WE HAD TO MAKE A QUICK UNEXPECTED TRIP WITH THE MOTORHOME TO BELLY ACRES IN AJO THIS MORNING

YEP THAT’S US OVER THERE ON THE RIGHT WITH THE BIG BROWN ROUND COW PLOP ROCKS RIGHT BEHIND US

Since being back on the road for nearly 3 weeks now I have woke up each morning with one basic thought in mind.  Today I am going to get a grip on myself and not be overwhelmed by taking so many photos.  Each day that thought goes right out the window about 2 seconds after a I think it and by the end of the day I have both my DSLR cameras almost loaded to the hilts.  My problem is simple, I just see so much beauty around me most everywhere I go and it’s hard for me not to try and capture it.  Some nights putting my post together I have toothpicks holding my eyelids open.  If I didn’t enjoy doing it so much I would have packed it all in a long time ago and gone back to totally boring myself to bits watching horribly boring night time television.  I am sooooooo fortunate to have such an enjoyable blog hobby:))

ON OUR WALK THIS MORNING I SPOTTED THIS ‘OVERNIGHTER’ NOT TOO FAR FROM US….HE WAS GONE BY NOON

OUR NEIGHBOR TO THE EAST STILL HOLDS THE FORT UP ON THE HILL

OUR NEWEST NEIGHBOR ABOUT A QUARTER MILE AWAY MOVED IN FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND I SOON HIT HIM UP WITH MY TELEPHOTO LENS BELOW

I knew when I flushed the toilet this morning our black tank was full but how could that be when we had just dumped it 3 days ago.  Well thanks to a previous error about 8 years ago I immediately knew what had happened.  We noticed back in October after leaving Bayfield that every time we flushed the toilet the shut off water valve did not always turn off after replacing the correct amount of water in the bowl.  We turned the valve off because we could not take the chance of having the bowl slowly fill with water and overflowing without us noticing it.  A water leak in an RV is very much big bad news!!  To compensate we have been manually adding water to the tank after each flush.  Can you see the problem building and I use that word ‘building’ for a reason. 

EARLY MORNING SHADOWS ACROSS THE DESERT FLOOR WITH THE SHADOW COWBOY ON THE RIGHT AND CAN YOU GUESS THE LONG TALL SHADOW??  KELLY MAYBE??  NOPE, IT’S THE PHEEBS:))

THIS FLAT AREA ACROSS THE ROAD FROM WHERE WE ARE  RIGHT CAMPED NOW IS THE SPOT WHERE MAX, CHECKERS, CORA (aka) MOTORMOUSE, KELLY AND I BOONDOCKED ONE TIME ABOUT 7 YEARS AGO

OUR CAMPFIRE RING IS STILL VISIBLE

When boon-docking water is a major commodity and concern and being aware of that we had a tendency not to add enough water to the bowl each time.  Over a period of time the solids begin to ‘build’ an unnoticed and undetectable cone sometimes referred to as the ‘cone of shame.’  Each time the tank is dumped the liquids run out but leave the growing cone intact and if one is not paying attention to things a slow evolving problem suddenly one day becomes a big immediate emergency.  And that’s where we were this morning.  Either get that problem solved right away or start digging a hole in the sand somewhere not to near the Motorhome. 

HERE WE SEE A VERY YOUNG SAGUARO CACTUS ON THE LEFT AND A VERY YOUNG ORGAN PIPE CACTUS ON THE RIGHT….THESE TWO YOUNGSTERS OF DIFFERENT NATIONALITIES WILL GROW UP TOGETHER FOR DECADES TO COME POSSIBLY SURPASSING THE HUNDRED YEAR MARK AND BEYOND

TEDDY BEAR CHOLLA

IN THIS PHOTO CAN BE SEEN A CREOSOTE BUSH BOTTOM RIGHT, TEDDY BEAR CHOLLA BEHIND IT, AN ORGAN PIPE CACTUS AND OFF TO THE LEFT SOME DISTANT SAGUAROS, BRISTLE BUSH SHRUBS, AND A PALO VERDE TREE

