A MIGHTY FINE TRAVELING DAY AND A TIP FROM RUSTY LEADS TO A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH FOR US

WE ARE SOMEWHERE EAST OF THE SUN AND WEST OF THE MOON TONIGHT
This is Sunday December 31rst’s Post (internet problems this morning)
I felt a wee touch of warmth in the air Saturday night and our early Sunday morning walk was not as cold as previous walks.  I like when that happens.

THE ROAD KEPT BEKONING TO US TODAY, ‘FOLLOW ME, FOLLOW ME’
It was moving day for us so things had to be packed, tanks emptied, etc.  While doing these chores Kelly slipped into Columbus to taka a few Blackberry photos she had missed.  Kelly likes to Instagram and Facebook them.

It was 9:15 when we finally rolled out of our spot at the Columbus RV Park.  Not likely we’ll be back there again but it served it’s purpose for us after our hectic week on the road.  Too many Goats Head stickers so not good for pets.  Pheebs was happy to get out of there.

It was a beautifully calm Sunday morning as we waved good-bye to Columbus New Mexico and all the fine memories it has given us over the years.  Pretty well everywhere we have gone here in the Southwest has turned out to be a favorite place and Columbus New Mexico is no exception.

HEADING WEST OUT OF COLUMBUS THIS WAS THE FIRST OF MANY BORDER PATROL VEHICLES WE SAW TODAY

THIS PHOTO SUMS UP WHAT MOST OF OUR MORNING DRIVE LOOKED LIKE

BORDER PATROL HOLDS THE HIGH GROUND IN THESE PARTS WITH LOTS OF TECNICAL SURVEILLENCE GEAR ON THE HILLTOPS

NO THOSE ARE NOT ILLEGAL ALIENS OUT THERE THEY ARE  AMERICAN COWS

KELLY SPOTTED 2 BORDER PATROL FELLAS ON ATVS OUT IN THE DESERT BEHIND THE TRUCK

HEY MIKE WAY OVER IN THAT CONGRESS ARIZONA PLACE I GOT YA A FEW MORE WINDMILLS TODAY
We turned right onto highway 9 and headed Westward past Pancho Villa State Park.  We traveled this same road in 2006 almost to the day.  This paved road runs parallel with the Mexican border to the South sometimes only a few miles away and other times a hundred miles or more south.  We knew it to be a lonesome road and of course that and the scenery were and always are of great attraction to us.  It’s not a road to speed on with it’s curves and sometimes bumpity pavement.  No holes or ruts, just some bumpity pavement stretches.

I remembered a tumble down little place along the way so I did a bit of reading a couple days ago about Hachita New Mexico.  Hachita is even more tumbled down than I had expected.  This old mining town still has a few people living there alongside the many who have come and gone through the years.   Many of yesteryear’s buildings are still standing in various states of ruin and I’m sure many, if not all of those old wood and adobe buildings harbor many willowy ghostlike figures slipping around corners just out of sight.  I particularly liked an article I read by David Pike called, Unhurried In Hachita.



NO DOUBT THE NEWEST BUILDING IN TOWN

A LOT OF BORDER PATROL VEHICLES IN HACHITA WITH ONE PICK-UP TOWING A TRAILER WITH SADDLED HORSES IN THE BACK.

When slowly rolling into Hachita from the East Kelly spotted the unmistakable sign of McDonalds golden arches.  What the heck!!  Turning down a dusty dirt street we made our way around and headed back to the east side of town passing many incredible sites right out of the old West.  Spotted the arches again, pulled over at a near-by intersection and parked the coach.  Despite 3 or 4 Border Patrol officers milling about obviously searching for something or someone right where we parked Kelly was determined to get a Blackberry photo of the golden arches.  Well so was I so we all piled out including Pheebs and started walking back up the highway.  Border Patrol officers went about their business just as we did.

KELLY HEADS BACK UP THE ROAD TOWARDS THE GOLDEN ARCHES AS A BORDER PATROL OFFICER WALKS ALONGSIDE THE ROAD IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION


BY GOLLY COULD IT REALLY BE??

