A COLD AND WET RAINY BAYFIELD DAY REMINDED ME OF JULIAN, CALIFORNIA

ALL OF TONIGHT’S PHOTOS ARE FROM IN AND AROUND JULIAN, CALIFORNIA……..AND MY LAST TRIP THERE WAS TO THE CEMETERY IN SEARCH OF MARSHAL SOUTH

 

The steady rain which came in the night pretty well stayed all day.  The furry guys were following me around like crazy first thing this morning so I knew they were needing a break.  Off to Goderich we went in the pouring rain.  They held the fort while I popped into Wal-Mart for a few things.  Just so happens they have a McDonald's in there so I got a Sausage and Egg McMuffin to go and split it with the bums in the parking lot.  I recently mentioned that Kelly & I never eat out much and a commenter wondered about my trips to McDonald's with the guys and if that it counted as eating out.  Well, technically yes but really, no.

HISTORIC JULIAN HOTEL

Our cold and wet rainy day reminded me of an artsy little town 4,235 feet up in California’s  Cuyamaca Mountains.  We have been there three times over the years and every time we are there it is.....cold and raining.  All of today's photos are from historic JULIAN located just one hour east of San Diego.  Last time we were there I was in search Marshal South's final resting place.....and I found it.

 

NOW, HERE’S A GOOD EXAMPLE OF………..WINDOW SHOPPING

Somehow I missed FREIGHTLINER'S trip to Cape Breton on Canada's east coast a few weeks ago.  No narrative but they do have some nice photos of the Cabot Trail and stops along the way.  Kinda neat to see the tide going out around a rock formation and then people walking where high tide had just been.  I did that Cabot Trail with just me and my old Volkswagon camper back in 86.  That whole east coast of Canada is another beautiful place in it's own right.  Did Prince Edward Island as well but did not make it to Newfoundland. 

Sure seems to be a big 'fracas' going on over some recent changes to Facebook.  Still sort of looks the same to me but then again I am not a big Facebook user.  Other than my blog being automatically posted in there and checking what a few friends are up to each day, neither Kelly or I have a big interest in all the 'hoop-la' connected with Facebook.  Neither one of us have any interest whatsoever in all that game stuff etc.  Not saying these are bad things but it's just different strokes for different folks.  In a recent post I blogged about my interests shifting and some of that shift seems to be away from a lot of this kind of stuff.  Years ago the interactive social sites would have interested me, but that was years ago.  Kelly feels the same way so I think we will just stay at the comfort and uncomplicated techno level where we are and enjoy life as we can handle it:))

AND YES, JULIAN IS WELL KNOWN FAR AND WIDE FOR IT’S DELICIOUS APPLE PIES 

I see a lot of buzz around about the new Google+ social site.  I did manage to stumble my way in there and leave a comment Wednesday but that might be about as far as I go with it.  I will keep it open though with the light on just in case I feel the need to ring somebody up and say, “hey, how’s it going eh.”  The format looks and seems to operate a lot like Facebook from what I can tell.  It's basically another socially interactive site and as I've said, those kinds of sites just don't push my buttons anymore.  If I am going to communicate with someone I still much prefer to do it through email.  I do have a Twitter account but have always asked myself...why!!  My computer interests are evolving but where they are evolving to I'm not sure.  But, I do know where they are evolving from.  Maybe I am just looking for, and hoping to come across, something with a little more meaningful substance to it.  At this point I have no idea what that might be.

I still enjoy writing my daily blog for the most part but I do have my days when I get a little shaky about it.  From emails I have received now and again I know other bloggers go through the same thing.  I have had days where I picked up my cameras, put them back in my camera bag and stuck the bag back into the far reaches and darkened confines of my bedroom closet thinking, that's it, no more blogging.  I'm finished!!  But, regardless of how frustrated I become with myself at times, I am always drawn back to the keyboard each night. 

