JEEP RIDE, MINE SITES, AND SOME ROCK SCRAMBLING

MY FURRY LITTLE MOUNTAIN GOAT THIS MORNING

WHAT A GREAT MORNING IT WAS FOR A DRIVE OVER BY THE CARGO MUCHACHO MOUNTAINS

Skies cleared overnight with morning's Sun rising early into a cloudless clear blue sky.  An encouraging way to start yet another great California day with both of us feeling much better than the day before.

RARE TO SEE CACTUS IN THE AREA BUT PHEEBS AND I SPOTTED THIS BEAVER TAIL CACTUS ON A JEEP RIDE THIS MORNING

Been over a week since Pheebs and I had last gone bouncing around in the desert with the Jeep so this morning that is exactly what we decided to do.  One doesn't have to go far to find interesting things so we headed off down 'American Girl Mine Road' in the direction of the Cargo Muchacho Mountains.  The Muchachos have been mined for gold since the 1800's and there are many old abandoned mining sites and ruins still visible.

SPOTTED THIS MINE SHAFT SO WE HIKED UP TO HAVE US A LOOK

 

Parking the Jeep near one of the sites Pheebs and I struck off on foot to see what we could find.  Now that my legs are feeling much better since re-starting my arthrotec arthritis medicine Sunday I was able to walk without stiffness or pain again so Pheebs and I were soon doing some rock scrambling to get ourselves up to a mine shaft I had spotted.  I find rock scrambles are much better exercise for my legs than just walking along on a flat surface.

RUGGED COUNTRY IN THESE HERE PARTS

IT WAS CHRISTMAS DAY MORNING OF 2008 WHEN I TOOK THE PHOTO BELOW OF KELLY WHILE WE WERE ROCK SCRAMBLING AND LOOKING FOR GOLD ON THAT HILL NEAR THE TOP RIGHT OF THE PHOTO

STILL EVIDENCE LEFT FROM SOME OF THE OLD MINES

THOSE ROCKS MAY HAVE BEEN PILED THERE AS FAR BACK AS THE LATE 1800'S

IF ONLY THESE OLD WEATHERED BOARDS COULD TALK

Had to pay particular attention to the Jeep road conditions this morning and especially any low spots.  Recent rains have left the ground very soft in places so one has to mindful of where one is driving.  The pool of water below was tempting me to drive through it but I thought to myself, 'oh no you don't, I'm not falling for that old trick!!

Driving near or through any mountain range one can generally tell if there has been any mining going on by the small and sometimes large patches of different colored soil and rock spilled down the mountain side.

IN THIS CASE THE LIGHTER PATCH OF FINE ROCK (TAILINGS) SUGGESTS A SMALL MINE SHAFT GOING STRAIGHT INTO THE MOUNTAIN

HERE ONE CAN SEE A MUCH LARGER PILE OF TAILINGS SUGGESTING THEY WERE DUMPED HERE IN MORE RECENT YEARS BY TRUCK OR MACHINE

ANOTHER TELL-TALE SIGN OF MINING IS THAT DUG OUT SECTION BOTTOM RIGHT

ONLY A SMALL PART OFTHE ORIGINAL MOUNTAIN REMAINS AT THE TOP LEFT OF THE PHOTO WITH THE REST OF IT HAVING BEEN BLASTED OUT

We came across another one of those curious things one occasionally comes across in the desert on our Jeep ride this morning.  I'll let the photos below show you what it was.  I'm thinking maybe it might be one of those medicine wheels or something.

I'M SURE THIS ALL MEANS SOMETHING IMPORTANT TO SOMEONE OR SOME GROUP....A LOT OF WORK SURE WENT INTO PUTTING THIS ALL TOGETHER

THERE WERE 2 ENTRANCES TO THIS LARGE MEDICINE WHEEL AND THIS ONE ENTERS FROM THE BOTTOM LEFT

THIS IS THE CENTER OF THE CIRCLES

THOSE ARE SMALL SEA SHELLS WITH ONE LARGER SHELL ALL AT THE CENTER POINT

THERE WERE ROCK CIRCLES WITHIN THE PATH CIRCLES AS WELL

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Motoring our way through a bunch of boon-docking RV's just south of us on our way back to the rig I noticed a bunch of folks gathered for what appeared to be some kind of ATV training class for young folks.

I THINK THESE ARE PROBABLY THE PARENTS ON THE BIGGER ATV MACHINES

THIS YOUNG FELLER BUZZED ME DOING ABOUT 500MPH.....NOTICE THE 'GO-PRO' CAMERA ON HIS HELMET

Just a beautiful morning in California as I watched the big white cotton ball clouds come drifting back into the area.  With 70 degree temperatures the day could not have been better for me.  Not too cold and not too hot.  Perfect for walking, hiking, rock scrambling, Jeeping, or just sitting outside in the Sun.

THESE DESERT BRITTLE BUSH PLANTS WILL SOON BE IN BLOOM WITH THEIR YELLOW FLOWERS

'AW COME ON DAD WERE YOU AND MOM REALLY PICKING UP GOLD NUGGEST BACK ON CHRISTMAS DAY OF 2008'?? ... .. WELL NO PHEEBS BUT WE SURE HAD FUN THAT MORNING THINKING WE WERE:))

Pheebs and I were back to the rig by noon and that morning Jeep ride for us turned out to be just what the Doctor ordered.  Feeling much better both mentally and physically for sure.

