TODAY’S MISSION…LOCOMOTIVE ROCK

KELLY CLIMBS A RIDGE AND PEERS INTO THE NEXT VALLEY ALL THE WAY TO MEXICO
Don’t think I will ever get used to the cold desert nights and frosty early mornings.  Had ourselves a nice sunny day but the moderate winds turned the already cool air, cold!!

 
AN EARLY MORNING COLORFUL ORGAN PIPE CACTUS
Neighbor Rick’s dog lady spotted us returning from our morning walk and came running down the hill to see her best Pal, Pheebs.  So nice to see dog’s playing together and having so much fun.

<<< PHEEBS IS COMPLETELY AIRBORNE IN THIS PHOTO
Rick also said those booms we heard a few days ago (another one today) were sonic booms from the overhead fighter jets breaking the sound barrier.

LADIES HOUSE AT LEFT AND PHEEBS HOUSE AT RIGHT:))
A mile or more to the south of us is a large rock formation called the Locomotive.  We knew of a desert road running south off the southeastern end of Darby Wells road that could probably take us there.  The El Camino del Diablo road is a dusty bone jarring road running a hundred miles to the town of Wellton just 20 miles east of Yuma. This road cuts through some of the ruggedest desert around these parts.  It follows along close to the Mexican border.  Countless people have lost their lives in this vast expanse of desert, rocks and bones.  Check out RV’er Diana’s blog entitled, THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE as she and some friend convoyed this stretch of desolate and barren road back in January of 2011. 

LOCOMOTIVE ROCK IN THE DISTANCE…..OUR DESTINATION
Remembered seeing some old corrals along the El Camino road not far from Darby Wells a few years back so that was our first stop.  Whenever I see an old windmill I always like to get a few shots for MIKE up there at North Ranch, Arizona.  He’s a windmill kinda guy:))

I am also intrigued by weathered sun drenched wooden corrals and barns.  No barns left but there were some dusty old cattle pens and corrals still standing.  I plan to go back by myself shortly and work on some better photos.

 
Eased our way around a mess of scratchy Mesquite bushes and got ourselves back onto the El Camino road heading south.

HEADING SOUTH ON THE EL CAMINO DEL DIABLO ROAD

Not too far along we saw a Jeep road cutting off into the desert on our right side heading in the direction of the Locomotive rock formation.  Road wasn’t too bad and we soon came across more great boondocking sites with one site actually having a boondocker tucked into a hillside in his older Class A.  Three big solar panels, bird feeders and a nice lanai type awning.  The fellow was sitting outside reading a book as we waved and jostled by.  He had the whole world to himself and we envied him in his cozy Shangri-la setting.  We will definitely check out this area again if we return through this area later in January.

LOCOMOTIVE ROCK >>>
Just beyond the Class A we could see the road became rougher and a four wheel drive vehicle was definitely needed.  Fortunately, we had one:))  Slowly made our way to the base of Locomotive Rock.  Couple of great camping spots there and I’ll bet IVAN and his truck camper could get in here no problem.  No chance for a Motor Home or trailer of any kind though. 

GREAT CAMPING SPOT NEAR THE BASE OF LOCOMOTIVE ROCK
Again, I just marveled at how beautiful this area is as we parked the Jeep and clambered up a rocky road right to the very base of Locomotive Rock.  Had us a pretty cold wind a blowin so Kelly headed back down to the warmth of the Jeep while I scouted around the base of the huge rock formation looking for an easy way up.  I like climbing up rocks and always have but no, I am not a serious rock climber like those guys with all the ropes and grapples stuff.  Just simple boots on the ground and up you go ass over teakettle….or is that the way a feller comes down.  Hmmmm, can’t remember now:))

 
I could see ways to the top that I could have done, but not today.  If we were camped in that area I can see taking the time to do the climb. 

WHITE DOT AT TOP LEFT OF PHOTO IS OUR RIG AND AT BOTTOM CENTER IS OUR JEEP, WITH KELLY SITTING IN IT:))
Took a bunch of pics and headed back down to the Jeep.  I will post more photos from around this rock formation over the next few days.

