‘I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW’

After Saturdays gloomily cold and overcast day I was heartened to see a multitude of twinkling stars at 5 a.m. this morning when first out with Pheebs.  Knew those clear skies meant sunshine and that in turn meant a Jeep ride for us guys for sure. 

ALONG DATE CREEK ROAD THIS MORNING

Brewed myself up a coffee to go and hauled a Blueberry Muffin out of the freezer first dusting it off before chucking it into the microwave.  Minutes later Pheebs and I tumbled out the front door and into the Jeep.  We were soon off on another morning adventure.

THE WEAVER MOUNTAINS ARE IN THE BACKGROUND

SOME MIGHTY RUGGED TERRITORY IN THESE HERE PARTS

Just north of Congress off highway 89 is Date Creek Road heading West through a long rugged valley between the Date Creek and Weaver Mountains.  We’ve scrambled our innards along this dusty washboard of a road before so figured why not just scramble ourselves up all over again.  Actually it wasn’t as bad as in previous years so we made out alright. 

SEEN SOME STRANGE THINGS ALONG THE WAY

It’s 21 miles from the highway to a little settlement called Hillside but this morning we decided to only go half way before turning around.  Following along near the road all the way to Hillside is a main railway line and we can often hear the long freight trains rumbling through Congress along this North-South rail line.  This morning we came across a parked work train sitting on a siding.  Being Sunday it had the day off.

THIS MACHINE SAT ON RAILS ATOP 6 RAIL CARS AND I ASSUME IT COULD TRAVEL BACK AND FORTH ACROSS ALL THE CARS FOR WHATEVER REASON

LOOKING FIRST SOUTH THEN NORTH ALONG THE RAILROAD LINE…SOUTH GOES THROUGH CONGRESS TO PHOENIX AND I’M NOT SURE WHERE NORTH GOES

I was aware right away after turning onto Date Creek Road that my eyes were once again seeing.  My head was not heavy with thought, my mind not numbed by miles of weary travel.  It was the first time since leaving Bayfield over a month ago that I felt a spark of creativity coming back.  Instead of blindly following the road ahead in a Zombie like worrisome state I was once again seeing things.  Colors, shapes, shadows, mountains, clouds and critters began once again catching my attention.  Oh what a great feeling came over me to know my month long depression was finally lifting.  In my mind I kept playing Johnny Nash’s 1972 song, ‘I Can See Clearly Now’………… 

I can see clearly now the rain is gone.
I can see all obstacles in my way.
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind.
It's gonna be a bright (bright)
bright (bright) sunshiny day.
It's gonna be a bright (bright)
bright (bright) sunshiny day.
Oh, yes I can make it now the pain is gone.
All of the bad feelings have disappeared.
Here is that rainbow I've been praying for.
It's gonna be a bright (bright)
bright (bright) sunshiny day.
(ooh...) Look all around, there's nothing but blue skies. Look straight ahead, there's nothing but blue skies.

ONE CAN ALWAYS FIND ABANDONED RANCH HOUSES HERE IN THE SOUTH-WEST

I’M THINKING THOSE MAY BE COTTONWOOD TREES

EVERYTIME I HAVE COME DOWN THIS ROAD I HAVE STOPPED AND TAKEN A PICTURE OF THIS MACHINE

ONE OF OUR 3 LEG STRETCH STOPS THIS MORNING

I was soon reaching for my cameras as my normal world once again came back into focus after a long absence.  Pheebs and I were in and out of the Jeep looking at this and that.  How nice to feel interested in the great outdoors again.  Now if I can just hang onto that.

SPOTTED THIS STURDY WOODEN RAILWAY TRESTLE OVER A WIDE SANDY WASH

LOTS OF BIG STURDY TIMBERS IN THIS BRIDGE

NOTICE HOW ALL THE OUTSIDE TIMBERS ARE ANGLED IN

Gathering clouds followed us home and by mid afternoon we were under a solid cloud cover and it was raining.  With temperatures having slipped down into the 50’s we have trotted out our winter heaters which work quite well at keeping us toasty.

HEY NEVER MIND ALL THOSE HORSES DAD I LIKE MY PICTURE TAKEN TOO YA KNOW

We haven’t got out and about to see anyone since we’ve been here but Sarge dropped in one morning last week and Saturday afternoon Janna, Mike, and little Emmi popped in.  Always nice to see them there swell folks.

I THINK HOME IS THAT-A-WAY DAD

PHEEBS WAS RIGHT OF COURSE SO IT WAS OFF FOR HOME WE WENT

GROANER’S CORNER:(( There was a competition to cross the English channel doing only the breaststroke, and the three women who entered the race were a brunette, a redhead and a blonde.
After approximately 14 hours, the brunette staggered up on the shore and was declared the fastest. About 40 minutes later, the redhead crawled up on the shore and was declared the second place finisher.  Nearly 4 hours after that, the blonde finally came ashore and promptly collapsed in front of the worried onlookers.
When the reporters asked why it took her so long to complete the race, she replied, "I don't want to sound like I'm a sore loser, but I think those two other girls were using their arms..."

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A manager was being interviewed after he had resigned from a football club?  "Were the crowd not behind you" asked the reporter  "They were right behind me all right", said the manager, "but I managed to shake them off at the train station!"