THE BAYFIELD BUNCH MEETS RV SUE AND HER CANINE CREW:))

No condensation on the rig’s windows is always a great indicator of milder morning temperatures and we could see through our windows just fine first thing today.  Bonus:))  This is what it is looking like back in our Bayfield neighborhood this morning.  Grand Bend is just 20 minutes south of Bayfield.

Commenter question about what is on the top of the mast on Rick’s Scamp in Thursday’s blog photos.  That is his TV antennae.

I WAS SURPRISED TO COME ACROSS THIS WATER HOLE IN THE DESERT THIS MORNING

 

ON CLOSER INSPECTION I REALIZED THIS ROCK FORMATION AROUND THE WATER WAS ACTUALLY A MAN MADE WALL…ANOTHER DESERT MYSTERY

PHILIP, MIKE, AND KCGAZ are our latest Blog Followers.  Welcome aboard fellas and thanks for dropping in on us Bayfield Bums.

PHEEBS IS GETTING A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP FOR A BIG PLAY DAY TOMORROW  

Donna K from TRAVELS IN THERAPY sent me this set of instructions for changing the header photo on a blog……All of these instructions assume you use of the latest Blogger Dashboard (the older version would look somewhat different)

-Make sure you are logged into Blogger

-From your blog page go to the dashboard by clicking on "design" at the top right hand corner of the page.  that will bring up the dashboard.

-On the left hand column, select "layout".

-You will see a layout of your page.  Find the box that says "picture" and click on edit.  That will bring up a pop-up box that has you picture in it.  Enlarge the box if needed so you can see all the options.

-Select "remove picture".

-Next click "choose file" .  Select the location on your computer of the picture file that you want to use.  Insert that information and click "save"

-Back on the main dashboard page, click "save arrangement" and you are done.  Click on "view blog" and your new picture should be in your header………..

AND, THAT’S MY BED SHE IS SLEEPING IN TOO!!

Fellow RV’er Gerrit motored through our area Thursday but may have been thwarted from finding us by a Border Patrol sign.  Those signs are common when you get to these parts anywhere near the Mexican border.  They are just an awareness sign informing people to be watchful of any unusual activity.  As I have said before, I feel far more comfortable here than I would in any large city with the same activity going on.  Incidentally, cities do not have awareness signs posted.

SIGNS LIKE THIS ONE ARE POSTED LEADING INTO THE CABEZA PRIETA…THE SIGNS ARE NOT SAYING TO STAY AWAY BUT JUST TO BE AWARE

Some sites out here on Darby Wells road have a fine sandy gravel on them and others are very rocky and stony.  We are on a site that has the latter.  Spent some time this morning raking stones and at least making the area around our campfire more walkable.

BEEN WARM AND WINDLESS ENOUGH THE LAST COUPLE DAYS TO PUT THE AWNING DOWN

If you see these Cholla barbs (photo below) on the desert floor do not try to kick them out of the way.  They will instantly imbed themselves in your shoe.  When you bend down to pull it out of your shoe it will grab your hand instantly and throw you to the ground in searing pain.  It will then quickly jump upon your chest driving it’s spiny razor tipped daggers straight into your heart killing you almost instantly.  Almost, because it likes to see your face contort in pain first!!  Well, maybe I’m a little exaggerated here but if you’ve ever had one of these things stuck in you, that is just about how it feels!!  These things have barbed tips and are a real painful dickens to get out.  Had one stuck in my shoe on the Mica Mine walk but knew enough not to try and pull it out.  Mashed if off my shoe with a big rock.

 

We didn’t make it into Ajo today and instead stuck close to the rig keeping a wary eye out for a trail of dust coming up Darby Wells road from the east.  That trail of dust would be Sue and her RV Crew.  Well, the next thing we knew, RV SUE AND HER CANINE CREW came walking up our desert laneway.  Using a dustless approach she had slipped in under our radar about 3 o’clock.

