Sunday, January 13, 2019

WELL YOU PROBABLY KNEW WE WOULD MOVE AGAIN, RIGHT??

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WAY OFF ON THE DISTANT HORIZON ARE THE GROWLER MOUNTAINS WHERE THE BODY OF AUTHOR EDWARD ABBEY LIES BURIED SOMEWHERE IN AN UNMARKED GRAVE

It wasn’t my eyes bringing me the usual visual desert delights this morning, it was my nose.  Anyone who has ever been in the desert after a rain knows that delightfully distinct pungent sweet smell given off by the many Creosote bushes growing profusely on the desert floor.  It’s a smell one recognizes instantly and will always remember.

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MEXICO’S AGUA DULCE MOUNTAINS AND NOTICE THE GROUND MIST HANGING HEAVY IN GROWLER VALLEY

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A FINE MORNING FOR A WALK

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THIS IS A CREOSOTE BUSH WHICH GIVES OFF THAT MEMORABLE AROMA AFTER A DESERT RAIN

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THE TOP OF A BARREL CACTUS

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A NICE DESERT BLOOM  BUT I DON’T KNOW WHAT IT IS NOR THE PLANT BELOW

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It may not come as a surprise we have already changed locations.  It’s one of those things we sometimes kinda do.  This morning was a good example of why that is.  When driving into a boondocking area we generally un-hook the Jeep then scout around for a good spot.  We did that Friday and of course found us a good spot right off and set up.  As sometimes happens on our morning walk around the area we found an even more gooder site not too far from where we were.  So, we just up and moved ourselves.  We have a better unobstructed view of the desert and mountains now with no other RV’s visible to the south.  I like that.  But, it may not be our last move because we have our eye on an even more gooder than goodest site nearby with a Lazydays Class C sitting on it.  If that Lazydays moves we’ll probably snag it. 

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OUR NEW SPOT

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THERE ARE A LOT OF COYOTES ABOUT SO WE LIKE TO HAVE A SPOT WHERE WE HAVE A GOOD UNOBSTRUCTED VIEW OF THE LANDSCAPE ALL AROUND US

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THIS IS THE ‘LAZYDAYS’ SITE WE ARE KEEPING AN EYE ON

Getting a little low on a few things we decided to head for Olsens in Ajo.  Any good RV’er in the area worth his salt has been to Olsens.  Olsens is a combination IGA, Supermarket & Ace Hardware Store.  There’s just something I’ve always liked about this store.  Always nice driving through Ajo and we took the loop drive back along Darby Well Road.  Must have been recent rains in the area because we found the road a bit choppy in spots and especially the back road to Ajo.  Darby Well Road has always been a favorite boondocking spot for us but with the local Mine fencing off most of the prime sites it’s just not the same there now.  What few sites are left usually have somone at them.  Didn’t stop anywhere and just rolled right on through and headed back to Why.  Determined to keep my picture taking down to a bare minimum today I took only a few photos on our drive to Ajo and back.  But then Pheebs and I headed out for a desert walk and all that determination went right out the window.

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LAST YEAR ON DARBY WELL ROAD WE CAMPED RIGHT IN THERE AMONGST THOSE SAGUAROS

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IT’S REALLY TOO BAD SO MANY GREAT SITES HAVE BEEN LOST HERE

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SOUTH END OF DARBY WELL ROAD ALONGSIDE MANY MANY TONS OF MINE TAILINGS

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A sunnier and warmer day today and how nice to just sit outside and watch the big white fluffy clouds floating by.  For Kelly and I the temperatures here is perfect.  Not being hot or cold people we love the 60 to 70F range with one condition, as long as there is no wind to drive those temperatures down.  Today was 62F with no wind, no humidity,  no sweating, and no freezing.  And best of all….’no bugs!!’

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I SEE A YOUNG LAMB FLOATING OVER THAT TALL HILLTOP

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JUST KICKING BACK WITH MY FEET UP

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ENCHANTING CLOUDS TODAY

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I’ve said many times before how much healthier it is here in Arizona during the winter and I was reminded of that again this afternoon on a desert walk with Pheebs.  If we were home in Bayfield we would be sitting in the house every day with freezing cold temperatures outside along with snowy slippery walking conditions.  Here in the desert we can step out our already open door and walk or drive in scenic splendor for miles and miles in a totally natural setting.  No cars, no sidewalks, no street lights, no noise, no traffic lights, and very, very, few people.  The only sound Pheebs and I heard on our afternoon walk was a few cactus wrens.  And to think we had actually decided to not come south this year.  Despite ourselves getting in our own way at times we are so fortunate to have been able to make it down here to the Southwest at least one more year.

