Sunday, February 04, 2018

A SHORT 40 MILE TRAVEL DAY TO THE COOLER GRASS LANDS OF SOUTH EASTERN ARIZONA

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WHETSTONE MOUNTAINS ALONG THE SKY LINE

It was a brisk walk in much cooler air this morning and that told us our days would now finally be much more comfortable for us. 

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Nice quiet sunny Sunday morning as we rolled out of Casa Del Sol heading east on Vallencia Road to I-10 where we hung a right up the ramp and onto the Interstate.  We weren’t long in reaching highway 83 and angled off another ramp in a southerly direction.   Some may have guessed where we were headed and at 9:40 we pulled of the highway into the grasslands of Las Cienegas National Conservation Area.  We had been here nearly a year ago so we knew where we were going and luckily the same spot we were at late last February was empty.   We are about 35 miles North-West of Sierra Vista Arizona and not far from our old Winter stomping grounds in the first half dozen years of our travels.

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ON HIGHWAY 83 HEADING SOUTH THROUGH THE SANTA RITA FOOTHILLS WITH THE SANTA RITA MOUNTAINS ON THE HORIZON

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WEST ENTRANCE LEADING INTO LAS CIENAGAS NATIONAL CONSERVATION AREA AND HOME OF THE  OLD HISTORIC EMPIRE RANCH

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ROAD IS ONLY PAVED AS FAR AS THE EMPIRE RANCH THEN IT’S A BIT OF A DUSTY TUMBLE FROM THERE

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WE WERN’T LONG GETTING COMFORTABLE AT OUR OLD SPOT

We knew this high ground site had a great Verizon signal but no phone signal for our T-Mobile.  Didn’t take us long to get set up and how nice to feel comfortable again with a nice refreshingly cool breeze wafting it’s way through the coach.  This site in what we call ‘the grasslands’ and has views which travel one’s eyes 20 or 30 miles in any one direction.   It’s  also the home of many wandering Pronghorn Antelope.  With a bit of luck we will be seeing them again this year.  Did you know they are the second fastest land mammal in the world.  Only the Cheetah is faster but for shorter periods of time.  I had better dial in a higher shutter speed on my camera.

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NO THOSE ARE NOT PRONGHORN ANTELOPE….THEY ARE A SINGLE FIILE LINE OF BIG BLACK COWS AND PHEEBS IS KEEPING AN EYE ON THEM

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SANTA RITA MOUNTAINS IN THE BACKGROUND

Had ourselves a totally relaxing afternoon sitting outside under our awning enjoying panoramic views and idyllic weather.  Quite often after a long travel day we are sometimes pretty knocked out the following day and today was the ‘following day’.  A warm Sun with enough of a breeze to keep it from feeling like a hot Sun.  We are very fortunate to be here with no road sounds, trains, or planes.  A few other RV’ers scattered about in the far off distance.  Yes ‘fortunate’ is definitely the key word here for us today…………….

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CAMPED BETWEEN THE MUSTANG MOUNTAINS ON THE LEFT AND HUACHUCA MOUNTAINS ON THE RIGHT

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MUSTANG MOUNTAINS TO OUR SOUTH-EAST

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IT IS SO QUIETLY PEACEFUL HERE WE CAN HEAR A FLEA SCRATCH ITSELF AT 40 YARDS AND HOW ABOUT THOSE BIG BLUE ARIZONA SKIES

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CLOUDLESS SUNSET OVER THE SANTA RITA MOUNTAINS

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SUNSET ‘ON’ THE WHETSTONE MOUNTAINS

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PARTIAL SUNSET ‘ON’ THE HUACHUCA MOUNTAINS

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SUNSET ‘ON’ THE MUSTANG MOUNTAINS

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GROANER’S CORNER:))  Two lawyers were in a coffee shop talking. One of the lawyers names was Thomas Strange. After a while their conversation became rather morbid, and they started to started to talk about what they were going to have on their tomb stones. Thomas said the he wasn't going to have his name put on his tomb stone, instead he was going have "Here lies the body of an honest lawyer!!!" "Why are you going to have that?"asked his friend. "Well", said Thomas, "When people are walking through the cemetery, and they see...Here lies the body of an honest lawyer. They will say "Oh...That's Strange".

