MORNING DRIVE ON BUCKHORN ROAD IN THE WICKENBURG MOUNTAINS

_{A NICE MORNING’S DRIVE ON BUCKHORN ROAD}

I knew if I didn’t get myself out the door early chances were I wouldn’t get myself out the door at all so with that thought in mind Pheebs & I were in the Jeep & off down the road before 9 a.m.

HERE’S KELLY ON BOXING DAY SKYPING WITH HER DAUGHTER REBECCA & GRAND DAUGHTER ELLA

Without all the small towns & endless miles of criss-crossing country roads like we have back home in Bayfield’s Huron County it’s always a challange for me to think of places to go.  My thinking carried us all the way to Wickenburg’s McDonald’s where we slipped through the drive-thru & picked up 1 burrito & 1 small coffee.  I had already pre-loaded a Blueberry muffin from home so we were good to go.  But go where??

BUCKHORN ROAD WANDERS THROUGH THE WICKENBURG MOUNTAINS

Again it was out Constellation Road we went into the desert only this time instead of turning left on Blue Tank Road we stayed right on Constellation & kept on going until we came to a fork in the road.  We had been this way several times before with Jim & Bev leading the way in their Jeep.  Straight through Constellation Road went to the Williams Ranch & to the right it branched off onto Buckhorn Road. 

THESE HILLS & MOUNTAINS ARE POCKED WITH OLD ABANDONED MINE SHAFTS

We opted for Buckhorn Road & it wasn’t long & I thought I began recognizing a few things along the way.  This might have been one of the roads we convoyed with Jim & Bev a couple years ago but problem was my memory banks would not return the information as to where the road actually went.  We did follow it for maybe 6 or 7 miles before deciding on turning back.  I really must spend more time on Google Earth researching where these desert roads lead to then try to imprint that info into my mind.  Well good luck with that AL.

THE DESERT HAS IT’S WAYS…JIM & BEV, THIS IS THE EXACT SPOT WHERE WE ALL STOPPED TO EAT OUR LUNCH ON THE WAY TO CASTLE HOT SPRINGS WHEN PETER & LESLIE WERE WITH US 2 YEARS AGO…..HERE IS THAT DAY GUYS

RATHER THAN CARRYING ON ANY FURTHER ALONG BUCKHORN IT WAS AT THIS POINT WE TURNED AROUND

FROM A HIGH VANTAGE POINT I SPOTTED THESE FELLAS ON AN ATV COMING UP THE ROAD

Again today we just poked along enjoying Arizona’s endless scenery rolling by.  So many hills & dales, so many mountains & canyons.  Had ourselves half a dozen leg stretches along the way & it was a good thing I was dressed warm.  Air was really cold but at least no wind to make that air even colder.  Pheebs likes her window down so she can stick her snout out & partake of the fine mountain air.  I like to have the Jeep’s heater on to keep myself toasty.

HARQUAHALA MOUNTAIN IS ON THE DISTANT HORIZON IN THESE 3 PHOTOS

After turning around on Buckhorn Road & heading back towards Wickenburg I debated with myself whether to head into Wickenburg for a Whopper or turn off onto Blue Tank Road & take the slow track back to Congress.  Deciding to save myself some money I opted for the latter so hung a right onto Blue Tank following that to Rincon Road where we again turned right following Rincom to Scenic Loop road.  A left onto Scenic led us west to highway 93 where a right turn soon swung us around the Big Spurs round-a-bout.  Half a minute later we exited 93 angling off to the right & Congress Arizona.  Half a dozen minutes later we were home & that pretty much wrapped up the day.

WICKENBURG LIES OUT THERE ON THE VALLEY FLOOR TO THE RIGHT

HARQUAHALA MOUNTAIN ON THE HORIZON WITH WICKENBURG IN THE FOREGROUND

WICKENBURG’S AIRPOT RUNWAY

SEE THE 2 TINY WHITE DOTS IN THE CENTER OF THE PHOTO….THOSE ARE THE 2 BIG WATER TANKS A BLOCK FROM OUR HOUSE & I FIGURE THEY ARE ABOUT 20 MILES AWAY FROM WHERE I AM

THAT LINE OF WHITE DOTS UPPER RIGHT IS THE ESCAPEE CLUB’S NORTH RANCH   

In part, a question from Jeff in our Shout Box asks, “Can you tell us exactly the tools you use to host, create and publish your blog for those of us who are thinking about starting our own”. ----- The program I use to host my blog is called Blogger & here’s the link to help you get started, BLOGGER....Getting Started  I would say Blogger is probably the most widely used by Bloggers I know.  It was Blogger I used to set up my template & configure my blog the way I wanted it. (colors, font size, etc)  You can write posts in Blogger as well as insert photos but many of us chose to use a program called Open Live Writer to compose our words & photos within Blogger.   WordPress is another favorite blogging format with many folks as well.  I’ve never tried WordPress & have always used Blogger & Open Live Writer combined & for the most part they have worked well together for me these past 6 or 7 years.

VULTURE PEAK ON THE HORIZON

IT’S A WILD UNTAMED COUNTRY OUT HERE & THAT’S WHY I LIKE IT SO MUCH

Sure wish it would warm up a bit down here in Arizona.  Not hot, just warm.  Compared to last winter’s nice temperatures it’s kinda like spending part of each day in a refrigerator here.  Water still freezes up in the bird bath each night & by 4 in the afternoon we’re adding layers of clothing.  I’m not complaining, just wishing it would warm up that’s all…………… 

VULTURE PEAK RISES OUT OF THE SONORAN DESERT MIST

GROANER’S CORNER:(( Doctor Ryan tells his patient, Muriel, 'Well I have good news and bad news...'Muriel responds, 'Tell me Doc. What's the bad news?' You have Alzheimer's disease.' 'Good heavens!' exclaims Muriel, ' So, what's the good news?' 'You can go home and forget about it.' Says Dr Ryan.

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Betty is aged 94 and she is angry and so she 'phones the newspaper office in Manchester, loudly demanding to know where her Sunday edition was.  'Ma'am,' said the employee, 'today is Saturday. The Sunday paper is not delivered until Sunday.'  There was a long pause on the other end of the phone, followed by a ray of recognition from Betty. 'I'll bet that's why no one was in church today too.'