STRANGE NIGHT HAPPENINGS…..PATAGONIA ARIZONA THIS MORNING AND A BIG FLUTE SURPRISE

A COTTONWOOD LINED DRY WASH IN THE THE HIGH DESERT GRASSLANDS

Bit of an odd occurrence Monday night around 8 p.m. when I was outside thinking of trying a few night photos.  We are not anywhere near any regularly traveled roads so noticing 3 sets of headlights slowly heading in our direction caught my attention real quick.  There’s a bouncy Jeep road running along about a 500 yards west of us so I was hoping those vehicles would head along there and not veer right and come up our little dead end road.  I was relieved to see them drive on by our road but they did pull into an area and stop not far from us.  Luckily I had both pairs of my binoculars set up on 2 tri-pods so I quickly swung them around over to where the vehicles were.  With the aid of my binos I was able to determine two of the vehicles were border patrol and the third vehicle was civilian.  I made out 3 border patrol agents and one civilian.  The 3 border patrol fellas were searching for the longest time everywhere with their flashlights pointed to the ground.  Vehicles were left running with lights on and that’s how I was able to see what was going on.  I could hear voices and some laughter.  After about 15 minutes of searching one border patrol agent shook hands with the civilian and I heard him say, “Thanks for letting us know”.  The civilian fella got back  into his pick-up truck and departed the area.  I could hear talking in that truck as it went down the road so knew there were two people in it.  One of the border patrol vehicles turned it’s engine and lights off and I saw one of the guys take a rifle out of the other patrol vehicle.  Couldn’t see any movement anywhere or hear anything and about 5 minutes later the border patrol vehicle with lights and engine running departed the scene heading back in the direction they had all come from.  The remaining vehicle with it’s lights out remained another five minutes then it left as well.  No idea what was going on or what they were looking for but I knew we would be walking over there on our morning walk to have us a look see for sure.

THIS IS WHERE THE BORDER PATROL OFFICERS WERE SEARCHING MONDAY NIGHT AND YOU CAN SEE OUR RIG IN THE BACKGROUND

THERE’S A POPULAR BOON-DOCKING SITE OVER THERE UNDER THOSE LARGE TREES

ONE OF SEVERAL FIREPITS

NICE CAMPING SPOT BUT I’D BE LEERY ABOUT ALL THE LOOSE SAND IN THE DRY WASH BESIDE IT

Should mention that anyone traveling I-10 west does not have to proceed through Benson all the way to highway 83 then turn south to reach the Las Cienegas Conservation Area.  Much easier to head south at Benson’s second exit which is highway 90.  When you reach Whetstone turn right on highway 82 and head for Sonita.  Highway 82 will take you right past Las Cienegas’s southern entrance.  For the west entrance turn right on 83 in Sonoita and go about 5 miles to the entrance.  Easy to miss so watch for a sign saying ‘Empire Ranch’.  By using this Benson route you avoid the Santa Rita foothills which are no big deal but it’s a bit of an up and down winding road.

I THINK THESE LARGE TREES ARE COTTONWOODS

CAN YOU SEE THE LITTLE MORNING WALKER HEADING BACK TO THE MOTORHOME

IT CERTAINLY IS A VAST COUNTRY OUT HERE

<<< I’M GUESSING THIS LITTLE FELLOW AT A CACTUS WREN

Another mighty fine sunny cool morning here in the grasslands of Arizona’s high desert region.  Decided to head for Patagonia this morning so we took the long way out through the Conservation area down to the south entrance.  Popped in to see Ivan quickly tefore picking up highway 82 through Sonoita traveling 12 miles to Patagonia.

THERE IS ACTUALLY A DESIGNATED CAMPGROUND IN LAS CIENEGAS WITH ABOUT 10 BOON-DOCKING SITES ALONG A ROAD….THIS CAMP AREA IS BEST ACCESSED FROM THE WEST ENTRANCE

THERE ARE ABOUT 10 BOONDOCKING SITES SCATTERED ALONG THIS HALF MILE STRETCH OF ROAD

A GULLEY BETWEEN THE CAMPGROUND AND THE SOUTH ENTRANCE

Headed straight away to the Gathering Grounds for coffee and a shared breakfast Burrito.  We were mainly in the quirkly little town of Patagonia to see if there were any RV dunp facilities at the RV Park there.  There weren’t so that answered that question.  Kelly also wanted to drop into a place called High Spirits Flutes where flutes are made and this is where I found out something about my wife I didn’t know.  Kelly wanted to drop in to ask a few questions about her flute and see where it was made.  Wait a minute!!!  Her Flute???  I never knew Kelly had a flute or even had an interest in a flute.  She ordered it on-line and has been practising with it whenever I’m not home…………..Well, the things a fella don’t know eh.

 

After a stop for ice cream at the Ovens Of Patagonia we headed on back to our rig arriving home about noon.  For a more detailed and colorful trip to Patagonia be sure to click on my post from February 25th 2017 entitled, ‘A Look Around Patagonia Arizona.

Winds were a blowin pretty good so we knew better than to try putting the awning out.  A lazy afternoon to say the least as we quietly wile away our time here for awhile in the cool sunny grasslands of Southeastern Arizona.

THEY SURE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL COLLECTION OF HAND CRAFTED FLUTES

KELLY HAS A FEW QUESTIONS FOR THE HELPFUL LADY IN THE SHOWROOM

STANDING IN FRONT OF THE SHOWROOM

THIS COLLECTION OF BUIDINGS ARE WHERE THE FLUTES ARE MADE

I have a tendency to under expose too many of my photos and it’s that under exposure which sometimes throws my color off.  A year ago while here in the grasslands I received a comment from ‘kabloonie boonster’ aka ‘Boonie’ over at the Occupation Of Independence about the grass color in my photos being to golden in color.  He was right of course and I was glad he brought that to my attention.  Been working harder this year to get that grass color right.  No easy matter sometimes.  We first met ‘Boonie’ and his dog ‘Coffee Girl’ in Silver City New Mexico years ago then again in Ajo Arizona.

GROANER’S CORNER:((  Two Jewish businessmen meet in a restaurant for a lunch suggested by one of them.  The first says, "I have a good deal for you. When I was in Florida, I went to the town where the circus stays during the winter. I happened to pick up an elephant. I could let you have it for a thousand dollars."  The other businessman sipped his martini and said, "What are you, crazy? What am I going to do with an elephant? I live in a condo. I barely have room for my furniture. I can't even squeeze in an end table. So I'm going to buy an elephant?"  The first businessman said, "I could let you have three of them for two grand."  "Oh," said the other, "now you're talking!"

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Deep within a forest a little turtle began to climb a tree. After hours of effort he reached the top, jumped into the air waving his front legs and crashed to the ground. After recovering, he slowly climbed the tree again, jumped, and fell to the ground.  The turtle tried again and again while a couple of birds sitting on a branch watched his sad efforts. Finally, the female bird turned to her mate.  “Dear,” she chirped, “I think it's time to tell him he's adopted.”

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