WE WILL SOON BE GONE FROM THIS LAND OF LEGEND & LORE

VULTURE PEAK

A textured layer of clouds interspersed with rolling patches of sunlight today made for some nice diffused lighting situations which is always conducive to softer pastel like photos.  No harsh shadows or bright spots to contend with.

WE EVENTUALLY ENDED UP AT THAT KNOBBY PEAK ON THE HORIZON TO THE RIGHT

We were low on milk this morning so that meant Pheebs & I were on a mission to Wickenburg’s Safeway store.  Yabba-dabba-do any excuse will do.  Picked up a package of almond & poppy seed muffins plus a small Charbuck’s coffee to go & we were off out Vulture Peak Road heading West.

JUST ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE SUPER NICE MORNNGS TO BE OUTSIDE

No idea where we were exactly going of course but we did peel off onto a sandy Jeep road east of Vulture Peak & headed south about a mile. 

VULTURE PEAK LOOMS ON THE HORIZON

MAKING OUR WAY ALONG A NARROW ROCKY ROAD

CONGRESS IS WAY BACK THERE ON THE HORIZON TO THE FAR LEFT

PHEEBS LOOKS BACK ALONG THE ROAD WE HAD JUST WALKED

MORNING’S LIGHT HAD A SOFT PASTEL CAST TO IT

Road got a little rocky so we bailed out & took ourselves for a walk.  A beautiful cool morning as we stood on a high vantage point surrounded by tall long armed Saguaros, budding Palo Verde trees, a variety of Chollas & a palette of greens stretching out ahead making their way to & climbing up the tall cliff sides of Vulture Peak. 

We watched long bands of gentle sunlight lazily drifting across the landscape towards us feeling their warmth as we stood quietly transfixed in the moment of their passing.  A hawk circled silently nearby with the only sound in the air being the sharp raspy call of a Raven somewhere close but out of sight.  I stood thinking we will soon be gone from this magical land of mythical legend & I felt a sadness.

TRAVELING RIBBONS OF SUNLIGHT SLOWLY TUMBLE ACROSS A DESERT LANDSCAPE SOON TO ALIGHT & WARM OUR VERY BEINGS

IT WAS JUST ONE OF THOSE SPECIAL FEELING MORNINGS

Walking slowly back to the Jeep I was filled with many thoughts.  Some old, some new, but they were all good thoughts touched with a bit of longing, some apprehension, & a twinge of excitement.

PHEEBE STOPS TO SEE IF I’M STILL COMING AS SHE LEADS THE WAY BACK TO THE jEEP

IN THIS PHOTO I SEE THE HUGE ROCK HEAD, SMALL FACE, & LARGE SHOULDERS OF A GENTILE GORILLA PEERING SLIGHTLY MY WAY….LOOK CLOSELY & YOU WILL SEE IT TOO

Pheebs & I bumped our way back along Vulture Peak road out to Vulture Mine road & headed further South stopping for a few photos here & there & also checking out a couple more Jeep trails that didn’t really lead anywhere drivable for us.  A few drops of rain on the windshield surprised me but they were only a few drops & hardly worth turning the wipers on.

CAME ACROSS A COWBOY CORRAL WITH SOME CATTLE PRESENT

A GROVE OF TREES OUTSIDE THE CORRAL BLOCKED THIS GAL’S VIEW BUT I COULD SEE SHE HAD ON HER SUNDAY BEST WHITE SOCKS THIS MORNING

OH HOW LOVELY IT IS FOR ALL WE NORTHERNERS TO SEE ALL THIS GREEN

About 11:15 we swung Libby’s nose in the direction of home & made our way back down Vulture Mine Road to Wickenburg.  Twenty minutes later we were home with 2 cameras carrying another whole host of pleasant Southwest memories.  I just can’t think of a much better way to spend a relaxing Sunday morning than with me & the Pheebs out for a scenic drive in the lap of Mother Nature.  How lucky I am after all these sometimes turbulent years to end up with these few enjoyable hobbies I now have in my life.  And how nice to be able to continue these pastimes in reasonably good health day after day.  How lucky I am indeed……………….

GROANER’S CORNER:((  A little guy gets on a plane and sits next to the window. A few minutes later, a big, heavy, strong mean-looking, hulking guy plops down in the seat next to him and immediately falls asleep.  The little guy starts to feel a little airsick, but he's afraid to wake the big guy up to ask if he can go to the bathroom. He knows he can't climb over him, and so the little guy is sitting there, looking at the big guy, trying to decide what to do.  Suddenly, the plane hits an air pocket and an uncontrollable wave of nausea passes through the little guy. He can't hold it in any longer and he pukes all over the big guy's chest.  About five minutes later the big guy wakes up, looks down, and sees the vomit all over him.  "So," says the little guy, "are you feeling better now?"