SUE AND THE CREW MOVE THE RIG UP THE ROAD A BIT

How nice to meet not only a fellow RV’er but an RV Blogger as well.  And, an RV Blogging Boondocker to boot. Now, how great is that:))  Sue has a relaxing pleasant personality and I could tell right away the ‘Crew’ and the ‘Bunch’ would get along just fine.  Sue’s our kind of people:))

 

RICK AND SUE DISCUSS A BACKING UP STRATEGY AS PHEEBS LOOKS ON

Pheebs, Spike and Bridget got along just fine as we all walked back down the hill to the main road.  Kelly and I had previously scouted out a flat easy access site near the road we figured would be a good spot for Sue and the Crew.  Sue retrieved her rig from down the road.  Rick, out walking with Lady suggested Sue might be better off up the hill where we were because of dust on the main road so up the bumpy road came RV Sue, the Canine Crew, the Van, and the Casita.

DECIDING ON THE BEST SPOT TO PARK THE CASITA

Took us all a bit of wiggling but between 4 Seniors, 1 Van, 4 dogs, and one Casita trailer, Sue was finally ensconced in her very first boondocking spot in her very first ever visit to the great State of Arizona.  Gonna be zany around here tomorrow with 20 little doggy paws on the ground.

YEP, I THINK THAT’S A GOOD SPOT

After a night in a noisy truck stop and half a day on the road we knew Sue and the gang would be anxious to get set up, organized and relaxed.  We have found from experience not to bother someone when they are either packing up to leave a site or just arriving to a site.  Conversations can be distracting when it is most important for a person to be concentrating on their tasks at hand.

SUE AND THE CREW ARE TUCKED QUIETLY AWAY IN THE SONORAN DESERT

   

SUE’S CASITA WITH RICK’S SCAMP VISIBLE AT UPPER RIGHT

PHEEBS & MOTOR’S HOUSE FOREGROUND RIGHT, BRIDGET AND SPIKE’S HOUSE IN THE MESQUITE TREES AT LEFT AND LADY’S HOUSE TOP RIGHT BACKGROUND

Sue and the Crew are about 200 yards from us making Spike and Bridget’s house about half way between Lady’s and Pheebs house.  Oh tis quite a neighborhood we have ourselves going on here among the tall Saguaro’s along Darby Wells road.  And, add a big full moon to the magic mix and I’m thinking Sue is one very happy & excited camper tonight.  I just love it when I see that glowing enthusiasm in someone coming out and experiencing all the beauty the desert and the boondocking lifestyle has to offer.  Makes my day:))

TONIGHT’S  DESERT MOON

GROANER’S CORNER:((  To err is human, but to really foul things up requires a committee.

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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.

SCHMOOZING WITH OUR NEIGHBORS…..RICK, LADY, WRANGLER AND THE SCAMP

Got ourselves a little smarter this morning and stayed inside until the sun had time to warm things up a bit.  As I carefully peered out I was encouraged by the stillness of the air.  No Palo Verde branches moving and no tall spindly Ocotillo arms wiggling in the wind.  The morning looked like it just might be survivable…… even for me:))
  
WEDNESDAY WE STOPPED AT THE OLD CAMPSITE WE STAYED AT IN FEBRUARY 2008….IT’S STILL MY FAVORITE SPOT OUT HERE BUT THE ROADS A BIT ROUGH FOR GETTING THE MOTORHOME IN NOW
After the last few days of rumbling around in the desert we figured a quiet day at the rig was in order.  Time to catch up on a few things and just take a day for a little homespun rest and relaxation.

THIS SITE NEAR OURS IN 08 WAS OCCUPIED BY OUR FRIENDS MIKE AND MAUREEN FROM LONDON ONTARIO
By 10 a.m. I was into a short sleeve shirt and found myself stretched out comfortably in a lounge chair.  So great to feel that warmer air on the skin.  Fired up our iPod/Bose music center and soon had a bunch of the boys gathered around the campfire.  Hank Williams, Willy Nelson, Marty Robbins, Frankie Laine, Jim Reeves, Dwight Yoakum, Johnny Horton, Hank Snow, Wilf Carter and Merle Haggard were just a few of the fellers who dropped in this morning along with Roy Rogers and the Sons of the Pioneers.  Oh, those great harmonies.

