A FEW TRAVELING THOUGHTS AND A FEW CONCERNS

HIKING PALM CANYON IN THE KOFA MOUNTAINS OF ARIZONA

Had I not loaded up the furry guys this afternoon and taken them in to town for a Cold Cut Combo sub at Subway my day would have been totally eventless.  Later this afternoon I did a load of laundry to get some of the Sub's honey mustard and sub sauce out of my shirt.  Seems whenever me & the Kids go out for lunch, I end up doing laundry!!
Watching the Pheebs racing around on our morning walk we couldn't help but think of some perils she will be facing on our upcoming journey.  I don't think Pheebe knows what a Skunk is or a Cholla Cactus.  Javelina's are extremely dangerous to an unwary young dog & we are always on the lookout for Coyotes.  Of course we have Coyotes right here nearby as well. 

THE RUGGED KOFA MOUNTAINS AS SEEN FROM OUR BOON DOCKING SITE SOUTH OF QUARTZSITE, ARIZONA….WE JUST MAY BE SPENDING SOME MORE TIME IN THESE MOUNTAINS ON THIS WINTER

Traveling with three 13 year old dogs is not be the same mind set for us now traveling with one 13 year old and an energetic 2 year old.  We will have to carefully re-think old habits for her safety.  I have always worried about rattlesnakes in the southwest especially as it begins to warm up in March but we have never encountered one so far.  We well know the importance of dog obedience classes & how they can save a dog's life so we are looking forward to beginning our classes with the Pheebster a week from Saturday.  The classes will run for 6 weeks.

SAND HILL CRANES OVER THE SULPHUR SPRINGS VALLEY WITH THE LIGHTLY SNOW DUSTED MULE MOUNTAINS IN THE BACKGROUND…PHOTO TAKEN FROM ‘THE RANCH’

We also threw around some ideas on our walk about destinations this winter as well.  Warmth will be our prime focus so that is probably going to mean the Yuma area for a time.  We may very well re-visit the Ajo region again for awhile as well as the Kofa Mountains south of Quartzsite.  These areas of Arizona are generally warmer than other regions.  If we are not needed for Ranch sitting this year we may not be back into the South-eastern area of Arizona until on our way back home in March when the night's are warmer.  I imagine we will hit Borrego Springs California at some point again for sure too.  And, of course we are always looking for new and unique out of the way places so if anyone has any suggestions for the Bayfield Bunch we would love to hear them.  No, we are not interested in RV Parks or Cities of any kind.   For any new readers, we much prefer boon docking off by ourselves with just the wind in the cactus and a clear canopy of silent stars overhead every night.

THIS WINDING ROAD LEADS THROUGH THE AJO MOUNTAINS IN ORGAN PIPE CACTUS NATIONAL MONUMENT SOUTH OF AJO, ARIZONA
Sitting here in our sun room this afternoon staring out the window on all the lush thick green jungle like foliage surrounding us it is hard to imagine in less than two months our environment will completely change.  The distances we can see from our house here in Bayfield is measured in yards while the distances visible in the Southwest are measured in as far as the eye can see.  From shrubbery just a few feet in front of me now to the tops of Mountains 40, 50, & 60 miles away.  From small patches of night sky visible through our tall pine trees here to sweeping night vistas from horizon to horizon.  From a few visible stars to thousands.  Our world will change to that of endless Mountain ranges with breathtaking beauty around every turn.

We will be in the land of fiery sunrises and smokey sunsets every morning and every evening.  A land of deep colourful rocky canyons, forests climbing ever higher on the mountain sides, rivers snaking their way across canyon floors and great desert terrains sporting green swatches of stately Saguaro cactus.  For the little boy inside me it is the land of my childhood dreams.  It is the land of Cowboys and it is the land of Indians.  And, it is the land where Indians and Cowboys still roam and are still a part of everyday Arizona life in the West:))

I am not a person who looks too far beyond of where he is anymore and with the way things are going now with the economy I have to realistically understand that each year we are fortunate enough to head south for the winter could very well be our last.  After all, this dream life does not last forever.  When we started RVing a few years ago I was far more optimistic about a long RVing future whether it was going to be Full Timing or Snow Birding.  Simple realities of life have chipped away at that optimism over the years but if we can get ourselves on down to the Great American Southwest once again this year I will consider that a treasured bonus.   We will deal with the following year and all it holds, when it gets here……………and not before. 

 

A COUPLE OF HIGH FIVE’S AT THE GATE WHEN KELLY GOT HOME THIS AFTERNOON  (CANON SX210IS)

GROANER’S CORNER: 

Heard on a public transportation vehicle in Orlando.
"When you exit the bus, please be sure to lower your head and watch your step."
"If you miss your step and hit your head, please lower your voice and watch your language. Thank you."

------------------------------------------------------------------------

GODERICH TORNADO DAMAGE PHOTOS....5 DAYS LATER

https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295/GODERICHONTARIOTORNADOSUNDAYAUGUST2120115DAYSLATER

Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

Until one has loved an Animal, their soul remains un-awakened.