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You know you are in a Texas church when::

People grumble about Noah letting coyotes on the ark.

The preacher says, "I'd like to ask Bubba to help take up the offering" and five guys stand up.

The restrooms are outside.

Opening day of deer season is recognized as an official church holiday.

A member of the church requests to be buried in his 4-wheel-drive truck because "It ain't never been in a hole it couldn't get out of."

When it rains, everyone is smiling.

Prayers regarding the weather are standard practice.

The choir group is known as the "OK Chorale".

The pastor wears boots.

Four generations of the same family sit together in worship.

There is no such thing as a "secret" sin.

Baptism is referred to as "branding".

There is a special fund raiser for a new septic tank.

Finding and returning lost sheep isn't just a parable.

High notes on the organ can set the dogs to howling.

People wonder, when Jesus fed 5000 whether the two fish were bass or catfish.

People think "rapture" is when you lift something too heavy.

The final words of the benediction are, "Ya'll come back now, ya hear?"

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17 comments:

  1. Looks beautiful there love those mountains.The Ranger came by at 6:30 tonight, and told us we have to move and that we had to be camped 300 yds from a designated rd. we have 36 hrs to move, but he told us he's not back at work until Thursday.

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  2. Welcome to Las Cienegas! I came in the south entrance yesterday and am about 8k south of you. The antelope herd came by here this morning, but there was a lot of target shooting during the day, so don't know where they are now? Nice and quiet at night.

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  3. Casino Del Sol is only about 1 1/2 miles west of where I live. Like you I am not into gambling but my daughter and I go there once in awhile for breakfast at Moby's. I have been in a few other Casinos but I think this is one of the most beautiful of all. Some of those RV's are there for 3-4 months. My fiend just left there Wed.

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  4. Hope the weather is more to your liking over there. Definitely warm here in Quartzite. The sun is so intense.

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  5. What an amazing spot you have there. It looks perfect. I love the Pheebes on guard watching over the cattle. Enjoy your stay there.

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  6. Thant is a wonderful area you are camped we toured the Empire Ranch and checked out the campaign areas there last year, the views are amazing and the cooler air refreshing as well, we will be passing through that area again on our way home.

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  7. So glad you both were able to go to the great SW this year Al. I can see and feel your invigorating spirit of relaxation and nostalgia in every post. Health and happiness to the Bayfield Bunch. Just wish we were there with you guys for a couple of days. Be safe.

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  8. Looks like you've found yourself a great spot. Got out the Google Maps to try and keep all this straight.

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  9. One of our favourite places, have fun!

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  10. Heading that direction ourselves and hoping the weather stays cooler! Love those beautiful golden grasses.

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  11. The Empire Ranch is where the exteriors for the movie Oklahoma were filmed. Not sure who came up with that bright idea.

    Pat

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  12. One of my favorite locations. Love the color of those Whetstone Mountains. Similar to the Santa Rosa mountains I'm looking at right now.

    Glad you found cooler air. Quite warm here. I'm hoping my wandering takes me there again this year.

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  13. BTW, did a fire get away from you guys over there? We saw smoke from your direction this morning. Practicing for your smoke-signal merit badge maybe?

    Pat

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    1. Didn't see any sign of fire over here but noticed it looked smoky over towards the north end of the Huachuca Mountains earlier this morning. I have a few photos in Monday night's post showing that.

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    2. Probably on the Fort, then. They often set fire to it. Heck, so did we when I was stationed there.

      Pat

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  14. That grassland looks calm and peaceful. Happy for you guys.

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