Neighbor Rick had invited us to drop by and see his little Scamp trailer so we walked on over and up the hill. Pheebs was sure happy to see her best Pal Lady again and for the next hour the two of them were practically inseparable as they bounded and played together.

PHEEBS AND HER BEST PAL, LADY:))
I have always liked things on the smaller cozy side and Rick’s Scamp had that cozy feeling in Spades. Reminded me of a Volkswagen pop up camper I once had. Rick and his dog Lady live in the Scamp full time and alternate their travels during seasons between Colorado and Arizona. A law enforcement officer for 20 years and in the carpentry trade for 40 years it’s always a pleasure talking to our soft spoken easy going and well traveled neighbor. Always interesting to see how people adapt to their surroundings and Rick has adapted well to his Scamp, making renovations where applicable for him and Lady. 

I especially liked Rick’s hat but it’s not a hat you find in a store.  His hat was a gift from his children and was made specially for Rick by an old hat maker in Colorado.

THIS IS OUR NEIGHBOR RICK
   
 
 
LADY HAS HER OWN QUARTERS RIGHT UNDER RICK’S BED
 
 
 
SOME MAY THINK RICK’S SCAMP A BIT SMALL, BUT TO AN ORGANIZED MAN IT IS WORKABLE PERFECTION:))
It is rare for Kelly to use the oven in the rig, but today, use the oven she did.  No, fortunately for my weight problem, not baking!!  Turkey:))  And, mashed potatoes with gravy too.  Like I always tell Kelly…we sure do eat good for poor folks.

THIS IS WHAT OUR HOUSE LOOKS LIKE FROM RICK’S HOUSE
Friday I think we’ll slip into Ajo and have us a look at the huge mining operation here that once put the town of Ajo on the map.  Ajo’s town center has a very architecturally pleasing Spanish flavor and I did take a bunch of photos in Ajo back in 08 and 09 but maybe tomorrow I will take a few more:)) 

When I opened Live Writer first thing this morning my Blog Followers list was complete and I was able to see our newest Blog Followers.  Let me start by welcoming Susan and Bob from JUST BS!  Susan, all the best to your husband after just being admitted to hospital yesterday.  How unfortunate that was.  TERRY FOX comes in as Blog Follower number 378 followed by RICHARD iLES from Comox BC. (thanks for the ‘Shouts’ a couple days ago) VICKI and CASITA ADVENTURES round out our growing list.  A big welcome and thanks to all of you who have taken the time to drop in on our blog.  I especially like Casita Adventures tag line…"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." — Mark Twain

Some folks have been wondering about GPS co-ordinates to locations we have been in our area.  I think the Mica Mine location may be on this link.  I have to get busy with Google Earth and fly myself out and locate some of those desert areas.  We do have a Delorme P40 GPS but I’ll be darned if we can ever remember to take it with us.  Don’t like leaving it in the Jeep on these freezing cold nights and we always head out the door without it.  Maybe an orange ribbon on my finger.  Of course I would always be looking at the calendar to see when Halloween is.  Why else the orange ribbon on my finger, right!!

And a question about changing the header photo on posts.  I forget to change ours all the time so whenever I go to do it it’s like learning how to do it all over again.  I did just try to explain it but got myself all ka-farbled.  If someone out there has an easy explanation of how to do this I would be happy to post it. 

BARREL CACTUS BARBS
Ever wonder what would happen if the Government was convinced you had died…and you hadn’t.  Check out the problems the not so deceased Mike is having right now because they think he is dead.  MEANDERINGS OF WANDERWOLF

GROANER’S CORNER:(( Brain cells come and brain cells go, but...fat cells live forever.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-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.