SHE GETS HER PHOTO

‘AHA’ AND HERE’S WHAT I SPOTTED THROUGH THE PRICKLY MESQUITE TREES


THERE IS VERY LITTLE TRAFFIC ON THIS HIGHWAY

OH-OH LOOKS LIKE I GOT BLACKBERRIED TODAY

ONE CAN SEE A VEHICLE COMING IN EITHER DIRECTION FOR A MILE OR MORE


THIS ROAD IN HACHITA LEADS SOUTH TO THE MEXICAN BORDER ABOUT 90 MILES AWAY

WHILE PARKED HERE A CAR APPROACHED FROM MEXICO WITH 2 FELLAS IN IT WITH ONE GETTING OUT AND IN BROKEN ENGLISH ASKED WHICH WAY TO DOUGLAS ARIZONA…..KELLY SAID ‘THAT-AWAY’ AND OFF THEY WENT

AND BY GOLLY HACHITA EVEN HAS IT’S VERY OWN REST AREA

We probably spent a good 40 minutes in Hachita taking photos and looking at things.  This is one of the best living ghost towns we have seen in all the years we’ve been knocking around other ghost towns here in the Southwest.  Hachita is a photographer’s paradise if you are into the old west’s history and simply from an artistic perspective with all the old buildings the  photographic opportunities here are many.

KELLY HOLLERED OVER, “I’M TELLING YOU AL IT’S NOT OPEN!!  LET’S GO BACK UP THE ROAD TO McDONALDS” 

A LOOK INSIDE THROUGH A DIRTY OLD WINDOW PANE
 
STIRRUPS ON AN OLD SADLE HANG FROM THE CEILING

THAT’S JUST ME REFLECTED IN A COBWEBBED WINDOW
 


Saddling up we slowly rode west out of Hachita heading for parts where we had been before but still not knowing just exactly where we would spend the night.  But boy oh boy did we get lucky. 

THIS TRUCK PASSED US, NOTICE THE OCCUPANTS, AHHHH THOSE WERE THE DAYS EH:))

ANOTHER WINDMILL MIKE

AND THIS WINDMILL EVEN HAS IT’S OWN CATTLE

ALAS ON YONDER HORIZON I SPY THE CHIRICAHUA MOUNTAINS AHEAD…..OH THE MANY PLEASANT MEMORIES WE HAVE FROM THOSE MOUNTAINS

WE PULL OVER FOR A BREAK….HOT DOGS AND COFFEE

IS THAT MY HOT DOG ON THE TABLE DAD??

THE CHIRICAHUAS DRAW CLOSER
Descending into Cochise County’s San Simon Valley we at last reach the end of highway 6 from Columbus.  We are at a T-Intersection with highway 80 heading either south to Rodeo NM and Douglas Az or right less than a mile to Rustys RV Ranch.  There’s a large graveled parking area on the other side of the road so we pull in as Kelly checks her book for BLM lands in the area.

HOW GREAT IT IS TO AGAIN BE STANDING IN THE SHADOW OF THE MIGHTY CHRICAHUA MOUNTAINS WHERE COCHISE AND GERONIMO ONCE ROAMED FREE


THE ANIMAS MOUNTAINS EAST OFOUR LOCATION
Not finding any BLM lands we decided to head the short distance up to Rusty's RV Ranch and see if she had a dry camping area.  She didn’t but she did suggest a place nearby that might be Okay.  And it was, but more about that tomorrow.  My post tonight is already too long with way too many photos and I have toothpicks propping my eyelids open.   Let me just say that we found a diamond in the rough that suits us just fine and we love it.  Thanks Rusty:))

AND HERE’S KELLY TALKING TO RUSTY HER VERY SELF

Holy Smokes here we be at the end of 2017 already.  Where the heck did all those days go.  For us I don’t think the year was any less calm or turbulent than any other year so we’ll just chalk it up as another  great year in the life and times of the Bayfield Bunch:))

SUNSET OVER THE CHIRICAHUAS TONIGHT
GROANER’S CORNER:((  A frog walks into a bank. He goes to the only open teller, and sees that her name is Paddy Whack. "Hey, listen" says the frog. "I really need a loan! I'm out of work, and my wife and tadpoles are at home starving! I need money so I can feed them and provide for them!" Now Paddy feels very sorry for the poor frog and asks him if he has any collateral. He holds up a small glass elephant. Paddy is a little surprised by this, and quite unsure, but she feels so sorry for the the poor frog that she takes the elephant to her manager. "Mr. Manager, sir," Paddy begins "there is a frog out there who deperately needs a loan. He's out of work and he has a wife and tadpoles who are at home starving. He needs some money so he can provide for them! But all he has for collateral is this little glass elephant. What should I do?"  Well, Mr. Manager takes a good hard look at that elephant, thinks about it a little, and then replies, "It's a knick-knack, Paddy Whack, give the frog a loan!" 
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A golf club walks into a local bar and asks the barman for a pint of beer.  The barman refuses to serve him. "Why not," asks the golf club.
"You'll be driving later," replies the bartender.
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