I keep a close eye on our Sitemeter and figure when the daily number of hits on our site begins to steadily drop, that will tell me interest in our Bayfield Bunch blog has finally run it's course and come to an end.  That will be the time to cut it loose and let it go.   There are a lot of new and upcoming great blogs and bloggers out there so there will never be a shortage of RV blogs for people to read.  I will continue blogging about our trip this winter but when we get home next March I really have to seriously, seriously, sit myself down and think this whole blogging thing through again and decide if, 'enough has finally become enough.'   Or, just pack it in for the summer until we are on the road again.  We’ll see.  Question is, if one likes writing, photography and traveling, where does one go after the blogging era comes to an end.  I am keeping my mind open for new ideas:))

 

And, for some mighty fine photos from a Gal who knows her way around a camera, be sure to check out Levonne's blog at A CAMP HOST'S MEANDERINGS: AN RV ADVENTURE  Great header photo............

 

OUR LAST DRIVE TO JULIAN FROM BORREGO SPRINGS WAS VERY SCENIC…. HERE, KELLY CATCHES AL UNDER A RAINBOW PHOTOGRAPHING A RAINBOW 

GROANER'S CORNER:((  As migration approached, two elderly vultures doubted they could make the trip south, so they decided to go by airplane.
When they checked their baggage, the attendant noticed that they were carrying two dead raccoons. "Do you wish to check the raccoons through as luggage?" she asked.
"No, thanks," replied the vultures. "They're carrion."

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-Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

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GHOST MOUNTAIN HIKE & WE PASSED THE SITEMETER 100,000 MARK FOR BLOG VISITS TODAY:))

JAN & MIKE ON LEFT GIVING AN INFORMATIVE TALK ABOUT GHOST MOUNTAIN BEFORE THE HIKE

When I'm able to start the blog off without complaining about the wind you will know that we have probably left the Southwest.  We were both up in the middle of the night again retracting slides before the wind ripped the awnings off.   Needless to say I was awake a big part of the night & this morning I felt like I'd been run over by a road grader.

           

SOME YAQUITEPEC RUINS

Sometime in the night our Sitemeter recorded over 100,000 hits on our site since starting the blog.  "WoW, who would have ever thunk it!!  Thanks folks:))

Had to be over in Blair Valley by 9 a.m. to meet a group of people for an organized hike up Ghost Mountain to the Marshal South homestead site.  It's close to an hour's drive through the twisting & winding Yaqui Pass southwest of here so I was out the door & on my way by 7:30.

IN THE BLAIR VALLEY

Beautiful morning & I enjoyed the challenge of the drive as it took me back many years to those snappy sports car days of old.  When you can hear the tires squeal a bit in the curves you know your having a fun time:))

 

A PROPERTY NEAR SHELTER VALLEY

This was my 3rd trip to Ghost Mountain & I couldn't help but think back 2 years ago when Kelly & I first drove out to Blair Valley in search of a place where a family had eked out an existence back in the 30's & the 40's.   That day standing atop Ghost Mountain in the few sparse ruins of the Marshall South homestead made a lasting impression on me & I came down of the mountain that day with a fascination for the man, his family, & their story.  Bought the book, 'Marshall South & the Ghost Mountain Chronicles' & my interest deepened.  This is the BLOG I wrote that day & these are the PHOTOS

SMALL WORLD...Couple on right lived in London Ontario back in the early 60's & had a cottage in Grand Bend.  Grand Bend is a 20 minute drive south of Bayfield where we live. (Standing in the homestead ruins)

Last year while boondocking near Borrego Springs I blogged about plans to hike up Ghost Mountain again.  A few days later we received an email from director John McDonald who had done a documentary about Marshall South & the Ghost Mountain story.  John & his wife Lydia were camping in the area & said the 'Ghost Mountain' alert program on his computer kept showing him people were clicking on a site called, The Bayfield Bunch because of the blog I had written about our hike the year before.  To make a long story short Kelly & I drove out to Ghost Mountain a few days later & I hiked up to the top again.  Kelly was nursing a sore ankle at the time so waited at the bottom.  By the time I came down John & Lydia  had arrived at the foot of Ghost Mountain & we were able to meet them & pick up a copy of his documentary.  Here is my BLOG & PHOTOS of that day.

 

STRONG WINDS ARE BLOWING HEAVILY ON MIKE'S HAT (click pics to enlarge)

I knew our stay at Borrego Springs this year would not be complete if I didn't hike myself up to the Marshall South site again so I had been watching for an organized hike this time.  I knew hike leaders would be able to point out things I had missed before.....and so they did.

