Saturday, December 03, 2011

MOVING DAY….. DARBY WELLS NORTH TO DARBY WELLS SOUTH:))

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LEAVING OUR DARBY WELLS CAMPSITE UNDER STORMY SKIES THIS MORNING
In the above photo you can see a clump of large round brown rocks on the left.  We were camped just across the road from these large rock formations.  They appear in a lot of my photos and Pheebs and I climbed to the top of the center one.  The locals call these rocks the ‘Cow Plops.’  Story goes that Paul Bunyon once traveled through these parts with his big blue ox, Babe.  Seems Babe left a few deposits along the way but here’s my question to the locals.  Babe wasn’t a Cow.  Babe was an Ox.  Should not these large deposits be called…..Ox plops.  I rest my case……
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A COUPLE RIGS PARKED NEAR THE ‘COW PLOPS’…OR ARE THEY REALLY OX PLOPS!!
Our travel plans have changed yet again.  Don’t ya just love it.  Because of the higher altitude & ongoing bad weather in the Patagonia area we have decided to forego that region until another time.  Decided to stay right where we are in the warmer weather here on Darby Wells Road. But, a different site.  I think it is just great that we have the freedom to change our location whenever we want.
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SOME FOLKS OUT SCRAMBLING UP COW PLOP ROCK THIS MORNING
After our morning walk we hopped in the Jeep and headed south down Darby Wells road scouting for a new and better location.  Wanted to be further away from the main road, wanted to be further south for a better Verizon signal and we were looking for a bit of altitude so we wouldn’t have to put our Mifi on the roof.  Found a location that fit all three requirements and headed back to the rig.
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WE FOUND US A NEW SPOT
Packed up a few more things, took the satellite dish down and by 10:20 we pulled out of our old site under increasingly stormy looking skies.  I am always sad to leave a spot that has given us so many memories in just 10 short days but it was time to change things up a bit.  Kelly followed in the Jeep.
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ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL MORNING WALK
Reached the area of our new site and Kelly parked the Jeep off the road.  She jumped in the rig and we headed the 11 miles south to Why Arizona to dump our tanks and take on fresh water at the COYOTE HOWLS CAMPGROUND AND RV PARK which happens to be right next door to Hickiwan Trails.
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COYOTE HOWLS CAMPGROUND AND RV PARK…LOTS OF ROOM HERE
By now there was a light rain falling so we didn’t waste any time taking care of business.  Must admit I am a little gun shy now dumping the black tank after my little incident a couple weeks ago but I made sure the connection was secure and all went well.  Ten dollars to dump by the way.
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PHEEBS WATCHING FOR KELLY TO RETURN FROM THE COYOTE HOWLS OFFICE
We had no more than left Coyote Howls when the dark foreboding clouds opened up and we got a mixture of rain and sleet.  Lasted about half way back to Ajo and began to clear.  Storms are like that in the desert.  They can come and go quickly.
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COLD RAIN AND SLEET ON OUR WAY BACK TO DARBY WELLS ROAD
Stopped and picked up the Jeep.  Kelly followed me as I slowly made my way with the Motor Home over the rough and narrow desert Jeep road to our new digs.  Picked up some new desert pin striping and scrambled a few cupboards.  Raining lightly as we reached our spot.  Did a little wiggling around with the rig to get things reasonably level, put some boards under the passenger side tires and we were all set settled in.  We were home for another week or so.
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The rain picked up for about an hour and we ended up having to fire up our Legacy Blue Flame Heater to get warmed up.  By 3 o’clock the sky began clearing and by 4 we were once again bathed in a big warming Arizona sun. 
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CLEARING SKIES FIND US IN OUR NEW SPOT