Headed back out the rough road past the peaceful Class A digs taking note the fellow was still peacefully reading his book.  We also took note of a couple level spots for future travels to this area.  We were home by noon:((

WE DROVE IN PAST THAT CLASS A MOTOR HOME OUT THERE ON THE LEFT…WE HOPE TO RETURN TO THIS AREA WITH OUR RIG AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE
Cold winds kept us inside for the rest of the day as we both caught up on computer stuff.  What would we all ever do without our computers eh.  Can’t even imagine that one.  Sure has put a lot of extra interest and fun into everyone’s RV lifestyle.

GOTTA LOVE ALL THESE GREAT JEEP ROADS IN THIS AREA
Now, in response to Kenny’s comment on my Saturday post…..No Kenny, (or is it really Mr. Anonymous again using a fake name this time) we have never stayed in one spot 4 or 5 months.  You have obviously never read or followed my blog and no, our RVing style is not anything like somebody staying in an RV Park in Yuma or Mesa.  You either have us totally mixed up with another couple or once again this is a clear cut case of sour grapes by my old arch nemesis, Mr. Anonymous. 
And, while I am on the topic I am curious about something.  Why would someone continue to read a blog they obviously don’t like unless it is to find fault with the writer or the writer’s content.  If I don’t like something someone has written I move on and do not feel compelled to leave rude, sarcastic, or inaccurate comments on their blog.   Now, why don’t you get on with your life and enjoy doing the things you like to do, read the blogs you like to read, and get that chip off your shoulder. 
And a footnote to this…..Thanks Ed:))

Bob over at the CARETAKER CHRONICLES noticed that we have boards under our rig’s wheels instead of having the jacks down.  Had we been faced in the opposite direction I would have used the driver’s side jacks to level the coach because they both work fine.  But, the rear passenger side jack is our problem jack and I do not like to use it.  It won’t retract and I have to crawl underneath, dig a big hole in the ground under it, place a scissors jack in the hole, and jack the rig’s jack back up into place.  Digging a hole in this rocky ground is not an option.

KELLY LOOKS ACROSS A VAST STRETCH OF SONORAN DESERT TO THE FAINTLY DISTANT AJO MOUNTAINS
To answer Gerrit’s question in our Shout Box….Verizon allows us to put our Internet service on ‘temporary suspension’ while we are home for the summer.  Just call Verizon or log into your Verizon account and do it on-line.  Important to remember this is for Verizon Internet and not Verizon cell phone service.

DISTANT LOCOMOTIVE ROCK AS SEEN FROM A DIFFERENT ANGLE TO THE SOUTH
And, before I forget, just want to say a word of thanks to the folks in Facebook for your ‘Comments’ and ‘Likes.’  Thanks guys:))

LOOKING SOUTH TOWARDS MEXICO ABOUT 40 MILES AWAY
Close call for TIOGA GEORGE as he confronts an intruder in his rig at 1 a.m. in the morning.  Can happen to anyone, anywhere, at anytime and I don’t think there is one of us out here who hasn’t forgot to lock a door at one time or another.

GROANER’S CORNER:((  Relatives gathered for the reading of the Last Will And Testament after a long awaited death.
The lawyer opened the envelope, and read solemnly: "Being of sound mind and body, I spent every last dam cent I had before I died."
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-Tourists see the world, travelers  experience it.
-Until one has loved an Animal, their  soul remains un-awakened.
BAYFIELD BUNCH PHOTO ALBUMS https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295
The only thing better than right now  will someday be the memories of
right  now...AL.

