Friday, March 09, 2012

A GREAT 6 HOUR JEEP TOUR THROUGH GOLD COUNTRY

(THIS IS THURSDAY’S MARCH 8TH POST)

DSC_0209

WE ARE ALWAYS AMAZED AT WHAT WE STUMBLE UPON IN THE DESERTS & MOUNTAINS OF THE SOUTHWEST

If it hadn’t been so blasted cold & windy Wednesday night I would have enjoyed sitting outside under a big bright full moon flooding the desert floor with it’s magical Moonbeams.

DSC_6285 DSC_6287

WEDNESDAY NIGHT’S RISING MOON & THURSDAY MORNING’S SETTING MOON

Had myself one of those restless nights & ended up sitting bleary eyed in my chair before the clock even struck 3 a.m.  Probably worrying about this whole house deal thing.  Just so many variables & unknowns.  So many, ‘what if’s’.  As with any large purchase….there are always concerns.  Back to bed at 4 & up again at 5:30 for the second start to my day.

DSC_0186

DSC_0185 DSC_0184

SPOTTED A BLOOMING CACTUS ALONGSIDE THE ROAD TODAY

Now here’s something discouraging for a Snow Birder.  Yesterday when checking temps back home I noticed it was warmer in Bayfield Ontario Canada at 58F than it was here in Congress, Arizona at 52F.  And this morning….yep, 48F in Bayfield & 40F here in Congress.  Geeeeezzzz, are we gonna have to spend our winters in the North now!!  No, no, say it isn’t so.  Perish the thought for sure!!

DSC_0153

DSC_0141 DSC_0169

DESERT FLOWERS ARE BEGINNING TO BLOOM

Pheebs, Kelly & I piled into the Jeep & headed for Wickenburg at 9 a.m. to meet fellow Jeepsters Jim & Bev at McDonald’s.  Jim’s gold prospecting has taken him through many back country Jeep roads these past 4 years so Bev dug up a little mining history on the area southeast of Wickenburg.  We had the 2 Jeeps rolling about 9:30 & were soon off the pavement & out into the Arizona desert.

DSC_0078

DSC_0080 DSC_0079

Let me say up front that this 6.5 hour Jeep tour on the Constellation Road all the way to the Williams Ranch was one of the best Jeep runs we have ever been on.

DSC_0124

Roads were good with no sharp rocks or rock climbing.  But, there are some hairpin turns, sharp corners & a fair number of drops off’s making for some truly great scenery.  Focus on the scenery & don’t worry about the embankments.

DSC_0110

Bev had printed out a lot of info from the internet on what we would see along the way.  First stop was Sayer Springs which was a Stage Stop in the old west days.  Walls & roof were gone long ago but some of the stone foundation still remains.DSC_0082

DSC_0083 DSC_0081

Most fascinating was what lay in the rocks just a short climb above the old stage station.  Bev & Jim had been here before & knew of two water caves.  First one contained a pool of stagnant algae infested water, but it was the second one that contained a surprising pool of crystal clear cold spring water.  The water was so clear you actually had to stick your finger in it to see if it was really there.

DSC_0097

INSIDE THIS CEMENTED CAVE ENTRANCE IS A CRYSTAL CLEAR POOL

DSC_0094 DSC_0092

DSC_0089

DSC_0093

Our second stop was alongside the road high atop the ruins of the old ‘No Name’ mine site.  Stone foundations & steps could be seen where buildings once stood.  Tailing piles scattered about indicated where men had once labored with picks & shovels digging deep into the earth for Gold.

DSC_0113

FOUNDATIONS OF OLD MINING BUILDINGS CAN BE SEEN

DSC_0116 DSC_0115

More twisting turns, hills & grades brought us to the second mine site alongside the road.  This was the Monte Cristo mine & much of it’s ruins still remain.

DSC_0133

DSC_0170 DSC_0162 

DSC_0135

DSC_0176 DSC_0167

We believe the old mining town of CONSTELLATION was located somewhere in this area.  Spent about 45 minutes here walking about looking at what was left of a once hard working sweat & toil lifestyle. 

DSC_0158

ONE OF 3 OLD REFRIGERATORS LYING ABOUT

DSC_0161 DSC_0159

DSC_0163 DSC_0164

DSC_0136

Jim had his prospector eyes on the ground & was able to pick up rocks showing us bits of copper & what he believed were possible flecks of Gold.  In Jim’s words, “there is Gold everywhere out here in these hills & mountains.”