GHOST MOUNTAIN IS IN THE BACKGROUND AT THE TIP OF THE TALLEST BRANCH ON THIS OLD TREE

Turned off highway S2 for the 3 mile hard packed sandy drive along a bumping road to the meeting point at the bottom of Ghost Mountain.  Met hike leaders, Mike & Jan Bigelow.  Six other people arrived & after an informative talk by our hike leaders we were in single file making our way up the steep, narrow, & rocky switch back trail leading to Yaquitepec.  About a quarter of the way up two separate hikers cell phones rang & I thought, wonder what Marshall South would have thought of all this modern technology on the trail.

SEPARATE CELL PHONES RANG AT THE SAME TIME

Jan led the hike while husband Mike brought up the rear.  We had a couple of informative rest spots on the way up & then crested the last ridge & walked the short distance to the ruins.   Questions were asked & answered standing amidst the homestead remains & the group split up to explore around & take some photos.  Time there lasted about 25 minutes & the group reformed for the hike back down the nearly mile long rocky path.  Everybody but me of course.

TODAY'S GROUP AT YAQUITEPEC

From the first time I set foot in the ruins of  Yaquitipec 2 years ago I was aware of a very special feeling.  That feeling returned last year on my second hike when I spent about 40 minutes wandering around the site by myself.  And that feeling was present again today as I walked around looking at a few spots mentioned in the book.  Jan had pointed out to me the very spot Marshal South had sat among the rocks to write his many Desert Magazine articles.  She also pointed out the rock piled kiln they used.

 

ROCK PILE KILN & MARSHALL SOUTH'S SUNDIAL

It was quiet on the mountain after the group left except for the cool & heavy west winds blowing across the ridge.  it made a howling sound in some of the tall Agave stocks.  I had brought a thermos of coffee & a nature bar with me & what better place to drink my hot coffee than in the exact same spot Marshall South sat with his old typewriter on his lap.  He had mortered up a short wall of stones between two large boulders in the lee of a pinion Juniper.  It blocked him from the sometimes howling chilly winds & gave him a quiet secluded refuge not far from the house.  I could look out & see the exact same landscape this writer, spinner of tales, & talented craftsman could see some 70 years ago.   It was a special moment for me & a cup of coffee in a place I shall always remember.

 

THIS IS WHERE MARSHALL SOUTH CAME TO WRITE HIS ARTICLES FOR THE DESERT MAGAZINE AND THE VIEW HE HAD SITTING THERE

I ambled around the site taking a few photos, looked at the kiln, & then took Socky Geepers out of my bag & did a little photo shoot with him around the site.  It was after I had take the photo of Socky in the old 'wading pool' that I turned around & saw something orange underneath a Juniper tree.  Upon closer inspection I saw a dark garbage bag wrapped around something.  Moved some rocks & twigs away & felt that there was something hard & rectangular in the garbage bag.   Carefully lifted it out & looked inside the bag.  I had just accidentally discovered a Geocache.  First one I have ever seen.  It was a metal military ammunition box.  Opened the lid & discovered a treasure trove of articles that other folks had left inside.  A religious pamphlet, some lip balm, business cards, some coins, & maybe a half dozen other things.  A zip lock bag contained a list of people's names & the dates they had been there since the cache was left at this site back in 2008.  A small piece of paper had children's drawings on it.  I recognized a rocket ship.  Only thing I had to leave was a Bayfield Bunch card.  Carefully put everything back & re-wrapped it all up in it's garbage bag.  Placed it under the tree & put some rocks & twigs over it.  Later wished I would have thought to look for information on who put it there & what the co-ordinates were.  Next time I will know what important things to look for.

THE GEOCACHE AS I FOUND IT, SOCKY GEEPERS DISPLAYS THE CONTENTS, & THE GEOCACHE AS I LEFT IT (Socky Geepers is with me:))

The unrelenting winds finally worked their way through my clothes & I began to feel the cold creeping in.  It was time once again to leave Yaquitepec.  I had been there alone on the mountain for a whole precious hour.  As twice before, I said good-bye to the many mountain spirits present here.  The Indian people who inhabited the mountain & roasted Agave stocks & hearts nearby.  Goodbye to the spirits of Tanya & Marshall South.  Goodbye to Yaquitepec & goodbye to Ghost Mountain.  I hope to one day pass this way again.