MOVING DAY….. DARBY WELLS NORTH TO DARBY WELLS SOUTH:))

LEAVING OUR DARBY WELLS CAMPSITE UNDER STORMY SKIES THIS MORNING
In the above photo you can see a clump of large round brown rocks on the left.  We were camped just across the road from these large rock formations.  They appear in a lot of my photos and Pheebs and I climbed to the top of the center one.  The locals call these rocks the ‘Cow Plops.’  Story goes that Paul Bunyon once traveled through these parts with his big blue ox, Babe.  Seems Babe left a few deposits along the way but here’s my question to the locals.  Babe wasn’t a Cow.  Babe was an Ox.  Should not these large deposits be called…..Ox plops.  I rest my case……

A COUPLE RIGS PARKED NEAR THE ‘COW PLOPS’…OR ARE THEY REALLY OX PLOPS!!
Our travel plans have changed yet again.  Don’t ya just love it.  Because of the higher altitude & ongoing bad weather in the Patagonia area we have decided to forego that region until another time.  Decided to stay right where we are in the warmer weather here on Darby Wells Road. But, a different site.  I think it is just great that we have the freedom to change our location whenever we want.

SOME FOLKS OUT SCRAMBLING UP COW PLOP ROCK THIS MORNING
After our morning walk we hopped in the Jeep and headed south down Darby Wells road scouting for a new and better location.  Wanted to be further away from the main road, wanted to be further south for a better Verizon signal and we were looking for a bit of altitude so we wouldn’t have to put our Mifi on the roof.  Found a location that fit all three requirements and headed back to the rig.

WE FOUND US A NEW SPOT
Packed up a few more things, took the satellite dish down and by 10:20 we pulled out of our old site under increasingly stormy looking skies.  I am always sad to leave a spot that has given us so many memories in just 10 short days but it was time to change things up a bit.  Kelly followed in the Jeep.

ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL MORNING WALK
Reached the area of our new site and Kelly parked the Jeep off the road.  She jumped in the rig and we headed the 11 miles south to Why Arizona to dump our tanks and take on fresh water at the COYOTE HOWLS CAMPGROUND AND RV PARK which happens to be right next door to Hickiwan Trails.

COYOTE HOWLS CAMPGROUND AND RV PARK…LOTS OF ROOM HERE
By now there was a light rain falling so we didn’t waste any time taking care of business.  Must admit I am a little gun shy now dumping the black tank after my little incident a couple weeks ago but I made sure the connection was secure and all went well.  Ten dollars to dump by the way.

PHEEBS WATCHING FOR KELLY TO RETURN FROM THE COYOTE HOWLS OFFICE
We had no more than left Coyote Howls when the dark foreboding clouds opened up and we got a mixture of rain and sleet.  Lasted about half way back to Ajo and began to clear.  Storms are like that in the desert.  They can come and go quickly.

COLD RAIN AND SLEET ON OUR WAY BACK TO DARBY WELLS ROAD
Stopped and picked up the Jeep.  Kelly followed me as I slowly made my way with the Motor Home over the rough and narrow desert Jeep road to our new digs.  Picked up some new desert pin striping and scrambled a few cupboards.  Raining lightly as we reached our spot.  Did a little wiggling around with the rig to get things reasonably level, put some boards under the passenger side tires and we were all set settled in.  We were home for another week or so.
 
The rain picked up for about an hour and we ended up having to fire up our Legacy Blue Flame Heater to get warmed up.  By 3 o’clock the sky began clearing and by 4 we were once again bathed in a big warming Arizona sun. 

CLEARING SKIES FIND US IN OUR NEW SPOT
We took Pheebs & Motor for a late afternoon walk and met our closest neighbor from maybe a quarter mile away.  Nice fellow out walking his dog, Lady.  Well, Lady and the Pheebs just hit it off right away and the game was on.  They just ran, frolicked, wrestled and bounded non stop for nearly half an hour.  So nice to see 2 dogs having so much fun playing together.

