AMBUSHED BY HIGH WINDS

A LAZY MOUNTAIN POOL IN RUCKER CANYON

The first indication we had was a slight rattling in our roof’s air vent.  A few light ‘whoosh’ sounds & then the big east wind gusts came roaring down the slopes of the Swisshelm Mountains & broadsided us for about 5 continuous hours.  Our old arch enemy, the monstrous southwest winds had found & ambushed us again!!

CAMPGROUND AREA AT THE END OF ROAD 74E IN RUCKER

Pixilation on our TV began around 9:20 as I was watching one of my favorite programs, Canada’s Corner Gas.  I like this show with it’s simple feeling good homespun & slightly corny comedic style.  I knew the pixilation was being caused by the wind shifting our satellite system & sure enough just as Jay Leno’s monologue was coming on we lost the signal.  I knew the jig was up then & there would be no more television until I could get out in the morning & re-align the dish.  No point in going out in the dark & wrestling with a big elliptical shaped satellite dish in heavy wind gusts.  I could have easily ended up in Yuma.  By the time I fell asleep the wind gusts were still howling & rocking the coach, but sometime during the night things quietly & thankfully settled down.

 

CHECKING OUT THE CYPRESS GROVE CAMPGROUND ON ROAD 74E

The big winds here in the southwest are like no other.  They come without warning day or night & many an RV’er has lost awnings in a matter of seconds & minutes.  They will slam dunk satellite dishes into the desert floor, rip doors out of an RV’ers hand & slam it against the rig twisting it like a pretzel.  The screaming Banshee sound & rocking to & fro causes many an RV’er to hurriedly pull slides in.  Outside lawn furniture is scattered & bamboo mats are curled up like paper.  Of all things we have encountered, it is the unpredictable & powerful southwest wind gusts that cause us more concern than any other one thing.

<<<  AT KELLY’S INSISTENCE I SAT DOWN LONG ENOUGH FOR A PICTURE

Try as the wind did, it did not slam dunk our satellite dish into the ground & there is a reason for that.  After having our Hughesnet/Starchoice elliptical dish dumped a couple times a few years back by the sweeping desert winds I had a fellow blogger email us with a solution.  Mike from MIKE & PAT'S TRAVELS had been using something for anchoring their satellite dish called, THE CLAW.  He said it worked great & that was good enough for me.  Ordered it online & within days are worries were over.  It was the Claw that held our dish to the ground last night despite the wind pulling up one of the spiked legs & breaking the small chain on another spiked leg.  The wind also turned the dish about 40* to one side.  The Claw is commonly used to anchor small aircraft wings, etc.   So, in my books it’s two thumbs up for……..The Claw:))  Of course if you are an RV Parker always on cement or pavement, none of the above applies!!

THE YELLOW DEVICE UNDERNEATH THE TRIPOD IS ‘THE CLAW’ & THAT IS WHAT HELD THE TRIPOD DOWN & KEPT THE WIND FROM TOPPLING THE SATELLITE DISH

We, the Bunch, welcome two new blog Followers today.  A big welcome to Michael Kane. (couldn’t get your profile to open Mike) And, Nina Fussing comes in as our latest Follower with WHEELING IT.  Thanks for your support guys.  Always nice to meet new folks & see new faces on the Blog Followers list:))

On our last Jeep tour with friends we Jeeped ourselves 30 miles northwest of Willcox Arizona to a place called, The Muleshoe Ranch.  Unfortunately it was not open but I just began reading a new book called, ‘The Muleshoe Cattle Company’ which is all about the Muleshoe Ranch & it’s surrounding territory.  Should be interesting & once again it deals with historical fact here in the southwest.

        

WE SAW AN OPEN GATE, DROVE INSIDE……AND DISCOVERED A PLACE CALLED RUCKER STATION WHICH WE THINK IS NOW RUCKER CANYONS MAINTENANCE  & RANGER FIRE STATION FOR THE AREA

And, an interesting side note to all this Mule shoeing.  With the Muleshoe Ranch & the Muleshoe Cattle Company being in my thoughts, I ended up with one too many Mules on my mind!! I have been calling the hiking club in Bisbee…The Muleshoe Hiking Club & that is my one Muleshoe too many.  The correct name of the club is…The Muleteam Hiking Club.  I have gone back & made the corrections to Wednesday’s blog.  Thanks Paula:))

  

MULE TEAMERS PICKING THEIR WAY ACROSS A ROCKY CREEK BED:))

Came across this saying today.  “The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails – William Arthur Ward.    Thank you Mr. Ward, whoever you are…..or were.  You definitely put a little wind in my sails today with that thought.

 

We generally like to follow an activity day with a resting day.  The two seem to work hand in hand these days & after Wednesday’s Rucker Canyon excursion today is a puttering & reading day.  Probably got something to do with age I guess.   I like to think we are a tad wiser now, but then again I like to think a lot of silly things.

