A DRIVE UP THE MOUNTAIN TO QUAINT LITTLE YARNELL

 

WE ARE SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE THIS BEAUTIFUL DESERT RIGHT ROUND THE CORNER FROM US

Well, looks like we are about to begin our last full week here in the great American Southwest for another year.  And, what a busy week it is going to be.  Time is quickly running out for us now & we will have to be back on the road shortly for the long grueling drive back to southern Ontario, Canada.  The journey generally takes us the best part of a week & that’s pushing it.  We’ll not be making any side trips or unnecessary stops along the way again.  Straight home & that’s it!!

OH OH, SOMEBODY HAS A CACTUS STICKER IN HER PAW

With little Motor not feeling well this past week or so we had foregone our morning walks.  Better now, she was rarin to get outside & go walking this morning, so off we went.  We are so fortunate to have such a quiet & unique little neighborhood between us & the open desert.  And, there doesn’t appear to be many kids anywhere.  Bonus:))

 

The desert, only a block from us is beautiful in this area & we are so much looking forward to walking, hiking & Jeeping through this area next winter.  Miles upon miles of hard packed sand with a wide variety of flora & fauna.  For sure we will be bringing our Mountain Bikes next year & basing them here.  I have no interest in riding a bicycle on flat boring pavement on traffic infested streets & roads.  But, it’s a whole different & exciting ball game to get a mountain bike out into a hard packed desert setting with beautiful scenery all round.  I remember how much I enjoyed that a few years ago when at the Hickiwan Trails RV Park in Why, Arizona.

THESE DESERT ROADS ARE GREAT FOR WALKING, BIKING OR JEEPING

Next question is……how can I get my Motorcycle down here.  Sure makes a whole lot of sense to keep a bike in a dry climate like this, not to mention the great rolling desert highways that just go on forever with little traffic on them compared to back home.  Maybe we should be be driving a big U-Haul truck back with us next October instead of the Motorhome.

 

ON OUR WAY TO YARNELL JUST 9 MILES UP THERE ON TOP OF THE WEAVER MOUNTAINS 

Finished up the first house watering of the the day & decided to take a drive up into the Weaver Mountains & have us another look around the interesting little town of Yarnell.  Kelly had spotted an Emporium & a couple Antique stores last time through those parts.  Although warm on the Valley floor we knew enough to take our jackets.  Yarnell is only 9 miles from where we live but it’s higher altitude generally makes it about 10 degrees cooler.  And windy.

 

A NUMBER OF MOTORCYCLISTS HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES HERE OVER THE YEARS ON THIS WINDING ROAD LEADING UP THE MOUNTAIN TO YARNELL

IT’S A LONG DROP ONTO THE CRAGGY ROCKS FAR BELOW

Really liked the ‘YARNELL EMPORIUM.’  What a cozy & colorful little place this is.  Imaginative creations are everywhere.  Have always loved a place with ambience & the aroma of potpourri wafting through the air.  Big Band era music in the background & something for everyone, everywhere.  If your in the Yarnell area, give yourself a break & drop in.  Have yourself a coffee & relax your way through a rainbow of creative colors, imaginative sculptures & a couple rooms with antiques that will take you back in time.  It’s on the east side of the highway in Yarnell’s south end.  Just look for all the little bursts of color:)) 

  

 

 

 

 

The Yarnell Emporium reminded me a bit of the ‘Pink Store’ in Palomas Mexico just south of Columbus, New Mexico. I’m sure we will be back to the Emporium next winter looking at some colorful southwest ambience for our little Congress house.

 

RETIRED ROD & Loyce, who live in Kansas, are currently having a new home built in Mesa, Arizona.   They just arrived home a few days ago & Rod mentioned this in a recent comment, “This summer you really aren't going to be able to stand it going home. I'm going nuts already wondering how the work is coming along and I haven't been gone a week yet.”  Well, Rod is right, & I know I will be in the same boat thinking about all the work I could be doing at our Arizona place.  For me, our winters in the Southwest have never been just a vacation.  We have always looked at it as a welcome lifestyle change from our home in Ontario.  I never miss leaving Ontario to head for the Southwest in the Fall but I sure miss leaving the Southwest to head back to Ontario in the Spring.  Nothing wrong with Ontario of course, great place for sure but I’ve lived there for well over 60 years now.  The West is still all new to me & I love that newness and excitement of discovery & change.

      

RV SUE AND HER CANINE CREW are sure enjoying the peace & tranquility at our old spot in the desert just south of Congress, Arizona.  Sue has been making some fast friends with a band of free ranging horses in the area & has been able to walk among them taking photos.  Spike & Bridget are not quite as enthralled with the Equestrians as Sue is though.

  

Chinle over at the SPOTTED DOG RANCH has some reflective thoughts on past & present camping ways today, along with some well composed photos.

 

A COUPLE OTHER PLACES WE CHECKED OUT IN YARNELL

LYNDA rounds out our Blog Followers list today at 470.  Thank you for taking time to drop in on the Bayfield Bunch, & welcome to our travels:))

And, a thank you to readers for sending in info on the Oleander & Bougainvillea bushes.  Hadn’t realized those Oleanders were so toxic & those Bougainvillea so barbed.  Am hoping to make a trip to an area nursery this coming week to gather some info on plants for this climate.  May have to go with more tall ornamental grasses or something.

GROANER’S CORNER:((  "It's just too hot to wear clothes today," Jack says as he stepped out of the shower, "Honey, what do you think the neighbors would think if I mowed the lawn like this?"
"Probably that I married you for your money," she replied.