 
PHEEBS AND NEW PAL LADY HAVING A BLAST THIS AFTERNOON
Because we are higher up now we have a totally scenic 360 degree panoramic view all around us.  We have TV channels with just the rig’s aerial and we now have a stronger Verizon signal.  No cell phone, but who cares eh:))

OUR NEW FRONT YARD
And, a reminder to folks that if you see a colored word or words in my posts with capital letters, it is a clickable link.  For example, if you click on TIOGA GEORGE it will take you to his site.  KEN ROCKWELL PHOTOGRAPHY will take you to my favorite helpful photo site and ONE MINUTE ASTRONOMER will take you to an easy to understand daily night sky Astronomy site.

I liked GYPSY'S post awhile back about how she decided to try on the RV lifestyle as a lone RV’er and how a few years later had to reverse that decision.

There was a time when I might have been able to go it alone as a solo RV’er but I’m not so sure I could or would want to do it that way anymore. From a technical point alone it would be a major challenge for me. Kelly handles all that TV set up confusion, internet and cell phone stuff not to mention all the paper work and dozens of phone calls regarding insurances etc. She is also much better than I am at trouble shooting technical problems. Not easy for a feller to have to admit all that but reality being what it is I have to face the fact that my mind is just not quite as sharp as it once was.

OUR NEW NEIGHBORHOOD
In Gypsy’s post she talked about the feelings of loneliness on the road and I think that would be one of my main problems as well. One of the greatest things about RVing is having someone to share all the adventures with. The highs and the lows. The joint decisions and the like minded interests. I do like my alone times but to be alone 24/7 would probably not work for me now at this age and stage. I never feel a need to be around a bunch of people but I do have a need to be with someone close and someone special. And of course that includes the furry guys too.

(Am hoping I never posted the following two paragraphs before because I wrote them a couple weeks ago and don’t think I included them in my posts)
Made myself a ‘no-no’ purchase in Wal-Mart awhile back. It was something I have not had for years and something I like so much I just have to stay away from because it is so very fattening. It was a spur of the moment decision that saw me pick up a whole quart of this stuff for myself. I know of no drink anywhere on this planet that tastes better than……Pumpkin Spice Eggnog:))

YEP, WE LIKE OUR NEW DARBY WELLS DIGS:))
Our change in travel plans again is a good example of why we prefer to travel the way we do. With no obligations, commitments, reservations or restrictive travel plans we are able to stay flexible and footloose. We both prefer to stay on the move seeing new things. As Snow Birds we sit in one spot for 6 and 7 months of the year and our rig never leaves home. Neither one of us has any interest in driving all the way south for the winter and ending up sitting in one spot for another 6 months. We know we are the exception to the rule but it’s just our way……..10-4:))

GROANER’S CORNER:((  Brenda's 6 year old was explaining to the other kids what "extinct" meant:
"Well," she said in all seriousness, "it means that the dinosaurs are all dead and have been dead so long they don't stink anymore, that's why they call them exstinkt."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Tourists see the world, travelers  experience it.
-Until one has loved an Animal, their  soul remains un-awakened.
BAYFIELD BUNCH PHOTO ALBUMS https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295
The only thing better than right now  will someday be the memories of
right  now...AL.

THE BAYFIELD BUNCH MEETS TIOGA GEORGE:))

When I stepped out of the rig this morning with Pheebs and Motor I could see stars from horizon to horizon and that could only mean one thing.  Our previous day’s heavy cloud cover had dissipated.  With sunrise only an hour or so away I knew we were going to be in for a sunny start to the day.  The weather people had been calling for clouds and rain.

WE FIND TIOGA AND GEORGE TUCKED QUIETLY AWAY NEAR DOWNTOWN AJO
We were on a mission this morning because Kelly had noticed someone well known and well respected to the RV Blogging community had rolled quietly into Ajo the night before on his way to Mexico.

