am alone.

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  3. what a great jeep day!..looks like everyone,even the monkey were having fun!!

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  4. Neat trip, and mucho thanks for the Windmill!! Your jeeps look like fun. They cover a lot more territory than our little 4 wheelers,,,,,,,anxious to see the MOON. When I saw it I thought of you,,,,Ms Pat said "aren't you going to get a picture?" I said Naw, Al will do it and his pictures are better than mine!!

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  5. That Jeep is sure proving to be a great investment for your desert vacation. Looks like a great group of folks you were exploring with too.

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  6. You need to go to Charlie Bell Pass on the Cabeza Prieta if you get around Aho again...Take the jeep and then walk down the trail at the end to see the petroglyphs...It is a 12 mile drive, 3 mile walk...It took us 5 hours, and we saw Pronghorn Antelope too!! The Jeepster would really enjoy THAT road!!!

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  7. Thanks for the tip on Sandy's in Sunizona! We're always interested in local food places, especially with an RV park attached! We'll be checking that out one of these days. We stopped at the bean place last time through that way, but they were closed, so we couldn't get any beans. We took a long back road trip out to the ghost town of Ruby (south of Tucson)one day. The town was closed that day. Too much of a trip to take when the main attraction is closed.

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  8. Beans, beans, the magical fruit...

    With the size of those bags of beans, it seems you'll be in for a full brass section concert from Kelly! :)

    And my word verification for the day is fitting...reakin! :)

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  9. We are anxiously awaiting your moon photos this evening.

    I'd also love to hear how you're going to use all those beans. As the chief cook and bottle washer over here, I am always on the lookout for new recipes.

    Terry

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  10. Gee, Al. From the looks of things in the photo at the beanary, you won't be seeing any mashed potatoes and gravy for a good loooong while!

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  11. Looks like a GREAT adventurist day was had by all!
    Have fun & Travel Safe
    Donna

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  12. Looks like a Jeepin Good Day!

    ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
    Karen and Steve
    (Our Blog) RVing: Small House... BIG Backyard
    http://kareninthewoods-kareninthewoods.blogspot.com/

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  13. Looks like a Jeepin Good Day!

    ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
    Karen and Steve
    (Our Blog) RVing: Small House... BIG Backyard
    http://kareninthewoods-kareninthewoods.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete