GREAT MORNING FOR A JEEP RUN & WALK IN THE DESERT
Beautiful full moon Thursday night with long lanky clouds skudding across the day’s end sky. Cool, so I stood inside at my bedroom window for awhile with binoculars in hand enjoying the magical Disneyesque sight in front of me. Pheebs lay stretched out on my bed basking in a bright swatch of moonlight beaming through my large bedroom window. I love being in the desert on a moonlit night. It is a scene like no other.
AND THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE BACK HOME JUST A FEW MILES SOUTH OF BAYFIELD IN GRAND BEND ONTARIO CANADA
When I saw we were in for a sunny day this morning it sure didn’t take us long to get our buns into the Jeep & head out into the desert. Now, whenever I mention desert, keep in mind, this is not Lawrence of Arabia stuff. This is the Sonoran Desert, often thought of as the ‘green’ desert. And green it was this morning as we happily jounced along it’s roads & ATV trails, dodging deftly around the Creosote shrubs & Hedgehog Cactus .
PICKED OURSELVES UP SOME MORE ‘DESERT PIN STRIPING’ THIS MORNING
First stop was the large watering hole we had came across a few days ago when out for a walk.
DURING THE SUMMER MONSOONS, THIS MUST GROW FROM A SMALL POND TO A LARGE LAKE
Lots of large bones around. Some along the water’s edge & more in the surrounding Mesquite thickets. Ribs, shoulder blades, large leg & pelvic bones, spines, but no skulls. Obviously cattle & the skulls are likely hanging on someone’s fence post somewhere. Some cattle may have drown in the Monsoon rains while others may have fallen prey to Coyotes or Mountain Lions near the watering hole.
A MORNING’S LIGHT FROST CAN BE SEEN ON ONE OF THE OLD BONES
From the watering hole we ambled along through the Mesquite & Palo Verde trees, dodging tall Yucca & Prickly Pear Cactus. Picked ourselves up some more mighty fine desert pin striping too. Stopped at a rock outcropping not far from ‘House Rock’ & took ourselves for a nice desert walk.
STOP ANYWHERE IN THE DESERT, WALK IN ANY DIRECTION, & IT’S AN ADVENTURE
Pheebs just loves racing around the desert & as I said before, she has learned where to step & where not to step. Not one sticker this morning as she darted about the thorns & barbs like an old pro.
Can’t even begin to tell you how beautiful this desert region is & I never tire of it. Walking on the desert’s hard packed surface is easy & the scenery changes with every step. Ringed on 3 sides by towering mountains & surrounded on all sides by a green landscape of many plants. Rocky outcroppings provide easy rock scrambles. Even for people like myself with leg problems.
ALTHOUGH LOOKING ROUGH, THE DESERT IS EASILY WALKABLE
ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA TO KEEP THE JEEP IN SIGHT WHILE OUT WANDERING AROUND
Only critters we saw this morning were cattle carefully keeping their distance. Occasionally a black body could be seen or a little white face peering through the Mesquite a fair distance away. Pheebs was busy with her nose to the ground trying to find them. She loves cows, as many will remember from our days boondocking south of Congress last February.
SOME STRANGE CRITTERS OUT HERE IN THE DESERT
Again, we were home before noon. Short rest & then it was right into my bedroom paint project again & managed to get all the brush edging done on the brick chimney. Have to get myself a deeper pile roller. Bricks & mortar are porous so I’ll need something to into those little cracks & crannies. Couple good suggestions in our comment section but by the time I read them I had already began with the ‘Colorado Trail’ stucco paint. I figure I am about one third done with the bedroom. Next….my bathroom.
FACING THE MORNING SUN, PHEEBS LOOKS BACK TOWARDS CONGRESS
For anyone interested in running on solar power, you will find AMERICAN TRAVELER'S post interesting today. We have had our solar set-up 5 years now & it’s a great economical way to free yourself of costly RV Parks:))
AN OLD LONG AGO CATTLE ENCLOSURE
Molly is fitting in well over at the BIRDING RV'ERS. Gaining some weight, playing with toys, has a boyfriend, & is busy meeting new people. Her new Mom & Dad just celebrated 5 years as full time RVers.