We took Pheebs & Motor for a late afternoon walk and met our closest neighbor from maybe a quarter mile away.  Nice fellow out walking his dog, Lady.  Well, Lady and the Pheebs just hit it off right away and the game was on.  They just ran, frolicked, wrestled and bounded non stop for nearly half an hour.  So nice to see 2 dogs having so much fun playing together.
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PHEEBS AND NEW PAL LADY HAVING A BLAST THIS AFTERNOON
Because we are higher up now we have a totally scenic 360 degree panoramic view all around us.  We have TV channels with just the rig’s aerial and we now have a stronger Verizon signal.  No cell phone, but who cares eh:))
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OUR NEW FRONT YARD
And, a reminder to folks that if you see a colored word or words in my posts with capital letters, it is a clickable link.  For example, if you click on TIOGA GEORGE it will take you to his site.  KEN ROCKWELL PHOTOGRAPHY will take you to my favorite helpful photo site and ONE MINUTE ASTRONOMER will take you to an easy to understand daily night sky Astronomy site.
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I liked GYPSY'S post awhile back about how she decided to try on the RV lifestyle as a lone RV’er and how a few years later had to reverse that decision.
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There was a time when I might have been able to go it alone as a solo RV’er but I’m not so sure I could or would want to do it that way anymore. From a technical point alone it would be a major challenge for me. Kelly handles all that TV set up confusion, internet and cell phone stuff not to mention all the paper work and dozens of phone calls regarding insurances etc. She is also much better than I am at trouble shooting technical problems. Not easy for a feller to have to admit all that but reality being what it is I have to face the fact that my mind is just not quite as sharp as it once was.
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OUR NEW NEIGHBORHOOD
In Gypsy’s post she talked about the feelings of loneliness on the road and I think that would be one of my main problems as well. One of the greatest things about RVing is having someone to share all the adventures with. The highs and the lows. The joint decisions and the like minded interests. I do like my alone times but to be alone 24/7 would probably not work for me now at this age and stage. I never feel a need to be around a bunch of people but I do have a need to be with someone close and someone special. And of course that includes the furry guys too.
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(Am hoping I never posted the following two paragraphs before because I wrote them a couple weeks ago and don’t think I included them in my posts)
Made myself a ‘no-no’ purchase in Wal-Mart awhile back. It was something I have not had for years and something I like so much I just have to stay away from because it is so very fattening. It was a spur of the moment decision that saw me pick up a whole quart of this stuff for myself. I know of no drink anywhere on this planet that tastes better than……Pumpkin Spice Eggnog:))
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YEP, WE LIKE OUR NEW DARBY WELLS DIGS:))
Our change in travel plans again is a good example of why we prefer to travel the way we do. With no obligations, commitments, reservations or restrictive travel plans we are able to stay flexible and footloose. We both prefer to stay on the move seeing new things. As Snow Birds we sit in one spot for 6 and 7 months of the year and our rig never leaves home. Neither one of us has any interest in driving all the way south for the winter and ending up sitting in one spot for another 6 months. We know we are the exception to the rule but it’s just our way……..10-4:))
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GROANER’S CORNER:((  Brenda's 6 year old was explaining to the other kids what "extinct" meant:
"Well," she said in all seriousness, "it means that the dinosaurs are all dead and have been dead so long they don't stink anymore, that's why they call them exstinkt."