We had 4 practical options available to us for resolving our problem and the first one called for us to immediately head into Ajo and find us an RV Park where we could dump the tank then hook up to water and activate our on-board black tank back wash system.  This essentially blasts jets of water into the black tank for periodic cleaning and to dislodge any solids build up.  Option 2 was a solution we used with great success the last time this happened to us.  Your not going to believe this but it works.  Dump a couple bags of ice cubes into the black tank then take the rig for a drive letting those ice cubes swish around in the tank to break up the solids.  Sounds crazy but worked for us one time years ago.  We had tried the old garden hose down the toilet but that didn’t work.  Option 3 is to have a very short and slim friend don a Scuba suit and descend down into the tank with a crowbar and shovel.  If you don’t have any friend fitting the description you might want to head on over to your nearest horse racing track and see if you can borrow a Jockey.  Option 4 is to drop a stick of dynamite down the toilet with a very long slow burning fuse to allow yourself time to clear the area and get yourself under a large tarp.   We selected option # 1.

SPOTTED THESE 2 PIPES STICKING OUT OF THE DESERT FLOOR AND FIGURED IT WAS PROBABLY A MINING CLAIM MARKER

WITH MY CANON POINT AND SHOOT I CAUGHT THIS GIANT ROCK LIZARD CLIMBING UP THE SIDE OF THIS MOUNTAIN NORTHWEST OF US

<<< THIS IS WHAT WE BELIEVE TO BE THE VERIZON TOWER EAST OF US (PHOTO TAKEN FROM THE AJO SIDE)

Packed up the rig leaving behind the Jeep, a couple lawn chairs, 3 small tables and a ground mat to secure our site and headed off down Darby Well Road heading into Ajo.  It was shortly after 9 a.m.  The rear end of the rig seemed to be hanging down so we knew we did have a big load of crap aboard.  First stop was the RV Heights RV Park in Ajo’s north end.  Owner there said he doesn’t allow people to come in and dump anymore.  Said too many people made too many messes and we was sick and tired of having to clean it up.  I totally understood his reasoning.  However he did say the Belly Acres RV Park right next door allowed outsiders to come in and dump their tanks.  So it was over to Belly Acres we went and sure enough, “come on in folks and bring all your crap with ya’.

HEADING THROUGH AJO TO BELLY ACRES RV PARK

Being very much a secretly humorous guy inside despite my cranky nature at times I am quick to spot my kind of humor in someone else and this morning at Belly Acres a fellow humorous character luckily popped up and brought that inner humor of mine right to the surface.  It was the Belly Acres manager Dennis Ochsner who came out to help us with anything we needed and lend a hand if required.  Now here’s a genuinely friendly guy with a great attitude and he’s a dog person too.  On he and his wife Laurie’s business card it says ‘Welcoming friendly people and dogs for 30 years’.  As it turns out I did need a little help this morning as Dennis managed to un-confuse me about some quick-connect water hose connections.  Two thumbs up for Belly Acres folks and you can find these helpful friendly people at 2030 N Ajo Gila highway.  I never did get around to asking Dennis about the ‘Belly Acre’ name but I’m thinking it might have something to do with Aching Bellies from too much laughter.  By the way Belly Acres on the east side of the highway is located right between the Napa Store and Ajo Heights RV.  It is the Napa owner who also owns Belly Acres RV Park and Napa is the place to go for RV parts, service, and repairs.  And I hear the Napa owner is a pretty swell guy as well………

BELLY ACRES MANAGER DENNIS OCHSNER

Kelly was feeling the need for coffee and donuts after leaving Belly Acres and of course I was feeling the need for Broccoli and Brussel Sprouts but of course I learned a long time ago in food situations like this it is best for a man to defer to his wife at all times if he knows what’s good for him.  So donuts and coffee it was.

THIS PHOTO TAKEN INSIDE MARCELAS CAFE BAKERY FRIDAY MORNING

WHILE BROWSING THE THRIFT STORE IN DOWNTOWN AJO FRIDAY MORNING LOOKING FOR A JUNIOR ELEPHANT BELT TO HOLD MY PANTS UP I SPOTTED THIS WISE SAYING ON THE WALL

We were back to our campsite somewhere around 11 I think it was and after a tricky back-in we nestled up alongside our satellite dish again and weren’t long in getting ourselves all set up again.  And that was pretty much it for our day.  Plans had been for Yuma and Doug from Miss Adventure Travels to come over sometime late morning but due to our little Black Tank dilemma and not knowing what juicy bits of nauseous nastiness lay ahead we had to cancel Doug and Yuma’s visit until Sunday.