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A man sits down at a bar and orders a double martini. After he finishes, he peeks inside his shirt pocket, then orders another. After he finishes that, he again peeks inside his shirt pocket and orders another double martini. The barman says: "I'll bring you martinis all night but why do you look inside your shirt pocket before you order a refill." The customer replies: "I'm peeking at a photo of my wife. When she starts to look good, I know it's time to go home."

A blonde ordered a pizza and the clerk asked if he should cut it in six or twelve pieces. She responded, ''Six, please. I could never eat twelve pieces.''

MOVIE DAY AND BIG WHITE COTTON BALL CLOUDS

HERE COMES DOGGY JUST A RUNNING

First thing I looked for in the dark early morning Sunday sky was stars and by golly there they were.  Our storm clouds had finally exited the area taking with them Saturday's all day rainy drizzle.  Ok Al I thought to myself let's make this a better day and don't get yourself all bogged down and out of sorts with computer stuff again.

A FEW PICS ON OUR MORNING WALK FOR YOU GORD:))

Of course everything outside was pretty well soaked so I moved our chairs, tables and mat from the shady side of the coach out into the drying sun ahead of the coach.  It was 8:40 a.m. when Kelly and I climbed into the Jeep and headed for Harkins Theater in the Yuma Palms Mall.  Being Sunday morning it was a nice drive in with very little traffic.  Showtime was 9:30 and we were in our seats early with popcorn in hand.

HEADING INTO YUMA

OUR NEIGHBORHOOD OUT HERE ON OGILBY ROAD

BIG WHITE COTTON BALL CLOUDS

CAN YOU SEE THE WHITE POODLES PROFILE IN THE CLOUDS LOOKING FROM RIGHT TO LEFT

'Lion' was probably not a movie I would have chosen to see but compared to the other 13 movie choices Kelly figured it would be the best one.  She was right of course and although the movie had some dark moments I did enjoy it.  Any movie based on a true story is always a plus for me.  Well acted by the main character I thought and although the true story had a happy ending it still tugged at one's heart strings.

HEADING INTO THE MOVIE THEATER AT LEFT

KELLY BUTTERS UP SOME POPCORN

OUR THEATER IS DOWN THAT HALL ON THE RIGHT

I SO MUCH LOVE THIS YUMA PALMS MALL HERE IN FRONT OF THE THEATER

APPARENTLY THEY HAVE OPEN AIR FREE JASS CONCERTS HERE ON THURSDAY NIGHTS

In-N-Out Burger was basically right around the corner so that's where we headed after the movie.  Very crowded as usual but it's easy to see why.  Best bang for your buck for sure.  And good burgs too.

PHOTOS MAY BE A BIT GRAINY BECAUSE I AM USING MY 'POINT AND SHOOT' CAMERA

A YOUNG FELLOW SITTING OUTSIDE ON THE PATIO ENJOYING HIS SUNDAY MORNING BURGER

BURGS ARE SO BIG THEY COME CONTAINED IN A BAG

We were home by 1 o'clock.  Unusual for me to have an afternoon nap but that is exactly what I did today.  Having a few energy problems and for some unknown reason neither Kelly or I felt up to par this afternoon.

BIG SHADOWY CLOUD MONSTERS GALLUP ACROSS THE CARGO MUCHACHO MOUNTAINS

AFTERNOON VIEW OF OUR SIDE YARD

Kelly received a reply from a Scott Lovegrove who we believe is one of the 'Open Live Writer' people.  In regards to the ongoing Picasa/Open Live Writer Scott writes, "Hi, this is an issue we're aware of and are trying to reproduce it ourselves so we can get a fix in place".  Well that is a hopeful sign that maybe this problem will be solved soon.  I sure hope so.  Although I have been able to use Blogger this past week and it does have some things about it I do like I think I will quickly return to Live Writer if things get straightened out over there.  Much easier to size and space photos for me.

KIND OF A LAZY CLOUD SORT OF DAY

Sitting outside talking this afternoon both Kelly and I agreed we are both so much looking forward to heading home to Bayfield next month and maybe even earlier than usual if the weather's good there.  A few medical things have cropped up requiring attention and we both seem to be very tired.  I'm not looking forward to the long drive this year.  Need to get home and re-charge our batteries over the summer months for next winter's trip.  Hate to admit it but I think our age is beginning to catch up with us a bit.

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A drunk guy in Alaska decides to go ice fishing so he packs up his stuff and goes out onto the ice. He starts sawing a hole in the ice, and a loud booming voice says, "YOU WILL FIND NO FISH UNDER THAT ICE."  The drunk looks up, ignores it, and continues on.  The voice repeats, "YOU WILL FIND NO FISH  The drunk looks up and says, "Is this God trying to warn me?"  The voice says "NO, I'M THE MANAGER OF THIS ICE SKATING RINK."

Q: How do you get a lawyer out of a tree?
A: Cut the rope.