GOODBYE YAQUITEPEC......I'LL TRY TO MAKE IT BACK AGAIN NEXT YEAR:))

MARSHALL SOUTH & GHOST MOUNTAIN - THE STORY

PHOTOS OF MARSHAL SOUTH'S FINAL RESTING PLACE - JULIAN CEMETERY

I was down the mountain & in the car headed back across Blair Valley in the direction of Borrego Springs by 12:45 p.m.  Great drive stopping for a few pics here & there.  All & all this day will remain one of my more memorable days on this trip so far this year.  Hope I can squeeze a few more in before heading home.  Back to the rig by 2 & the rest of the day was spent semi-dozing in my chair.  Winds have substantially picked up again just in time to keep me awake for another night..........Ooooohhh:((

A SNOOZY LITTLE MOTORMOUSE

And as we pass the 100,000 visitors mark today I noticed tonight we have two new followers.  Welcome aboard to Julie & RickNB.  Didn't look like you folks have blogsites or I would have linked them here.

GROANER'S CORNER:((  Q: Who has the right of way when four cars approach a four-way stop at the same time?
A: The pick up truck with the gun rack and the bumper sticker saying "Guns don't kill people. I do."

BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

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

RETURN TO GHOST MOUNTAIN

A VIEW FROM GHOST MOUNTAIN

Kelly's ankle is slowly on the mend (we hope) but she still has to use a borrowed cane from JoAnn to get around. She is able to hobble on the front end of her foot but the heel & ankle are still pretty sore. Had wrapped it last night for support so she has decided to leave the wrap on for a few days. We still have no idea what happened.

I remembered to put a photo in last night's blog of an egg pocket but forgot to put in a description. Kelly says it's puff pastry that is filled with a sliced ham, cheese, & egg combination. The corners of the pastry are then drawn up somehow & fastened into a pouch.....or pocket. I guess it is then baked or something. Anyway, sure tastes good:))

Another sunny start to the morning as we scurried around (well, I scurried & Kelly hobbled) getting things ready for our trip over to the Blair Valley & Ghost Mountain. We had seen a short 15 minute movie while here last year about the Marshal South family living atop Ghost Mountain back in the 40's. We knew that a full length 76 minute documentary called, The Ghost Mountain Experiment had also been completed but hadn't seen it. By co-incidence, the producer of that documentary movie, John McDonald had come across our website awhile back & noticed my interest in the Marshal South story. He noted that in my blog a few days ago I mentioned about coming out to Ghost Mountain one day this week. We received an email from John saying he was going to be in the area to-day (Thursday) & would we like to meet him out at Ghost Mountain. You betcha!!

It's about a 40 minute drive from Borrego Springs, through the Yaqui Pass & across the Blair Valley to the foot of Ghost Mountain. Ghost Mountain isn't really what you think of as a big mountain with a peak on it. The South family referred to it as the hill & the Indian legends referred to it as a mountain. Regardless, it's a mile from the parking lot to the ruins & a lot of that is going up on a very steep angle. Certainly a good rock scramble.

LOOKING AT THE LONG RUGGED PATH AHEAD

It was an absolutely beautiful morning as we turned off the highway into the desert & bumped along the long & winding dusty road leading to the foot of the mountain. To my relief, nobody was there. Just us, the birds, the desert, & the mountain. Kelly brought a comfy lounge chair along as well as her book because there was no way she could hike on her sore ankle. There was enough shade there from some shrubbery to put the chair under. I slipped on my photo vest, hung the cameras & binoculars on myself & started up the rugged trail for my second visit to Ghost Mountain & the ruins of Yaquitepec, the Marshal South home. Doesn't take long for the hill to get you puffing as you scramble upwards along the narrow rock strewn path. I was so happy to be once again returning to a place that I had found very special just over a year ago. With each step the view out over the Blair Valley just gets better & better. The trail has many switchbacks before reaching a level plateau. From this plateau you can see for miles to the southeast towards the Butterfield Ranch & Vallecito Stage Station & countless miles beyond that to another distant mountain range probably a hundred miles or more away. It was down this valley that the old Butterfield Stage used to run. The walk across the plateau brings you to what looks like an impossible steep boulder climb to another high ridge but the path weaves it's way though the rocks gently taking you ever higher. Some of the rocks look like large stepping stones as you scramble over the them, but the footing is solid & you just keep going. The scenery all around you is too beautiful to even think about not going any further. it's a rare beauty & one that you most often won't see anywhere else. Large smooth boulders, green Agaves, cactus, a fine sandy path, & huge blue mountains on the horizons. And soon........you are at the top, & the ruins of Yaquitepec slowly come into view. PART OF THE KITCHEN WALL