THIS SECTION OF RUCKER STATION WAS OLD BUT WE COULD SEE NEWER BUILDINGS FURTHER IN BUT DID NOT GO BY THE ‘NO TRESPASSING’ SIGN

You will notice the majority of todays photos are from Wednesday’s Rucker day.

GROANER’S CORNER:((  A carrot crosses the road and is hit by a car.  He is rushed to the hospital, where he goes through hours of surgery.  After surgery the doctor comes into the carrot’s room and says, I’ve got good news and bad news.  The carrot says, give me the good news first, doc.  The doctor says, the good news is you are going to live.  And the bad news asks the carrot.
The bad news is your gonna be a vegetable for the rest of your life!!

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EMAIL THE BAYFIELD BUNCH:))
stargeezerguy@gmail.com 

 
Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/
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The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now…AL:))

Technorati Tags: The Claw,satellite dish,Star Choice,Rucker Canyon,Bayfield Bunch,Mike & Pat's Travels,Jeep,Corner Gas,Muleteam Hiking Club Bisbee

ANOTHER FINE DAY IN THE CHIRICAHUA’S RUCKER CANYON

LAURA WATCHES AS PAULA CHECKS OUT THE WATER TEMPERATURE IN THE MOUNTAIN STREAM

Some of you may remember a couple weeks ago when Kelly & I met one of our blog reader’s in Bisbee.  Her name is Paula & she is a member of the Muleteam Hiking Club.  Paula expressed an interest in seeing old Fort Rucker & possibly leading a hike there sometime with her hiking club.   Fort Rucker is not easy to find so rather than email her directions I suggested she round up a few friends & Kelly & I would be happy to show them where Fort Rucker is.  Paula is currently reading ‘The Cowman’s Wife’ so was also interested in seeing the old ranch house where the author, Mary Kidder Rak lived.

We met Paula & fellow hikers Gretchen & Gary, Laura, plus John & his dog Jazz, out front of the Elfrida Post Office Wednesday morning at nine.  A few quick introductions & we were headed north on 191.  Minutes  later our 2 car convoy was kicking up big swirls of dust after turning east on Rucker Road.  The Chiricahua Mountains were dead ahead. 

What a great feeling to be out on a beautiful morning with not a cloud in the sky & perfect exploring & hiking temperatures.  The road meanders it’s way across a flat grassland plain before entering into the long rolling yellow grass hills of Rucker Canyon.  Soon we are into the green tree line as our altitude slowly increased.  Forests of Mesquite, Sycamore, Juniper & Pines soon lined the gravel road.  We are now in the land of deer, bear, cougars & many mountain birds.  We are also in the ranch land of cattle on & alongside the road in places.  Every time I am in this type of setting I just want to stay there forever.  This is my favorite kind of country:))

About 45 minutes after leaving Elfrida we pulled off the winding gravel road & rolled up to an unassuming gate.  There was nothing here that would indicate any past civilization except a laneway heading across a short field into a tree line.  The surrounding mountains stood magically against the deep blue Arizona sky.  At the time Kelly & were here just a short 3 weeks ago I never figured I would be back at this very spot again.  Not this year anyway.

HEADING DOWN THE LANEWAY THAT LEADS TO FORT RUCKER & MARY KIDDER RAK’S HOUSE IN THAT TREE LINE AHEAD

We were soon out of our cars & heading down the laneway towards the trees.  Still no indication that a sizeable military force once had constructed a Fort here complete with a bakery, a commissary, hospital, blacksmith shop, officers barracks, a water tank, parade ground & large horse barn complete with corrals.  No indication of the history that took place on this ground.  We walked through the rock strewn dry creek where the drowning of  Lieutenant John A. Rucker & a fellow officer took place.  The surrounding mountains were witness to the abandonment of the Fort a short couple years after it was established.  The Fort fell into disrepair & was taken over by a family & made into a ranch in the later 1800’s.  Many travelers stopped at the house of John Plesent Gray including Geronimo & many Apache war parties.  The Indians respected the Grays & never harmed them.  And, as we crossed the creek there still was no indication of the small ranch house ahead where Mary Kidder Rak lived & ranched with her husband Charlie.  

 

APPROACHING THE RANCH HOUSE

First thing visible is the old barn & it’s red steel roof.  And there is the old original wooden corral fencing.  To the left of the barn in the tree lined field of long yellow grass lay the remains of old Fort Rucker.  To the right of & just beyond the barn in a copse of trees is the little adobe ranch house where Mary Kidder Rak wrote, ‘A Cowman’s Wife’ along with her other books.  This was our destination today & for me it felt good once again to be back in the place I have read so much about in the past few months.