DSC_0132

JIM IS A MAN WITH HIS EYE’S ON THE GROUND:))

 DSC_0138 DSC_0160

DSC_0147

From the Monte Cristo mine we slowly traveled a tight winding road to a high overlook & pulled the Jeeps to the side of the road at what turned out to be a nice lookout point.  It was time for lunch:))

DSC_0193

Bev had brought roast beef from her slow cooker & soon had Bev’s Bistro set up alongside their Jeep.  Sandwiches were made & much appreciated, especially by the Pheebs.  We followed those great sandwiches with Bev’s great homemade Banana Bread with Cranberries.  She had even baked an extra loaf for the Bayfield Bunch which we ate on the way home…..no, no, no, just kidding:))

DSC_0196

DSC_0202 DSC_0201DSC_0200

DSC_0198 DSC_0197

Despite the many miles Jim has logged in these mountains we were now on some roads that were new to him as well.  As mentioned before, these back country Jeep roads go on forever just like long sinewy Spider webs randomly scattered over the Mountains, through the Canyons & deep into the Valleys.  And just about everywhere, the hand of man can be found.

DSC_0203

DSC_0229 DSC_0177

It was at the bottom of a short steep curving turn to the left that an old wooden structure with a tin roof was spotted.  Jim pulled over & I pulled in behind him.  He was pointing to something off to our right.  An old stone wall in a rock cut alongside a rough rocky lane.  Upon further exploration & we saw an old stone building on higher ground behind the wall.  Beyond that a larger second two story brick building.  It was hard to tell if these buildings were occupied.  But a third building farther back was definitely occupied so we didn’t go any further. 

DSC_0219

DSC_0215 DSC_0217

DSC_0212 DSC_0210

One has to be careful out here in these Gold laden hills.  There are Prospectors here still working active claims & one has to be careful about nosing around.  The old wild West is still very much alive in these rough & rugged mountains & hills.  Shotguns & 6 shooters too!!

DSC_0218

DSC_0211 DSC_0214

The scenery through these Canyons & River bottoms is so beautiful it is hard to describe.  Around every corner Mother Nature presents a new canvas with an entirely new palette of colors for the Artist’s brush.  It is a rugged land here in the west but it is a land of never ending enchantment.

DSC_0237

DSC_0234 DSC_0238

AN OLD MINER’S LADDER I SUSPECT

DSC_0221 DSC_0222 

It took us awhile, but after following a long greening wash through some amazing scenery with giant Saguaros towering over us we rounded a bend to see a large Ranch half a mile ahead perched on the banks of the waterless Hassayampa River.

DSC_0228

DSC_0241

DSC_0254 DSC_0253

 DSC_0252

THE DRY HASSAYAMPA RIVER BOTTOM ALONGSIDE THE WILLIAMS RANCH

Minutes later we were pulled up to the Williams Ranch House & shaking hands with Roy Williams himself.   Roy’s one of those friendly old true western Rancher fellers who’s happy to meet you & entertain you with tales of the Ranch.  He told us of trouble they had with a Mountain Lion taking all their Angora Sheep awhile back.

DSC_0251

DSC_0249 DSC_0248

DSC_0245

The Williams Ranch had been our point of destination today & with handshakes all round we bid farewell to Roy & his Ranch.  Ranchers are busy folks & Roy was off to brand some young cattle when we left.  Be sure to click on THE WILLIAMS RANCH website, because this Ranch is more than….just a Ranch:))  (the first part of the website is written in German so just scroll down to where English begins)

DSC_0244 

Wheeling the Jeeps around we pointed our noses for home & began the long dusty trek back out to civilization, somewhere to our northwest I think, but before leaving we signed a BLM book near the Ranch

DSC_0259

BEV SIGNS THE VISITOR’S BOOK WHILE JIM TELLS US A TALE ABOUT HIS FISHING DAYS & THE SIZE OF ONE THAT GOT AWAY……..:))

DSC_0261 DSC_0263DSC_0267

Met some ATV & Jeep traffic along the narrow roads but we all managed to edge over & squeeze by each other.

DSC_0268

DSC_0277 DSC_0272 

Jim knew of a short side trip to a dry waterfall where he thought a little water might be left but the only thing we saw was a herd of bees buzzing about a damp spot on the ground at the base of the falls.  Not wanting to get ourselves into a big mess with a bunch of bees we all headed back to the Jeeps parked a short distance away.  This marked the end of our back roads journey with Jim & Bev because all that remained was to follow them back into Wickenburg.  We said our farewells, talked about another Jeep tour soon & thanked Bev & Jim for showing us a great Jeeping day complete with roast beef sandwiches & Banana Bread……with Cranberries:))DSC_0288

JIM WAS HOPING THERE MIGHT BE SOME WATER HERE

DSC_0289 

BEV KEEPS A WARY EYE ON A BUNCH OF BEES ON THE SAND BELOW

Twenty minutes later, on solid pavement coming into Wickenburg our Jeeps diverged on different streets as we went our separate ways.  McDonald’s was our target as we sailed through & grabbed a box of Chicken McBites to eat on the way home for supper.  We sure had us a happy little Motormouse waiting for us…….:))

Thanks to Bev for the Constellation town site & Williams Ranch links.

