JEEPING IN THE HASSAYAMPA RIVER VALLEY

A GREAT AREA FOR MORNING WALKS

Been awhile since I last saw the Planet Mercury so last night just after dusk I went out specifically to look for it. And, there it was, low down on the western horizon. Just make a straight line down to the horizon from the bright Planets, Jupiter & Venus. Mercury will be to the left of where that line touches the horizon. It will look like a faint star.

OUR VIEW OF AN EARLY DAWN OVER THE HASSAYAMPA RIVER VALLEY

 

NOBODY UP YET AT RV SUE’S YET

Pheebs & Motor had me out about about 5 this morning & I immediately noticed the warmer air. Also saw a Scorpion….but it wasn’t on the ground, it was high in the southeastern sky. My favorite summer constellation, Scorpios is now in the morning sky. My favorite winter constellation, Orion continues it’s journey westward & will soon disappear from the night until it re-emerges in the east again next winter.

ATV ROADS GO FOREVER

 

This is a great boondocking area for pets.  No cactus means no prickers in the paws.  Ground is a hard packed sand without a lot of sharp jagged rocks & line of site for keeping an eye on pets outside is good.  Have not heard a single Coyote since being here this past week & a half.  Great views of the surrounding mountains and along the edge of the Martinez wash.  And, the Jeep & ATV trails just go forever in here.

  

WE LOVE OUR SIDE YARD:)) 

On our first full day here over a week ago we spotted a road sign closer to Wickenburg that said, ‘Scenic Loop.’  This morning we headed off to have us a look at the Scenic Loop Road.  First few miles after turning off 89 highway was washboardy enough to jar even the best glued in dentures loose.  After that it was the usual scenic dipsy doodle hard packed sand & gravel road.  Because the road’s name had the word ‘Loop’ in it we thought the road would loop back around & out again.  But nope, that wasn’t the case.

THERE ARE BOON DOCKING SPOTS ON THE SCENIC LOOP DRIVE

 

The loop road ended at the gates of the (For Sale) Hassayampa River Ranch.  A couple of folks showed up on ATV’s who knew the area & noticed we had a Jeep & said if we wanted to take a different route back just to follow them.  We did that & at a Junction of trails the lady told us to follow the right fork to the riverbed & that would take us to Wickenburg.

THIS ATV COUPLE SAID, ‘FOLLOW US”

 

FOLLOWING THE ROAD TO THE RIVER

We did that but never did find Wickenburg.  Upon reaching the navigable river bottom we were faced with a left or right turn.  We chose right & chugged our way up the wide river bottom through a lot of soft sand.   Driving in sand is not my favorite thing because of the many times I had been stuck in it back in my old Volkswagon Beetle days.  You’ll remember that eh Gary:))

RIVER BOTTOM STRAIGHT AHEAD

  

Good thing for 4 wheel drive because I could feel that sand slowing us down & wanting to bury us forever in that river bottom.  Jeep handled it well & except for a few wheel hopping sections we did just fine.  After a few miles a narrow trail led up an embankment & we were drawn to higher ground.  I was expecting to see the outskirts of Wickenburg at any time but instead we reached another well traveled dirt road.  Right or left??  I guessed left & it wasn’t long before we realized we had gone in a complete circle & had somehow landed back on the Loop Road on our way back to highway 89.  Oh well, it was only a few miles further south to Wickenburg anyway.

HAD TO PUT THE SPURS TO JEEPERS A WEE BIT HERE

  

 

YEP, I THINK WE PICKED UP SOME MORE DESERT PIN STRIPPING HERE

Took the opportunity to slip across Vulture Mine Road to the Safeway store for some needed groceries.  Back out into the desert again & we were back to the rig before noon.  That ‘No Camping’ sign sure is working because there was not a soul in the larger boondocking space near the big water tank as we drove through.  That of course meant a lot less ATV’s racing around.  Nice:))

PROBLEM WITH LIVING IN A ‘GATED COMMUNITY’ IS HAVING TO OPEN & CLOSE THE GATE ALL THE TIME…THE DISTANT WHITE OBJECT TO THE UPPER RIGHT IS OUR RIG

Never had an interest in ATV’s but I think if we lived down here an ATV might be on the list.  Well, only if they could make one that is as quiet as a sewing machine of course.  ATV’s are a preferred way of travel out in the back country & I can easily see the advantages of having one.  Where years ago, prospectors would range the hills looking for gold on mules & horses, they are now out in the hills on their ATV’s.  Same with many Ranchers checking their cattle, etc.  I’m surprised at the number of ATV’ers in this area going by with their dogs riding on the ATV’s as well.  They somehow sit ahead of the driver above the front wheels.  I’m also surprised at the number of Senior ATV’ers out here.  Way more than kids.  I think a lot of the ATV drivers in our immediate area are folks from North Ranch.

VULTURE PEAK & THE OUTSKIRTS OF WICKENBURG

Took us for a late afternoon walk down the hill to see RV SUE & HER CANINE CREW.  She’s doing fine & loving her new site.  Spike & Bridget were happy to see Pheebs & the Motormouse.  We are the only two rigs in this whole area & how totally great is that…………..:))

GROANER’S CORNER:((  People say there is no difference between COMPLETE & FINISHED.
But there is. When you marry the right one, you are COMPLETE.
And when you marry the wrong one, you are FINISHED.
And when the right one catches you with the wrong one, you are... COMPLETELY FINISHED.

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