OUR BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

OUR PICASA PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.

A LITTLE MAGIC IN THE KOFA MOUNTAINS

KELLY LOOKS BACK ON OUR CLIMB FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE CANYON

Spent the morning doing one of my absolute all time favorite things.  Walking quietly along a beautiful mountain trail.  We had heard the Palm Canyon Road south of Quartzite led into the Kofa mountains where a short uphill half mile rock scramble brought one to a narrow canyon high up on a rock faced wall.  In that barely accessible canyon were reported to be about 40 palm trees.

SAGUARO’S STAND IN SILENT SALUTE TO THE DISTANT KOFA MOUNTAINS

First of all though I had better get my mountains straightened out.  A few days ago I called the hauntingly beautiful jagged Kofa mountains, the Castle Domes.  That was wrong.  The Castle Dome range is further south along the highway towards Yuma.  I have taken photos of the Kofa mountains every time we have been to Quartzite but this morning was the first time we ever went to the Kofa's & actually drove right up to them, touched them, and hiked right into them.

THE DESERT FLOOR FLORA CHANGES AS WE GAIN ALTITUDE

We left our campsite around 9:30 after another nice desert walk this morning.  The turnoff for Palm Canyon road was about a 20 minute drive south of us.  Left turned off highway 95 & headed east on the gravel & slightly washboardy road.  Hazy mountains loomed closer as the Saguaro cactus became more numerous & the rocky landscape began filling with prickly cholla plants.  The rugged Kofa mountains were absolutely majestic in the morning sun as we followed a winding road right up to the face of the mountains themselves.  A parking lot marked the end of motorized traffic & from there it was boots on the ground for the climb to the palms.

HEADING UP THE TRAIL IN SEARCH OF THE PALMS

I enjoy driving through scenic places but to actually get out & physically hike into those scenic places has got to be one of the greatest things.  I cannot put into words the feelings I have when heading up a rocky mountain trail with towering & shadowy rock formations all around.  Blue skies high above with Saguaro cactus, Palo Verde trees, & greenery along the trail.  Cactus wren calls echoing from the canyon walls with the occasional eagle overhead.  There are bighorn sheep in these mountains………& there is quiet.  Not a sound.  A whisper is almost an intrusion into these serene surroundings & it is one of the reasons we prefer not to hike with others or in a group.  It is the peacefulness of nature that we seek on these hikes.  It is the beauty I try to connect with in my camera lens.  I can't do that when surrounded by talking & distracting people.

PALO VERDE TREES ADD GREENERY TO THE CANYON

We walked & clambered our way along the narrow rock strewn pathway leading ever upwards into the narrow dark canyon stopping for photos & to marvel at the wonderment all around us.  At one point Kelly mentioned that it was like walking in a Harry Potter movie.  Any moment we expected to round a corner & there in the distance high atop a distant slightly cloud shrouded bluff....Hogwarts itself. 

THE TRAIL ENDED JUST BEYOND THIS POINT

I saw the small wooden sign before I saw the palms.  The sign simply said 'Palms' with an arrow pointing slightly upward.  High on the other side of the close canyon wall was a long narrow vertical canyon in itself & in it were the palm trees in a long single line.  Had the sign not been there we would have walked right by without ever seeing them.  We briefly contemplated the rugged hike down, across a boulder strewn wash, & then up a steep 200 foot climb to the palms themselves but considering our limitations decided against it.  I still think I could do it ok though.  We silently sat here on the rocks for awhile, each lost in our own thoughts.  We soaked up the magnificence & tranquility of our surroundings..........and then we heard voices!!

    

THE PALMS ARE HIGH UP IN THE CANYON WALL  (click pics to enlarge)

Some folks from Washington State came on up the trail from the parking lot & stopped to admire the palms.   We all had ourselves a little bit of a chin wag before Kelly & I started back down the rocky trail.  As mentioned before, descending a trail is generally always harder than going up.  Especially hard on aging knees.  We stopped a few times on the way down trying to figure out if our new Delorme GPS system actually knew where it was but we obviously have not made it to first base yet in understanding how this little techno wizard of a gizmo works.

 

THE WASHINGTON STATE FOLKS

We were back to the rig around 2 & I spent a big part of what was left of the day just kind of dozing off here & there from all that great exercise this morning.  Wished we would do more of that sort of thing.  Great for not only the body but for the mind as well.  I sometimes feel we waste way to much of our southwest time doing too darn much of nothing.  Too much nothing stuff & not enough nature stuff!!  Too much time in the people world & not enough time in Mother Nature's world.  Some people are most comfortable being around other people.  I am most comfortable being where I was this morning................10-4!!

STOPPING TO CHECK THE DELORME GPS

I have too many photos to put in the blog tonight so I will have to make a special effort & put this morning's hike into a web album & I plan to have that album online by tomorrow night.  Wish me luck................

   

KELLY IS DWARFED BY THE MIGHTY KOFA MOUNTAINS

GROANER'S CORNER:((  The only time the world beats a path to your door is if you're in the bathroom!!

BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS  http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now....AL.