Thursday, January 06, 2011

THE SONORAN DESERT IS BECKONING (photo version)

DSC_0023-2

THE GREENING SONORAN DESERT……ALL OF TONIGHT’S PHOTOS ARE FROM OUR DAYS AT HICKIWAN TRAILS RV PARK IN WHY, ARIZONA

Had us a cloudy day so in these parts at this time of year that equates to….no heat in the air!!  Thermometer barely struggled to 50F by noon & we both stayed inside all day reading.  Of course 50F back home in Bayfield Ontario at this time of year would have us out in short sleeve shirts, shorts & Panama hats!!

DSC_0017

We had us a wee peak at the temps over in Ajo, Yuma & Borrego Springs this morning & we see the nights are all well above freezing.  Now, that is encouraging considering I am getting very discouraged with these continuously cold below freezing nights.  I am feeling a very great need for some leisurely walking & hiking in the greening Sonoran Desert a days drive west of us.  Saguaro, Prickly Pear, & California Barrel cactus interspersed with Organ Pipes, Banana Yuccas, Agave, Engelmann’s Hedgehog, Teddy Bear Cholas, tall green stemmed Ocotillos, Beavertail Cactus & many, many more desert plants are beckoning, along with Paloverde, Arizona Sycamore & Quaking Aspen trees.  Oh dear, can you tell I am waaaay overdo for moving on to greener pastures.

DSC_0059

ROSE QUARTZ CAN BE FOUND SCATTERED ABOUT THE DESERT FLOOR…..IF YOU KNOW WHERE TO LOOK:))

DSC_0024-3

CHAIN FRUIT CHOLLA

I should clear up a point in Tuesday night’s blog when I referred to cell phones as being stupid.  It’s not the cell phone that is stupid, it’s the…..well you know.  Cell phones used properly are a great thing & I do understand their importance.  I have even been known to use a cell phone myself from time to time:))  I especially like to carry a cell phone in my pocket while on the Motorcycle in case I fall off & have to call someone saying, “I’ve fallen & I can’t get up.”

DSC_0040

SOME RIGS AT HICKIWAN TRAILS RV PARK CAN BE SEEN ON TOP RIGHT HORIZON

DSC_0003-3 DSC_0005-1 DSC_0009

Had an email from a reader this morning saying there are small pocket devices out now for jamming cell phones but they may be illegal.  Interesting concept:))

DSC_0036

DSC_0017-1

DSC_0003-1

THAT’S US ON THE LEFT:))

Sure am enjoying my latest book, ‘Pioneering From The Aravapa To The Chiricahuas.’  This book of first hand accounts in this area date back to memories of the late 1800’s & early 1900’s.  This is James Covington Hancock’s thoughts on Tombstone Arizona back in those days based on his having done business there….. "Tombstone was not a rawhide cow town with long haired cowboys & rustlers stalking the streets with a 6-shooter in each hand, shooting at everything that did not suit their fancy.  It was a big rich mining camp filled with mining men from Nevada, California, Colorado, & other places off the Pacific Coast.  People were as rational in dress and manners then as now.” (1937)

DSC_0048-1

As I read all these historical accounts it is amazing how people survived the hardships of frontier life as well as they did.  The West was not like Hollywood movies have portrayed it & yet in some ways, it was.  The violence & over all skull duggery were far greater than I had imagined, yet the comradeship, friendships, loyalty & trustworthiness of people working to survive together & helping one another was of a higher standard than nowadays.  Sure has been a great eye opener for me to see how factually the history of the old west was played out, those oh so many years ago. 

DSC_0011-1  DSC_0001-6

Reading MIKE & PAT'S TRAVELS blog this morning about the new tonneau cover installation on their pickup truck I was reminded of something really super dumb I did back in January of 2007 at the Hickiwan Trails RV Park in Why, Arizona.  It had to do with the same type of cover we had on our GMC 4x4 Laredo at the time.  Worst part is….. I made the same mistake twice in one week!!!!!!  You can read my post about that at REALLY DUMB....TWICE!!.  The story begins just after the third photo.

DSC_0004-6  DSC_0003-8

THIS IS EXACTLY WERE THE TRUCK WAS PARKED BOTH TIMES I LEFT MY WALLET & HAT ON THE TRUCK BED COVER

Now, while it’s a slow day & I am on the subject of doing dumb things, you might be interested about the time I filled up my gasoline powered Motorcycle a couple summer’s ago with….diesel fuel!!!!  IS THAT A DIESEL MOTORCYCLE SIR??  Aren’t you glad your not me………..!!

000_0003-1

GROANER’S CORNER:((  Walmart customers soon will be able to sample a new discount item ... Walmart wine.  The world's largest retail chain is teaming up with E&J GalloWinery of Modesto, California, to produce the spirits at an affordable price, in the $2 - $5 range. While wine connoisseurs may not be too inclined to throw a bottle of Wal-Mart brand wine into their shopping carts, there is a market for cheap wine, said Kathy Micken, professor of marketing at Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I. She said: "The right name is important."   So, here we go: The top 12 suggested names for Wal-Mart Wine:

12. Chateau Traileur Parc
11. White Trashfindel
10. Big Red Gulp
9. Grape Expectations
8. Chateau Ghetto
7. NASCARbernet
6. Chef Boyardeaux
5. Peanut Noir
4. Chateau des Moines
3. World Championship Riesling

2. Nasti  Spumante.

And the number 1 name for Wal-Mart Wine. . .

1. I Can't Believe It's Not Vinegar!
--------------------------------------------------------EMAIL THE BAYFIELD BUNCH:))
stargeezerguy@gmail.com
Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/
OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/
The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.

9 comments:

  1. Great photos, Al, but I gotta say the wine names topped it off!

    ReplyDelete
  2. HaHa,,,I must remember not to put my hat or billfold or anything on my new cover. Sounds just like something I would do tho...As usual your pictures are out of this world!! I just love your opening picture of your camp while a Storm seems to be brewing..Superb!! I feel like I'm right there..

    ReplyDelete
  3. Your storytelling and photos always amaze me... Loved them today! Also the wine list from Walmart... how funny!!
    Have fun & Travel Safe
    Donna

    ReplyDelete
  4. I can tell you I would not have made it as a pioneer for more than a day (if that). Nice photos today. Hope the weather warms up soon for ya.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Actually, Wal-Mart does have a line of wine, called Oak Leaf, and it is quite acceptable, at least among our SKP friends.

    Just realized we are but a few miles north of Hickiwan Trails right now (at Gila Bend), but in about two hours we'll be heading northwest to the Colorado River and a rally. We know you don't like rallies, so we don't expect you to pop in any time soon!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks so much for the gorgeous desert photos. I can't wait till we get back out that way next winter. We both miss Arizona...

    ReplyDelete
  7. Great pictures and story. I live in fear of putting gasoline in my diesel motorhome. So far, so good.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thanks Al (sob, sob) for the photos from Hickiwan (sob, blubber, snort)....We really were taking your advice (snivel, blubber, wail) and were going to head that direction (growl, grimace, expletives)....You were the ones who clued us in to this little mecca...OK, better now...Just lost it for a moment... WAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!! Oops, couldn't help that one!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thanks for sharing those pictures. I hope to go there too someday. Peanut Noir is my favorite wine from Wal-Mart by the way.

    online travel insurance

    ReplyDelete