What did the Yogi say when he walked into the Zen Pizza Parlor? "Make me one with everything on it." When the Yogi got the pizza, he gave the proprietor a $20 bill. The proprietor pocketed the bill. The Yogi said "Don't I get change?" The proprietor said, "Change must come from within."

BIG BAD WINDS ARE GONE BUT NOW THE RAINS ARE UPON US

THIS PHOTO PRETTY MUCH SUMS UP OUR ENTIRE DAY

We sure did get the predicted high winds that were called for  here in southern California Thursday and the rain as well.  We experienced some of the heaviest wind gust of ever and finally had to pull our main slide in.  According to TV's nightly news southern California really got clobbered with 5 people losing their lives.  All the rain made it very mucky outside and we now have muddy little doggy paw tracks all over the place.  With morning rains not letting up we were in no hurry to climb out of our jammies.  Couldn't go outside anyway.  Ended up raining the entire day and tonight as I am writing this it is still raining.  At least I got a couple photos of water running in the wash beside us.

I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO STEP OUT FOR SOME BETTER PHOTO ANGLES ON THE RUNNING WATER BUT IT WAS POURING RAIN

Cathie and Gord came over for afternoon tea and we all had us another good chat about things.  They are heading out for Borrego Springs in the morning.  They did invite us to drop around to their country place near Flesherton Ontario this summer and we just might hop into our Motorhome and take us for a drive up to their neck of the woods.  Thought to myself later, 'Holy Smokes' I must have been on my best behavior for us to get a nice invite like that.  Could it be my groucherisms didn't show through??  Nawwwww, couldn't be.

IT'S NOT EVERYONE WHO HAS THEIR VERY OWN FURRY LITTLE COUCH POTATO BUT WE DO:))

Had myself all frazzled today trying to get my Friday post from February 10th posted.  It's the first post that would not publish with the recent Live Writer/Picasa fiasco.  I want to get that post published because it was the day we drove up to Temecula California and stopped into JoJoba Hills on the way.  I've been trying to get it transferred from my Toshiba's Open Live Writer to my Dell's Blogger format and what a nasty time of it I have been having.  That post and all it's photo transfers has been fighting me every inch of the way and this very finicky and unpredictable Blogger format is certainly not making things any easier.  In fact it's been driving me Bonkers!!  Despite almost having it put together I reached a point tonight where I simply had to stop before one of my 2 computers went flying out the door.  Maybe I'll try to finish that troublesome post off once and for all Sunday.  In the meantime I'm going to take my frazzled nerves and put em to bed with a sleeping pill............

OH NO MY DAD'S HAVING ANOTHER BAD COMPUTER DAY

Rain or shine we may do us a movie Sunday morning.  Kinda got us some cabin fever going on here and I'm definitely needing my attention diverted to something else rather than frazzling computer stuff.  It's about got me half drove crazy................

IN THIS THURSDAY NIGHT PHOTO FACING WEST THE THIN SOLID WHITE LIGHT ENTERING FROM THE LEFT IS A TRUCKS HEADLIGHTS DRIVING BY ON OGILBY ROAD AND THE THIN ORANGE LINE LEAVING ON THE RIGHT IS THE TRUCKS TRAILER LIGHTS......IN FACT IF YOU LOOK VERY, VERY, CLOSELY ABOVE THAT WHITE LINE YOU CAN SEE A THIN ORANGE LINE WHICH IS THE TOP LIGHTS ON THE TRAILER

GLOW AT BOTTOM RIGHT IS YUMA, DOTTED LIGHTS BELOW ARE FELLOW RV BOONDOCKERS AND SHORT LINE IN THE SKY IS AN AIRPLANE'S BLINKING LIGHT

GLOW ON THE WESTERN HORIZON IS EL CENTRO CALIFORNIA PLUS THE PLANETS VENUS AND MARS ARE VISIBLE WITH VENUS BEING THE BRIGHTER ONE

A COMMUNICATION TOWER ON THE HORIZON WITH LIGHTS FROM EL CENTRO BEHIND IT

VENUS AND MARS ON THE RIGHT AIRPLANE LIGHTS ON THE LEFT

GROANER'S CORNER:(( The pastoral associate, the associate pastor, and the pastor are taking a shortcut to a meeting. As they walk through a vacant lot, the trio stumbles on an ancient oil lamp. On a lark they rub it, and to their amazement a genie appears and offers to grant them each one wish.The pastoral associate cries out, “I want to be on an island paradise, lolling in the sun without a care!” The genie waves his hand and she disappears in a puff of smoke.  The associate pastor jumps up and says, “I want to be walking through the halls of the Vatican, marveling at all the artwork and never have to go to another meeting as long as I live.” He too disappears.  Scowling, the pastor says to the genie,” I want those two back in time for the meeting.”  

A highway patrolman pulled alongside a speeding car on the freeway. Glancing at the driver, he was astounded to see that the woman behind the wheel was knitting!  Realizing that she was oblivious to his flashing lights and siren, the trooper cranked down his window, turned on his bullhorn, and yelled, PULLOVER!"  "NO," the woman yelled back, "IT'S A SCARF!"