I BORROWED THIS PHOTO FROM GEORGE’S BLOG
I think Kelly’s words in Facebook today sum up our meeting with TIOGA GEORGE.  She said, “He is just what I expected. A quiet, gentle, genuine nice person.”  I couldn’t agree more with Kelly as we sat in Miss Tioga chatting with George for about half an hour this morning.  A very personable fellow indeed and if you look carefully he is one of those fellas with a quiet twinkle in his eye and a warming smile to make you feel welcome:))

A REAL GENUINE PERSONABLE FELLOW
With over 6 million hits on his Sitemeter you can see George has been around for awhile and a very popular RV Blogger.  We probably started following his site as far back as 2005.  Tioga George is a true pioneer here in Blog Land and has been the inspiration for countless Bloggers who have followed in his footsteps.  George was blogging about his RVing adventures when many of us were still wondering what RV meant.  We considered it a true honor this morning to meet the fellow who may well be considered the Granddaddy of the RV Blog world.

I WAS SO BUSY TAKING PICTURES I FORGOT TO HAVE MY OWN PICTURE TAKEN WITH GEORGE
Better get to my almost daily now, ‘corrections segment’.  In Thursday’s post I said the A-10 Thunderbolt (Warthogs) pilots were based out of Yuma but Emjay quickly corrected me saying no, those Warthogs are based at the Davis Monthan Air Base in Tucson.  I have been to the Museum section of that air base.  Second correction comes when I said Kelly was on Skype talking to Verizon.  Yes, it was Skype she was using but it was the TV satellite people at Shaw Direct she was talking too.  I have since corrected those two things.

There is a bit of confusion about my posts publishing dates.  I normally publish my blogs on the day I write them but due to our weak Verizon connection my posts can sometimes take hours to publish and that puts them into the next day.  So a post I write on the 12th may take a couple hours and publish and show up as the 13th.  I do not type in the dates….they go in automatically.

OUR RIG SITS COZILY AMONG THE TALL GREEN OCOTILLOS
Had some questions about Coyotes and Snakes while boondocking.  Coyotes are always a main concern and we are ever vigilante for them.  When choosing a boondocking spot we try to have an area of clearance and unrestrictive viewing around us so it is harder for something to sneak up close without being seen.  We never let the dogs out by themselves and if they have to go out in the night I go right out with them carrying a powerful flashlight.  While they are doing their business I am scanning the area with the light looking for any sign of two bright green eyes staring back.  We have never encountered an active snake in the 5 years here in the Southwest.  Most of them are underground in a hibernation state at this time of year but they are never far from my mind while hiking.

AFTERNOON WALK ON ONE OF THE JEEP ROADS
Wandering Willy sent us a link for a device called a Wilson Sleek.  This antennae oriented device is used for boosting a Verizon Mifi signal.  We will look into that.

PHEEBS ASLEEP ON KELLY’S LAP BESIDE THE CAMPFIRE THIS AFTERNOON
Had a comment question last night about the Border Patrol and security in this area.  Anywhere in the Southwestern States of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona or California there are a lot of Border Patrol personnel and vehicles and seeing them is commonplace.  The Border Patrol is everywhere.  You may encounter them at checkpoints on the highway, at the local grocery store, parked along lonely stretches of desert highway, having lunch at a popular restaurant or heading out into the desert on horseback, ATV, or pickup trucks.  We have been buzzed by Border Patrol helicopters while walking out in the desert near Hickiwan Trails.  The Border Patrol is a part of the community with a job to do and in many cases an integral part of a communities economy.

PARKING LOT OF OLSEN’S IGA IN AJO, ARIZONA
As far as safety goes we have never felt or been threatened at any time in our travels by any illegals moving through the area.  The last thing people coming up from Mexico want, is attention.  They will go out of their way to avoid you spotting them.  Likewise, the drug smugglers do not want to draw attention to themselves either.  I feel much safer out here in the seemingly middle of nowhere than I would in the downtown of any large city.

IT’S A SLEEPY CREW WE HAVE HERE SOME DAYS
The American Air Force was busy this morning and we had many unseen fighter jets in the sky high overhead all morning.  At 10:25 a.m. I was outside and Kelly was at the computer.  Suddenly, without warning 2 of the loudest simultaneous explosions occurred somewhere over our heads.  Those explosions were followed milliseconds later by the sounds of the original explosions echoing back from all directions as the sound waves rebounded back into the valley off the surrounding mountains.  I could hear the roar continue down the valley to the south.