 

IN MARY KIDDER RAK’S RANCH HOUSE 

I won’t give you a blow by blow account of our walk through the house & around the grounds of the Fort because the blog would end up being even longer than what it will be now.  Let me just say that from the comments & conversations I overheard from the Muleteam hiking folks I could tell they really enjoyed being there & what they were seeing was more than they had expected to see.  Paula is currently reading ‘A Cowman’s Wife’ & if any of the other folks happen to read that book plus the old Fort Rucker section in the book, ‘When All Roads Led To Tombstone’ I’m sure they will all return to this spot just as I have, with a special feeling for all the history that has happened here so many years ago. 

PAULA, GARY, LAURA, JOHN, GRETCHEN

 

GARY & GRETCHEN ARE FROM MICHIGAN BUT COME TO BISBEE FOR THE WINTER….PAULA’S FROM NEW ENGLAND & SPENDS A FEW WINTER MONTHS IN BISBEE…. LAURA & HER HUSBAND (NOT HERE) LIVE 6 MONTHS IN BISBEE & 6 MONTHS IN CANADA’S QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS….  JOHN & HIS DOG JAZZ ARE FROM SIERRA VISTA.

Our leaving old Fort Rucker today allowed these historic grounds to once again return to the serenity of their very nature.  It is now the surrounding mountain guardians who alone hold the secrets of old Fort Rucker & those many inhabitants who once journeyed here.   If there are spirits, I am sure they walk these grounds.  I like to think Mary & Charlie are still here watching over their little adobe ranch house. 

PAUL & GRETCHEN IN THE RUINS OF THE FORT’S COMMISSARY & MARY KIDDER RAK’S & HUSBAND CHARLIE’S FIRST HOME AT RUCKER.  THE HOUSE BURNED & MARY & CHARLIE MOVED A SHORT DISTANCE AWAY TO THE LITTLE ADOBE HOUSE

Paula & the Muleteam hiking folks were interested in scouting out some new trails in the area so we all drove up a winding forested road a little higher into the mountains.  Kelly & I had been up this scenic dead end road a couple years ago & knew it had an old camp ground at the end with some possible trail heads.  And it did.  This is such a beautiful land with it’s quiet forest trails & running brooks.  Most people think of Arizona as rocks & desert & few know of it’s many forests, lakes & streams. 

PAULA, JAZZ & JOHN CHECK OUT THE FORESTED ROAD AHEAD

A MOUNTAIN STREAM RUNS BESIDE A SMALL CAMPGROUND

We parked our cars at the roads end & headed out on one of the hiking trails with Gary & John blazing the way ahead through the forest alongside a running stream.  These folks are all true hikers & I knew they were itching to crack on some speed.  It wasn’t long before the guys were out of sight so Kelly & I only went about half a mile before saying our good-byes to Paula, Gretchen & Laura before heading back to the Jeep.  We both came away with a warm feeling that we had made some new friends today.  And we felt a personal satisfaction in knowing we had been instrumental in making the hiking group’s day:))

CHATTING ALONG A QUIET FOREST TRAIL

  

SAYING GOODBYE TO PAULA, GRETCHEN & LAURA

We Jeeped our way back down the road stopping to scout out a campground & maintenance area called Rucker Station.  Saw an interesting bumpity looking road with a sign pointing to Red Rock Canyon & were soon into 1rst gear 4 wheel drive fording dry creek beds & clambering over rocks along a narrow forested road.  These kinds of roads can go on for endless miles so we didn’t go too far before turning back to the main road & home.  Forty minutes later we were back at the rig & greeted with happy barking dogs & wagging tails.  All & all, just another great Arizona day for The Bayfield Bunch:)))))))))))))))))))

GROANER’S CORNER:((  Did you know that tears are the hydraulic force by which masculine will-power is defeated by feminine water power & that a yawn may be the only time some married men ever get to open their mouths……hey, I don’t make these up, somebody else does:))

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EMAIL THE BAYFIELD BUNCH:))
stargeezerguy@gmail.com
 
Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
 
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.

Technorati Tags: Rucker Canyon,Muleshoe Hiking Club,Mary Kidder Rak,Geronimo,Fort Rucker,Rucker Station,Elfrida Arizona,Rucker Canyon Road

GETTING A LITTLE HISTORY SORTED OUT TODAY

We spent our morning as we do a lot of mornings just sitting around a campfire reading & soaking up the warming rays of the day’s early sun.  Birds at the feeders, Doves in the Pine trees & the Swisshelm Mountains filling our eastern horizon.  No traffic sounds, no industrial sounds & no neighbor sounds.  Just the hauntingly beautiful quiet strains of John Huling, Robert Haig Coxon, Steven Halpern, Paul Horn & Coyote Oldman drifting lazily out of our Bose into the air & mixing with our Mesquite tinged campfire smoke.  We are sooooo fortunate.