DSC_0151

BEV ON THE STAIRS TO NOWHERE AT THE MONTE CRISTO MINE

DSC_0114 DSC_0112

BEV READS ALOUD ABOUT THE RUINS BELOW WHILE JIM CHECKS HIS GPS AT THE ‘NO NAME’ MINE

And, just a quick note to say what a great little girl Pheebs was on our Jeep Safari today.  She rides so quietly in the back of the Jeep we forget she is even there.  At each stop she is out racing around exploring things in all directions.  She comes when she is called, is always on her best behavior & never gives us any trouble.  How truly fortunate we are to have such a beautiful, beautiful, dog.

DSC_0174 DSC_0290 

GROANER’S CORNER:(( Reality is a crutch for people who can't handle drugs.

-  Why do giraffes hate to play poker?
Because you can't shake a tree without a bunch of cheetahs falling out.

- A diplomat is someone who can tell you to go to hell in such a way that you will look forward to the trip.

- What's the difference between a lawyer and a boxing referee?
A boxing referee doesn't get paid more for a longer fight.

- Old accountants never die, they just lose their balance.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Tourists see the world, travelers  experience it.

- Home is where your pet is:))

- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right  now...AL.
stargeezerguy@gmail.com

13 comments:

  1. What a fun day for you, Kelly and Pheebs...You would have to drag me away from the old gold mine..I would have out my "sluice box" and seine, sleeping bag and bottle of wine...Just leave me there for a few days...Loved the water cave...Give Pheebs a few wet kisses from me...She was a very good girl..sweet dog, for sure..and meant to be with The Bayfield Bunch.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Excellent write-up capsulizing our day! The Weather Gods couldn't have provided us a better day! Pheebs is the BEST and provided unending entertainment--like letting us know that she was part of the lunch crowd too :-). Thanks Gang!

    ReplyDelete
  3. What a great adventure - made me actually wish I'd been there instead of here, which is hard to do. Great writeup and photos!

    Chinle

    ReplyDelete
  4. I wish we had a jeep, but since we don't, the next best thing was following you on this journey! Thanks for letting me tag along! Photos were super great as usual!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I think one must need a jeep to get off the main roads and be able to see the best sights. I have a picture in my mind of Arizona as viewed from the highways and dirt roads, (and not all that exciting) but this is an entirely different picture.

    ReplyDelete
  6. What an absolutely FANTASTIC!!! day----

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

    ReplyDelete
  7. why oh why can't we be anywhere but here!?..what a fabulous day you all had!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Great tour. I've always enjoyed a road trip into nowhere quite frequently tripping upon the remains of somebody's dream.

    It's the warm false spring here that often sends snowbirds north.

    Saw you pulled over on the turnout before your gate yesterday afternoon. Maybe a tiny white spot to the south also.

    Thanks for sharing yet another desert adventure.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Great day thanks for taking all of us along. Yes you are very blessed w/ Pheebs..dont know if we could trust Riggs to come when we were ready

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow,,,,what a neat trip....I gotta meet that girl Pheebs....she sounds like a real sweetheart to me..

    Enjoyed your pictures of the trip. Not a dawg gone windmill out there was there?..

    I couldn't find your post this morning and I nearly got on my 4 wheeler and headed out to see if you were OK.....
    Hope your trip to Prescott goes well....

    ReplyDelete
  11. And just for Mike, did you ever find a well that had any water in it? Wouldn't one need those before you would need a windmill to pump up the water? Perhaps that could be the answer........... Or maybe not...... LOL

    ReplyDelete
  12. Wonderful adventure. Sure glad we can go along with you by reading your blog and seeing those wonderful photos. I have to agree, that although I have never met The Pheebs in person, she has got to be one of the Best Dogs Ever. I love it when you write about her and post pictures. Glad she got to join in with the lunch bunch!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Wow, Jim and Bev could lead jeep tours of the area. I bought a map of the area in hopes of being able to find jeep trails like you guys took, but it is not good enough to follow it. Besides without a person along that knows the area, I don't have a warm fuzzy feeling about going it alone. Thanks for the post and photos.

    ReplyDelete