OUR SIDE YARD…JUST ONE OF THE MANY GREAT PLEASURABLE ADVANTAGES OF BOONDOCKING
I’ve heard the loud crack of exploding fireworks and this was like that but a whole lot louder.  I immediately looked to the sky expecting to see a couple puffs of smoke but there was nothing.  I then scanned all around us expecting to see some smoke or dust somewhere but nothing.  I was convinced the double bang was explosives but then it occurred to me…could one of those jets high above have broken the sound barrier and what we heard was a double sonic boom.  The sound we heard was more of a crack than a boom though. 

Hearing the distant ‘pa-rump’ of heavy explosives over in the Barry M. Goldwater Range about 10 or 15 north of us is commonplace here but whatever this was, occurred much, much closer than that.  Seemed to be right overhead.  Anyway, I don’t suppose we’ll ever know but 20 minutes later a second loud bang occurred somewhere in the sky nearby.  And then the planes were gone from the sky and all was quiet once again until mid afternoon when 7 A-10 Thunderbolts (Warthogs) flew overhead heading for the Goldwater range.  Oh, and then there was the low and fast flying white helicopter that flew directly over us. 

THAT’S OUR RIG HIDING OUT ON THE LEFT AS THE CHOPPER FLY’S LOW OVERHEAD
Two new Blog Followers to day.  Welcome aboard to BSG and STEVE KEITHLEY.  Thanks for stopping by folks.

MANY SMALL WESTERN TOWNS HAVE A WHITE CROSS ON A NEARBY MOUNTAIN TOP, JUST LIKE AJO
Our black tank is ready to be dumped so we’ll be rolling out of Darby Wells in the morning.  Our intention was to head on down to the Patagonia area south of Tucson….until we checked the weather report.  That area of Tucson is known as the high desert and is over the 4000 foot elevation level.  They are getting rain and SNOW there right now so that put the ky-bosh on our plans real quick!!  We will dump our tanks at Coyote Howls in Why tomorrow & then probably slide a couple miles down the road to the 2 mile marker BLM land for a few days until the weather straightens out in Patagonia.  Well, that’s the plan for now anyway.

IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY YOU CAN SEE THE HALF MOON IN TODAY’S LATE AFTERNOON SKY
Our morning was spent packing up the rig, putting outside mats and tables away, etc.  Turned out to be a quiet afternoon with a couple leisurely walks in the desert.  Soaked up some warming Arizona sunshine and relaxed to the haunting guitar sounds of my favorite guitarist of all time, WILLIAM ACKERMAN. 

And, would you believe we had 1,124 hits on our Sitemeter today.  And why so many?  Tioga George, that’s why:))  Just goes to show what a popular and wide read fellow he is.  A good percentage of those hits on our site are a direct result of George mentioning us in his blog this morning.  Thanks for the boost George….you’re a neat-o guy:))

GROANER’S CORNER:((
A self-righteous man went to the doctor for a check-up. He said, "I feel terrible. Please examine me and tell me what is wrong."
"Let's begin with a few questions," said the doctor, "Do you drink much?"
"Alcohol?" said the man. "I'm a teetotaler. Never touch a drop."
"How about smoking?" asked the doctor. "Never," replied the man. "Tobacco is bad, and I have strong principles against it."
"Well, uh." asked the doctor, "do you have much of a sex life?"
"Oh, no," said the man. "Sex is sin. I'm in bed by 10:30 every night and I always have been."
The doctor paused, looked at the man hard, and asked, "Well, do you have pains in your head?"
"Yes," said the man. "I have terrible pains in my head."
"O.K.," said the doctor. "That's your trouble. Your halo is on too tight!!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Tourists see the world, travelers  experience it.
-Until one has loved an Animal, their  soul remains un-awakened.
BAYFIELD BUNCH PHOTO ALBUMS https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295
The only thing better than right now  will someday be the memories of
right  now...AL.