It's the old wooden framework that I saw first as I once again approached the home of the Marshal South family. The silence was broken only by the occasional bird as I stood there in the kitchen area of a story that has touched my heart ever since I first went there. Put my cameras down & just slowly let all the memories come into my mind from the book I was reading exactly one year ago at this time. I think it was the way Marshal South described the Christmas's they had on the mountain that touched me the most. He wrote in such a way as to paint pictures in one's mind & it was those pictures I was seeing as I stood there amidst the ruins to-day. SOMEDAY THE ONLY THING LEFT HERE WILL BE THE MEMORIES

I sat on a large rock that I knew the family must have sat on many times watching the sun rise over the long sweeping valley below. I walked among the rocks where I knew the family had lived & played. And I felt the sadness too. It's a very special place.............................

I heard some voices after awhile & noticed an elderly couple making their way up the path so I knew it was time for me to go. It was time for someone else to feel the happiness & the loneliness of Yaquitepec & I didn't want to spoil their special time. Glanced at my watch & realized I had been there with my memories for over an hour. Before starting down I walked over to the edge & noticed far below in the parking lot that John McDonald & his wife Lydia had arrived so I had to crack on some speed. Twenty minutes later I was shaking hands with the man who produced the documentary & the lady who wrote it. What a privilege that was for me. Another RV couple was there as well & we all had ourselves a good chin wag about the whole Ghost Mountain Experiment. Kelly was busy snapping pictures, sore ankle & all. John autographed a copy of the DVD for us & then we all took a tour of his Teardrop Camping Trailer. Check the photo album:)) Some more stories, some more questions, some more laughs, then it was time to go. It was a nice way to end the day for us & we met some charming people along the way. We all said our good-byes as John & Lydia headed off in their Honda Pilot with the Teardrop camping trailer in tow. The other couple headed for their RV in preparation for climbing Ghost Mountain.....and Kelly & I wended our way back through the Blair Valley, over the twisting Yaqui Pass, & through Borrego Springs to our temporary little home in the desert.

DOCUMENTARY PRODUCER JOHN MCDONALD & WIFE LYDIA WHO WROTE IT

As soon as we finished supper we sat down & watched John McDonald's production of, The Ghost Mountain Experiment. Having just walked through the ruins of Yaquitepec only hours before, the documentary came alive for me in a very special way. There on the screen was old movie footage of the Marshal South family as they were, over 60 years ago. And there was Rider South, now an older man, walking through the ruins of Yaquitepec for one last time. John interviewed Rider several times at his home in Silver City NM a few years ago & the documentary has Rider talking of his memories of those days growing up so long ago atop Ghost Mountain. This is a very well done documentary & both Kelly & I really enjoyed the whole movie. It will be the first DVD I play on our 42" screen when we get back to Canada too. TALKING ABOUT, THE GHOST MOUNTAIN EXPERIMENT

It is a beautiful night in the desert. It's unusually warm & the nearly full moon is flooding the desert floor with sparkling moonbeams. I can see other rigs scattered about with campfires going. What a peaceful way to end the day. This is such a beautiful country.......................................................

And late this afternoon I had my first encounter with a large Tarantula spider!!

THIS CHARMING LITTLE FELLOW WAS ABOUT 3 FEET FROM KELLY'S FOOT WHEN i SPOTTED HIM

I didn't spend a lot of time editing to-day's photos because it's nearly midnight right now & I'm about ready to fall off my chair. A lot of the Ghost Mountain pics won't mean much to a lot of people but for anyone who's been there, they will understand so I've just included them all. And I hope the other couple we met at the foot of Ghost Mountain can see the pics as well. And John & Lydia, thanks for taking the time out of your camping holiday to meet us this morning at Ghost Mountain. Really, really, appreciated that...............................................Take care guys:))

THE GHOST MOUNTAIN EXPERIMENT
John McDonald Productions Inc.
(626) 799-0500
http://www.ghostmountainmovie.com/

FINDING THE REAL MARSHAL SOUTH http://www.desertusa.com/mag05/jan/south.html

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