WHEN CHECKERS FIGURES SHE HAS WALKED FAR ENOUGH IN THE MORNING SHE JUST LAYS DOWN & WAITS FOR US TO TURN AROUND

I have added my latest Bisbee photos to the BISBEE ALBUM & they can be seen at the beginning of the album so you don’t have to scroll though all the older photos.  I will continue adding to this album as photos become available from our visits to Bisbee.

Here’s an RV couple sight-seeing around San Diego at the moment & taking advantage of the public transportation system to get around.  They have already met some interesting ‘characters’ on the Trolley rapid transit system.  Check out, HUGH & KATHY'S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE.

I THINK THESE 2 HAWKS & OWL GET QUITE A ‘CHARGE’ OUT OF THIS POLE

Over in Kentucky, Barry & Denise from RUBBER RATS contemplate their future RV travel plans while Barry reflects back upon a military career.  They are saying good-bye to their son heading back for another tour of duty in South Korea.  OUR AMERICAN SOLDIER.

Today the Bayfield Bunch welcomes our two newest blog Followers.  Thanks for your support Georgina & nice to have you along:))  John Souva III from JOHN'S JOURNEY is our latest supporter & here’s a fellow with a great attitude, a love of the outdoors & an ambition to get out there & continue his exciting travel adventures.  Thanks for dropping by John:))

 

A LITTLE WORK HAPPENING ON OUR ROAD THIS MORNING

Well, I had quite a time with myself today sleuthing out a piece of history I had mentioned in yesterday’s blog about  Billy The Kid being involved with the GUNFIGHT AT THE OK CORRAL.  I received the following email this morning from Charlie Harris which said…{Quote} Great pics as usual on your blog, but got to tell you that Billy the Kid died on July 14, 1881, a few months before the Tombstone shootout.{Unquote}  Well, after a quick internet search I see that Charlie is totally correct.

HAVING A BIG SNOOZE ON DAD’S BED THIS MORNING

Needless to say, that got me scrambling for the truth because I had never heard of Billy The Kid being at that gunfight either but had based my Billy The Kid & OK Corral connection on the testimony of Tombstones then Sheriff John H. Behan when he said in part, (according to the book) {Quote)} “We went to where Ike Clanton & Tom McLowry were standing.”  I said to them, “Boys you must give up your arms.”  Billy Clanton & William Claiborne alias Billy The Kid, were also there. {Unquote}  Ok, now this is where it gets a bit complicated but also where things begin to get cleared up.

HAD TO JUMP START THE OLD GREEN GHOST TODAY

William ‘Billy The Kid’s’ last name was Clairborne spelled with an ‘r’.   William Claiborne who was the fellow at the OK corral spelled his name without an ‘r.’  Claiborne of the OK Corral conflict was also a notorious character & was himself killed in Tombstone on November 14th 1882 over a year later.  So, in fact, there were two guys both with similar sounding last names.  One was truly Billy The Kid & the other fellow was killed in the following ironic manner which also involved the name…Billy The Kid.  Wikipedia states the following about WILLIAM CLAIBORNE'S death…{Quote}He became involved in an argument with noted gunfighter "Buckskin" Frank Leslie, after Leslie refused to refer to Claiborne as "Billy the Kid". Later that night, Claiborne returned to the Oriental Saloon, where he drunkenly called out Leslie. Awaiting him outside the saloon with a rifle, Leslie followed Claiborne out a side-door onto the street and killed Claiborne in the ensuing gunfight with a single shot to the chest. Claiborne allegedly said to Leslie, "Don't shoot me anymore, I'm killed". He was taken to a doctor by friends, where he died six hours after being shot. By some accounts, his last words were "Frank Leslie killed Johnny Ringo, I saw him do it".  (MY JOHNNY RINGO GRAVESITE BLOG)

Now, while I’m at it, here is another discrepancy I found.  The book, ‘When All Roads Led To Tombstone’ spells the name of the McLowry brothers as McLowry.  Wikipedia spells the name McLaury.  So, which is it??  For that I had to dig through my Tombstone photos of Boot Hill a few years ago….and there it was on the tombstones…'McLaury.’

For anyone interested in my recent Tombstone blog they can find it here…TOMBSTONE BLOG

Wednesday morning will find Kelly & I leading a small group of folks to Fort Rucker in the Chiricahua Mountains:))

GROANER’S CORNER:((  Two tourists were driving through Louisiana. As they were approaching Natchitoches, they started arguing about the pronunciation of the town. They argued back and forth until they stopped for lunch.  As they stood at the counter, one tourist asked the employee, "Before we order, could you please settle an argument for us? Would you please pronounce where we are... very slowly?"

The girl leaned over the counter and said, "Burrrrrrrr, gerrrrrrr, Kiiiiing."

--------------------------------------------------------------
EMAIL THE BAYFIELD BUNCH:))
stargeezerguy@gmail.com
 
Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
 
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.