Sunday, January 20, 2019

PERHAPS THE LAZIEST DAY OF OUR TRIP SO FAR

How nice most every morning to have warming rays of sunshine slip over distant mountain peaks and roll across Arizona's Sonoran desert floor and tumble through our coach's windows to cheer up yet another fine day here in America's great Southwestern States.
SOME MORNINGS ARE COOLER FOR WALKING THAN OTHERS


Another thing we like here is the absence of ATV’s, dirt bikes, and the kids who have a tendency to tear up the desert with those things.  Borrego Springs and Ocotillo Wells come to mind.  Boondockers by nature tend to be responsible folks, quieter in general and are for the most part respectful of others  space.  Of course there are the exceptions.  We are actually surprised at how few dockers there are here at Gunsight right now and I’m guessing Quartzsite has temporarily pulled a lot of them over there.  Soon as they have had their fill of the all the hoop-la they will soon be high-tailing it back out to the sanctity of the healing desert to recover.
THINK THIS MIGHT BE A DESERT LILY

NOTICE HOW DESERT WINDS HAVE MOVED THESE GRASSES TO CREATE PATTERNS IN THE SAND



IT CAN BE A HARSH ENVIORNMENT FOR ANIMALS AND PLANTS ALIKE AND HERE A SAGUARO CACTUS HAS SUCCUMBED TO THE ELEMENTS


WE GENERALLY DRESS WARM FIRST THING IN THE MORNING AND THEN SHIFT INTO COOLER CLOTHES BY MID MORNING
Although the air is a touch cool the big Arizona Sun is hot, hot, hot.  Stretched out in one of our gravity chairs and five minutes later I thought somebody had set me on fire.  Well it wasn’t somebody it was Old Sol himself and with my shirt nearly on fire I had to quickly retreat back under our awning.  Now don’t get me wrong, I am not complaining.  This weather is just the best of the best of the best and I think we got up to nearly70F today.  And remember, no miserable humidity so I am totally comfortable.  No sticky skin stuff.
NOTICED THIS LITTLE WHITE CROSS AT A BOONDOCKING SITE NEAR US

MOST LIKELY A FELLOW RVING BOONDOCKER HAS HAD TO BURY A CHERISHED PET HERE
We have been asked several times where we are going next and to that question I have no answer.  We may still be here in a couple weeks or by tomorrow at this time we could be a couple hundred miles away.  Very rare for us to plan things out well or stick to a schedule of any kind.  Lucky for us we both feel the same way about that.  Foot loose and fancy free we are. 

BY WALKING QUIETLY WE ARE SOMETIMES ABLE TO COME UPON SOME OF THE DESERT CREATURES AND HERE WE HAVE WALKED UP BEHIND A DESERT SNUFFLEUPAGUS WITHOUT IT DETECTING US

SNUFFLEUPAGUS'S ARE SOMETIMES HARD OF HEARING SO I WAS ABLE TO SLIP AROUND TO THE SIDE OF THIS ONE AND TAKE ANOTHER PHOTO BEFORE SLIPPING AWAY AND BLENDING BACK INTO THE DESERT
Pheebs and I hadn't been out for a Jeep ride since slipping into Deming New Mexico one morning about a week and a half ago so this afternoon while Kelly was having a snooze Pheebs and hopped into the Jeep and went looking for some Jeep roads.  Well, one never has to look far for dusty desert roads here in the Southwest so we were soon off following a winding trail though Creosote shrubs and sandy dry creek bed Arroyos.  We were headed in the direction of the 'John The Baptist Mountains' often referred to as 'Brown Mountain' on the south side of Darby Well Road.  Of course we didn't go that far with it probably being another 8 or 9 miles and one doesn't want to be out there in the middle of nowhere by oneself.  Always lots of places to turn around so we did just that and headed back.  At no time did I have to put the Jeep into four wheel drive and by the time we returned to the rig Kelly was already up.  We had left her a note telling where us bums was going.
WE'RE OFF
 


PICKING UP SOME DESERT PIN STRIPING HERE
STOPPED FOR A LEG STRETCH AND SHORT WALK


IT WAS AT THIS POINT WE TURNED AROUND

HEADING BACK
We have a slight hazy overcast overhead so I don't know whether we will be doing too much Moongazing or not.  I might take a few photos I might not.  Can't seem to get myself too excited in the whole Supermoon and Lunar Eclipse thing.
WITH AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES RISING PHEEBS STETCHES OUT FOR A SNOOZE THEN DECIDES TO DIG A HOLE TO REACH COOLER SAND


'AHHHHH' THAT'S BETTER
Well by golly despite our partial cloud cover I did manage a few hazy Moon shots anyway.




GROANER'S CORNER:((  
1.I started with nothing. I still have most of it.
2. When did my wild oats turn to prunes and all bran?
3. I finally got my head together, now my body is falling apart.
4. Funny, I don't remember being absent minded.
5. All reports are in. Life is now officially unfair.
6. If all is not lost, where is it?
7. It is easier to get older than it is to get wiser.
8. If at first you do succeed, try not to look astonished.
9. The first rule of holes: if you are in one, stop digging.
10. I tried to get a life once, but they told me they were out of stock.
11. I went to school to become a wit, only got halfway though.
12. It was so different before everything changed.
13. Some day's you're the dog, and some day's you're the hydrant.
14. Nostalgia isn't what it use to be.
15. Old programmers never die. They just terminate and stay resident.

10 comments:

  1. Great photos Al - I hope you get good clear night so you can see the eclipse. You're not missing much up here -4 F and lots of snow.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Snuffluffugus was fun to see and I love your moon shots both black and white and color.

    ReplyDelete
  3. You know Al, your corner reminds me of that old song"sometimes your the windshield sometimes your the bug"

    Thanks for taking us along .

    ReplyDelete
  4. Really nice Al. Wish we were there too, but thanks for sharing. Sure looks better than the -21C outside here right now. Gord.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Great pictures of the desert Al. I love your foot loose and fancy free. Wish I could have some of that east of the Mississippi. If you did this post on straight Blogger. I don't know how you got it to look so good. I've forgotten everything I ever knew about using it and don't care to relearn. Blogget is Too frustrating. You must have mighty much patience.

    ReplyDelete
  6. That is a wonderful area so peaceful, and always love the wonderful desert scenery too.
    Love your desert creatures.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Beautiful pictures Al. That low humidity is reason enough to hang out there and you have peace and quiet also. Great creature story.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Amazing desert creatures you find when you look!! I am glad you, Kelly and Pheebes are enjoying the laid back days. So much nicer than a hurry, hurry, hurry pace. Keep on having fun!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Great moon shots. Love your hat Kelly. Turn right and head to the wash at the corner post in your picture toward a large Ironwood Tree on the edge of the wash. Rumor has it that a “crazy” lady and her child lived out there for two years. There is a bit of rock work and a rock bar b que pit located there.

    ReplyDelete
  10. We are so happy you are in your beautiful South West desert. I can feel how relaxed and carefree you are from every word. Safe travels

    ReplyDelete