AN INDIAN MORTERO (GRAIN GRINDING HOLE) IS VISIBLE IN LOWER FOREGROUND
Special thanks to the folks who have taken the time to send in their thoughts & suggestions about my leg & hip problems. I have tried some of things recommended & am considering others. I have not gone back on the Crestor & right now have stopped taking my Arthrotec (arthritis medication) to see what happens. We were surprised to find out we cannot buy Tylenol here in the States.
THIS IS EXACTLY HOW OUR STRANGE COLORED LATE AFTERNOON SKY LOOKED ABOUT 5:30
HALF AN HOUR LATER WITH A FULL MOON CLIMBING INTO THE SKY, EVERYTHING LOOKED NORMAL AGAIN
GROANER’S CORNER:(( And a reader sent in a follow up to Thursday night’s Groaner…The poor guy's twin brother showed up at the church and wanted to be the new bell ringer. Sadly, he too had no arms but the church president hired him after he demonstrated a technique similar to his brother's. Things went fine until one day when he ran face-first at the bell and fell to his death. A crowd gathered and someone asked the man's name. The church president responded, "I don't know his name but he was a dead ringer for his brother."
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- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
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- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot)
- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.
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We buy tylenol here all the time. Maybe its an AZ thing.
ReplyDeleteGlad you're getting a Master painter to do your pinstriping on the Jeep. Can't wait to see it.
ReplyDeleteLove your pictures of the desert ... beats my 13" of snow yesterday. :)
ReplyDeleteFor my lower back problems, I have had the greatest results going to a LMT, Licensed Massage Therapist. Don't go on a regular basis like I should but always positive results. When it was recommended years ago, I had told my dad that I thought I was headed for back surgery. Past athletic injuries. I went to an LMT he recommended in 1984 and have had great results and no surgery.
Great job with what you have both done to your AZ house ... fantastic.
Tylenol is readily available in our part of Arizona..... What's the deal?
ReplyDeleteI just bought a big bottle of generic Tylenol last week at Walmart. Gee, we would have trouble without that!
ReplyDeleteRe my husband's back problems; he is going to have a neurologist look at the latest MRI of his lower back. He LOVES the surgery way out instead of relying on pills. Has had so many surgeries I've lost count, and always good results. A real bionic man. 'Course he isn't getting younger!
Love that word "Disneyesque!" Gonna steal it.
Up here that glowing sky turned from pink to peach.
ReplyDeleteTylenol is one of the chief engines which help drive the USA. No idea what you encountered, but maybe the help at the store was feeling grouchy and spotted you as Canadians to take it out on? :-)
ReplyDeleteWe will be taking our first desert walk tomorrow at the Whitewater Reserve near Palm Springs. The RV park we have just arrived at has four different temperatures of hot spring - hot tubs. Plus a large warm swimming pool. I find soaking in them very relaxing and helpful for any kind of body pain. One of the perks of staying at a resort, along with power and long showers.
ReplyDeleteW have tried Dry camping, and it was nice in a different way, but you can't beat the luxury! Wish we could afford it all of the time.
Sure miss Arizona this winter, but your adventures are keeping us in the loop, thanks.
ReplyDeleteTry Excedrin, Al. That's Gordon's preference but of course you can't buy it up here without acetaminophen.
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ReplyDeletebetter hit your spam button, Al.
Yup. Find it soonest and get rid of that bozo.
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ReplyDeleteTHIS COMMENT WAS ORIGINALLY POSTED BY CONNIE BARRY BUT I ACCIDENTALLY DELETED IT WHEN GETTING RID OF A SPAMMER... AL:))
Up until this summer, Harry always went fishing with my hubby during summers at our DE cottage but not this summer. He couldn't handle it. Harry complained all summer long about his legs hurting. He had difficulty just walking from his truck down to the patio when he'd stop to visit. Plus, being out of breath.
On Wednesday, the day after Christmas we got a phone call from Harry's son. Harry had difficulty breathing and was in the hospital. He had a temporary pacemaker put in that evening and the next morning, yesterday, Thursday, a permanent one put in.
I just talked to Harry's son on the phone. Harry is doing fine and will be discharged tomorrow.
When questioned by the doctor why he waited so long, Harry said he just thought it was old age (he's 80)! Doc said this should help with the poor circulation in his legs. He's anxious to see if it does.
Hi Al & Kelly. Tylenol is just acetaminophen. Tylenol is the brand name but any product that says acetaminophen is the same thing. If you were looking for Advil you would look for ibuprophen.
ReplyDeleteThat's ok, Al!
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