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-Tourists see the world, travelers  experience it.
-Until one has loved an Animal, their  soul remains un-awakened.
BAYFIELD BUNCH PHOTO ALBUMS https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295
The only thing better than right now  will someday be the memories of
right  now...AL.

18 comments:

  1. I was a fulltime Solo for about six years, It is different when you are alone, but, I wasn't lonely.

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  2. It's always fun to find a furry friend that will romp and play. Our girls are getting too old and they've been social with other dogs even when they were young. I like that groaner tonight. And I'm really hoping for some sunshine again. I've had enough rain now.

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  3. Beautiful pictures, as usual.
    All the information you share is very interesting to us. Also enjoyed your feedback regarding security in remote areas. We haven't RV'd
    in some years but getting the
    'itch' again!
    Ron and Linda

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  4. enjoy the new digs!!!..looks like a great spot!!

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  5. Thanks for sharing the info on the campground and boondocking areas around Why. Seems like staying in the primitive area of that campground would be a gentle introduction to boondocking. Might even work for Russ! Love your new neighborhood!

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  6. Yum! I just discovered Pumpkin Spice Eggnog this year, and I love it. :)

    Boondocking in the middle of nowhere is definitely not for me, but I enjoy reading about how you do it, and the pics are great!

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  7. Pumpkin spice egg nog ... now you're talking! I'll come right down there and look you up to have a cup of that with you, Al. That's one of my all time favorites too, and I have to pass it up all the time.

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  8. We also don't enjoy having neighbors close by. After having farmland all around us, we are spoiled.

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  9. Looks like a nice, quiet location. Nice photos from the area too.

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  10. Traveling solo is one of the reasons that I don't do the boondocking in the middle of no where. I'm just not comfortable with it. I'm not crazy about resort parking either, so guess that's why I'm most at home on the refuges. I get plenty of alone time out in the wilds, but help is just a few steps away if I need it.

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  11. I have not found living solo in a RV to be anymore lonely that living solo in a sticks-n-bricks.

    I now do have a dog traveling companion but the addition was not because I suddenly became lonely.

    The loneliest time of my life were the few years that I was married.

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  12. We have met many solo travelers, men and women, young and old...I can't imagine NOT having MacGuyver as companion, sharer of dreams, friend, lover and fixer all rolled into one..Oh, yes...and argument sparring partner on occasion..:-) Envious of the Why area..who knows, maybe....??

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  13. Sue and Crew wanted me to tell you that her computer woke up dead this morning. She hopes it is just the battery needing replacement. She is also getting more tweaking done to her solar and won't be able to leave Caballo until Tues or Wednesday. She hopes to be back online asap!

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  14. I love your neighborhood! I hope we will be able to find it when we get in the area.
    We are like you... we cant stand to stay in one place for too long... we live on wheels for a reason, right?
    Enjoyed seeing the dogs playing together.

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  15. Al, if you reread your blog from last year and the year before you'll see you spent 4 and 5 months sitting in one spot on a ranch during your winter down south.

    It is easy to say you have no interest in sitting in one spot, but that's exactly what you have done for the last 2 years.

    Maybe this year will be different but you haven't done much different than those of us who happen to like RV parks in Yuma and Mesa etc.

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  16. Lots to comment on in this post. The worst disaster I've read (so far) with dumping the tanks is here

    http://lindaxtwo.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2011-01-01T00:00:00-07:00&updated-max=2012-01-01T00:00:00-07:00&max-results=50

    I always get such a warm and fuzzy feeling when I see two dogs playing and having such fun.

    I've been travelling solo now for just over a year and (so far) have never felt 'lonely'.

    As for travel plans - well mine are constantly changing !! LOL Just follow the warmth I figure.

    Everybody is different and our wants and needs are different also. Personally, I would not want to stay in one RV Park for an entire season. There are lots who do and love it.

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  17. Al said:
    Neither one of us has any interest in driving all the way south for the winter and ending up sitting in one spot for another 6 months.

    Kenny said...

    Al, if you reread your blog from last year and the year before you'll see you spent 4 and 5 months sitting in one spot on a ranch during your winter down south.

    It is easy to say you have no interest in sitting in one spot, but that's exactly what you have done for the last 2 years.

    Maybe this year will be different but you haven't done much different than those of us who happen to like RV parks in Yuma and Mesa etc.

    I don't think Al needs any help to defend his choice of how he wishes to 'camp' but I will do so none the less.

    Boondocking for 4-5 months on a "ranch' in the Sulphur Springs Valley is a far cry from parking for that same period of time in a RV Park in Yuma or Mesa.

    Perhaps Kenny does not see that there is much difference and needs to compare the two experiences before making such a judgment?

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  18. I love your pictures, and thoroughly enjoy reading about your adventures. Thank you for sharing.

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