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SEEMS NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO OR WHERE YOU WALK ALONG THE DESERT FLOOR YOU WILL MOST ALWAYS FIND A FIRE RING

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PHEEBS AND I FOLLOWED THIS DRY WASH FOR QUITE AWHILE

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THE MIGHTY AJO MOUNTAIN RANGE

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THAT DISTANT MOUNTAIN  RANGE IS SOUTH OF US IN MEXICO

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BOTH AJO AND CARDIGAN PEAKS BRING BACK MANY DARBY WELL ROAD MEMORIES

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PHEEBS WAS PRETTY TIRED AFTER OUR WALK THIS AFTERNOON

It was nice getting my tripods and binoculars out again.  Always love setting things up to have a closer look at mountain ranges far off.  Brought my telescope along this year again so hope to do a little looking around at the night sky.  When one lives under a canopy of pine trees like we do back home in Bayfield one of the highlights of our winters in the southwest for me is being out under the night sky

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I ALWAYS SEE THINGS IN THE CLOUDS, DO YOU??

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I SEE MAMA POO BEAR ON THE LEFT WATCHING HER TWO BABY POO BEAR CUBS AT PLAY ON THE RIGHT

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HERE’S THE WHOLE POO BEAR FAMILY TOGETHER WITH MAMA ON THE LEFT, TWO CUBS IN THE MIDDLE AND A BIG HAPPY PAPA POO BEAR WITH HEAD TIPPED BACK LAUGHING

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BAUSH AND LOMB 8X50 BINOCUARS ON LEFT AND CELESTRON 15X70’S ON RIGHT

A big thanks to all my readers again tonight for all your kind words, encouragement, and support….………..

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TONIGHT’S DESERT MOON

GROANER’S CORNER:(( TOP TEN SIGNS THAT YOU ARE OLD BEFORE YOUR TIME::

10)You refer to people your own age as 'kids today'

9)Your high school grad sweater no longer fits your gut

8)You have more hair on your back than on your head

7)You begin stories with the expression 'in my day ...'

6)You have to take naps

5)You don't think that the Rolling Stones are that old ...

4)You have to take so much medication that you're on a first-name basis with all the pharmacy clerks in town

3)You think that Bob Saget is funny

2)Your joints crack so loudly when you get out of bed that France surrendered

1)People your own age call you 'sir' and give you their seat on the bus.

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I work in a busy office, and when a computer goes down it causes quite an inconvenience. Recently one of our computers not only crashed, it made a noise that sounded like a heart monitor. "This computer has flat-lined," a co-worker called out with mock horror. "Does anyone here know how to do mouse-to-mouse?"

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Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at an Elingsh uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer inwaht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht thefrist and lsat ltteer is at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl msesand you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae we do not raedervey lteter by it slef but the wrod as a wlohe.Preosllnay I tinhk its cmolpete nenosnese...

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12 comments:

  1. Glad to read that you are Enjoying your trip to the Southwest again this winter.
    Looking forward to reading about more of your adventures.
    Be Safe.

    It's about time.

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  2. Love those gooder sites. You appear to have grown taller as had George yesterday. Love the light and lightness ( there is a huge difference ) in this post. Love the happiness. Love all the wonderful photos. Love that you traveled to Arizona yet again. Love the Bayfield Bunch.

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  3. Looks like the Bayfield Bunch is settling nicely. Really enjoyed the photos and especially the ones with the clouds.

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  4. We really enjoy that area around Why and Ajo., and Olsen's a favourite store of mine to. Food , Hardware . plumbing , electric paint your name it all there. It has been pretty perfect weather here as well.

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  5. We are not long distance RV people so I'm not familiar with how things work there. Do you pay a fee to camp there in the desert? What do you do about dumping your tanks?

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  6. Love your pictures and got a real big laugh out of the "mouse to mouse" joke. I haven't had my big telescope out for a long time, usually use one of my smaller ones. The big one is taller than I am and contains a sixteen inch main mirror. The mirror is over three inches think and weighs a lot. Would love to go to a star party out in the desert.

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  7. I saw you in the clouds, that face was definitely Al's!!!
    Wonderful location. Like you I often find a better spot but we don't always move, we keep it in mind for our return trip.
    It looks as if you have all settled in there nicely. A place called home for a while. Comforting isn't it? Enjoy the desert.

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  8. As the owner of a Lazy Daze I was going to say something about the mis-spelling of the brand name (it's Daze with a z.) But after reading that last bit I laughed and figured you did it on purpose hahahaha.

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  9. Beautiful photos, but I draw the line on creosote bushes. They can be dangerous to one's health if you fall into or near one!

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  10. Quiet and comfort, very nice. I spent my day riding roller coasters in Sea World, no crowds or lines. Sure was not quiet.

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  11. Al & Kelly
    I am sure glad you had a safe trip to where you're now. I really enjoy reading your blog and daily posts. We had rain here yesterday and some right now. If you're coming any closer west drive careful these nuts in So. Cal don't know how to drive in the rain, for that matter I don't think they know how to drive even when the roads are dry.

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  12. Oh how I'm longing for that desert with gooder sites. You are a pareidolia seeing faces in the clouds.

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