HEADING BACK TO OUR SITE NORTH ON THE RECENTLY GRADED DARBY WELL ROAD…..WE ARE NEAR THE POINTY MOUNTAIN ON THE EXTREME RIGHT

Spent a quiet afternoon relaxing and simply appreciating where we are at the moment.  Nice of the U.S. Military to call off their training exercises overhead and let us enjoy these quietly peaceful days.  A few old Crows cawing overhead along with a breezy wind playing through nearby Saguaros and Organ Pipe Cactus is about all we hear out here.  We have been so fortunate so far not to have anyone crowd in on us.  A white Class B Leisure Van pulled in about a quarter mile away Friday and that had us a little nervous but we’ve adjusted to it:))

A question in our Shout Box asks about RV Park site availability in this area but not being RV Park people ourselves I’m not sure.  But here’s the names of a few Parks we know about in the area.  Belly Acres, Ajo Heights, and Shadow Ridge all in Ajo.  Down in Why is Hickiwan Trails and Coyote Howls.  We did notice Hickiwan Trails had sites available.  Hickiwan Trails is on Facebook here…..Hickiwan Trails RV Park.  I remember now a question from a few post ago asking if I really had to wear a tracking monitor around my ankle in Algodones so I wouldn’t get lost.  Well the answer to that is no and if the truth be known it’s actually Kelly who needs a tracking monitor.  I have a very good sense of direction actually and it’s rare for me to misplace myself whereas Kelly can get mixed up and turned around in the twinkling of an eye. And Becky, the correct sounding pronunciation of Ajo is Aho.  You were right:))

LOCOMOTIVE ROCK SOUTHWEST OF US

Late this afternoon about 5 o’clock a silver pick-up truck rolled in and parked not too far from us.  In the back of the pick-up were nearly a dozen kids and I knew right away why they were here as the tailgate went down and they all came barreling out.  Accompanied by 3 adults they all headed straight away for the big ‘Cow Plop’ rocks behind us.  I’ve seen families with kids here other years and it’s a popular place for kids to scramble up on the rocks.  Unfortunately the Sun was going down and many of my photos of them playing are in shadow and poor light therefore poor color.  It’s not very often I have the opportunity to photograph kids out playing and being themselves so here’s my little contribution to Kid’s Photography……………

LOOK CAREFULLY THE LITTLE DICKENSONS ARE UP THERE TOP CENTER

ATOP THE PLOP

SOON THE KIDS WERE MAKING THEIR WAY BACK TO THE TRUCK THROUGH THE BRUSH

Because I have difficulty in remembering questions I’m sure I’ve let many folks down over the years by forgetting to get back to them so right now I am going to try something new.  If anyone has any questions on their mind about the Bayfield Bunch just send them in over the next couple days and I will do my best to answer them.  Don’t ask me how much I weigh or how I make my peanut butter sandwiches and we will all get along just fine and if there’s any questions I’m uncomfortable about answering I will just go place myself in the closet for half an hour.

LOADING ALL THE KIDS BACK INTO THE PICK-UP TRUCK

AND REMEMBER THIS PASQUALE

‘NO WAY’…..’REALLY’??

BOYS ARE DISGUSTING!!

HEY RALPH’S  REALLY RALPHING

OK OK OK HERE WE GO

QUIET DOWN BACK THERE IN THE PEANUT GALLERY WILL YA!!

AND THERE GOES ONE HAPPY GANG OF KIDS

FORTY NINE BOTTLES OF POP ON THE WALL FORTY NINE BOTTLES OF POP 

ADIOS AMIGOS AND THANKS FOR THE PHOTO OP:))

GROANER’S CORNER:(( A little boy was attending his first wedding. After the service, his cousin asked him, "How many women can a man marry?"  "Sixteen," the boy responded.
His cousin was amazed that he knew the answer so quickly. "How do you know that?"  "Easy," the little boy said.  "All you have to do is add it up, like the Preacher said: 4 better, 4 worse, 4 richer, 4 poorer."

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Q. Did you hear about the new sushi bar that caters exclusively to lawyers?  A. It's called, Sosumi.

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An old man goes to the Wizard to ask him if he can remove a "Curse" he has been living with for the last 40 years.  The Wizard says "maybe, but you will have to tell me the exact words that were used to put the curse on you." The old man says without hesitation "'I now pronounce you man and wife'".