Sunday, March 27/2011

Hogan and I are up early once again and are enjoying the sights and sounds of the desert with my first cup of coffee.  Another great day is in store for us.
Charlotte and Keith were gone most of the day yesterday, so we will have to get together to hear all about their adventures.
With Lorne and Marilyn on their way home today, we are now done with most of our visitors for this year. It is time to relax for the next few weeks before we start our trek home as well.
John was working on the jeep today - it didn't start and now has to do some troubleshooting as to why not. He is not very happy about this and wonders why things just can't go as planned?  I have no doubt that he will get it going.
John and I sat watching the antics of the birds this afternoon and we got a few cute pics.  The little  cardinal was back and the finches are not too happy about sharing the seeds.  Hogan had a little lizard treed in an old stump so he was quite busy as well keeping an eye on it!!
Charlotte and Keith were in town today and when they returned to camp asked us when someone had tied a fresh cow hide to the cattle guard?  John and I have been here all day and saw no one tying anything to the guard.  We all walked down there and sure enough, there is a fresh cow hide tied to the steel posts.  OK, so when did that happen? There has been lots of vehicle traffic on the road today and everyone has been diving over the hide - is this a new way of tanning??  Is this some sort of voodoo devil worship nonsense!!
Trueman stopped by and said he noticed it there this morning at eleven when he dove over it and said he will be making inquiries about it and thinks it could be a poached hide and is hoping there is a brand on it.  He says he has seen all sorts of stupid shit out here over the years!!
We had a campfire tonight.  The evening was lovely.  Keith and Charlotte joined us for a while and Charlotte is still bothered by the cow hide thing and assures us that her door to the camper will be locked for sure tonight!!
John cooked steak and baked potatoes and it tasted wonderful.  He also had a couple of Paralyzers, something he has not had since Jace and Kim left.  All in all, another great day - I even managed to add to my suntan!!

Saturday, March 26/2011

I was up early this morning and the sun is shining and it looks like it is going to be another glorious day in paradise.  As I am sitting here checking the emails and Facebook, there are two jack rabbits hopping around outside the bus!!  They are something to watch.  They are always on the alert for danger (obviously they don't view Hogan as a threat!!) and can certainly run like the wind when it is necessary.
The birds appear to be happy again this morning as they are singing like crazy.  What a great place to have your morning coffee.  Too bad John is still in bed!!  I might see him about 10:00!!
I spent the morning watching the wildlife around the bus.  I can not believe how many rabbits I have seen today!!  Not only are the jack rabbits busy, there is a cottontail out there as well this morning.  The little quail is busy scratching and pecking around and the chipmunks are running around also.  Hogan is very busy keeping all these creatures on their toes!!  He had been up the hill so many times today chasing what ever wants to be chased!!
John did get up around 10:00 and looks a little ragged around the edges!!  This is the "day after the night before" after all!!
Eventually, life got back to normal and just as I was about to start some supper, Lorne and Marilyn showed up for their final visit of this year.  Marilyn apparently suffered a bit this morning along with John - now isn't that a surprise!!  We sat around in the sunshine for a bit but eventually had to seek the shelter of the trailer.  Being that travel is in their plans for tomorrow, we all had to be good.  They left about 8:00pm, headed into town for supper and rest up for tomorrow's drive.  They are headed home.
Our time with them was a lot of fun and hopefully we will be able to see them this summer for a while.  Travel safely dear friends.
Once our supper was cooked (yes, I still know how!!) and consumed, it was time to head to bed and watch a bit of TV.    Life is good.

Friday, March 25/2011

Although the sun is shining this morning, there is a nasty little wind blowing and it is cool.  I looked out the window and saw the big jack rabbit jumping around enjoying life and I suppose wondering where that stupid city dog is this morning.  He has the longest ears I have ever seen on a rabbit.  Hogan is still sleeping in his chair!!
I am heading into town this morning to do some laundry and grab a few groceries.  It is time!!
John and I are supposed to be going out for supper with Lorne and Marilyn tonight and so it would be nice to go in clean clothes.  This will be their last weekend with us as they have to start heading back home.
We also will be thinking about heading north within the next few weeks as well.  Our time in the Sonoran Desert is almost over for this winter and oh how it has flown by.
When I got back from town, Keith came over and mentioned that Charlotte had gone for a walk and encountered a big snake and although it was not a rattlesnake, it was disturbing none the less.  I am not sure what kind of snake it was but Charlotte got pictures of it before it disappeared down a hole in the ground.
With clothes and groceries put away, it was time to relax and enjoy the day.  John was busy under the jeep and I was his assistant.  The one who got up and fetched the various tools and "what not" needed for the job.  He fared much better today lying under the jeep and did not need to lie down for an hour after the job was done.  I think it makes a lot of difference when he does not have to keep getting up and down so often.  Today, when he was under the jeep, he just stayed there and I was the one getting up and down.  Now how the heck am I supposed to get any reading done!!
Lorne and Marilyn came to pick us up for our evening out so we headed into town to let the fun begin.  We had a few drinks, ordered supper then played a few games of shuffleboard.  Marilyn and I were  soundly defeated tonight and now have the miserable task of carrying this loss with us until next winter!!  Erika's husband Lee came into the Bar last night and sat beside us while he had supper and it was great to get a chance to talk to him again.  We had not seen him since last year.  He had just retuned home from a week in Mesa training to be a firearms instructor.  Lee loves his firearms and hopes to one day have his own gunsmith shop.  That, he tells us, would be his dream job so I hope he is able to realize this dream one of these days.

Dena

Stubb owner of the Rancher

Lorne and Marilyn

We headed down to the Rancher Bar for the karaoke once we were done at the Seven and the place was rocking!!  John became a dancing fool - again. Eventually both John and Marilyn were "full" and it was time for us to head home.  Lorne and I had quit drinking at the Seven so we were the designated guardians of the drunk and foolish!!  John and Marilyn are lucky to have us!!!  Fun was had by all tonight  and the bed felt mighty good when we got home.

Thursday, March 24/2011

Another day of glorious sunshine appears to be in store for us today.  There is not a cloud in the sky and the birds are singing their songs of joy.  The bus door is open and I can't help but feel sad for the folks back home.  They are still battling the snow and icy roads.
I spent most of the day reading.  John was once again under the jeep hooking up the gas tank and running lines.
Charlotte and Keith returned from town and John and I wandered down to their camp for a visit.  Keith had checked out the used book store in town and discovered lots of books at Habitat Re Store also.
While we were visiting, Lorne and Marilyn showed up - they brought a bag of ice for us from town.  They had been out and about most of the day too.  They stayed for a couple of beer and while here, Trueman and Cowboy stopped by.  Because we had a night out planned for tomorrow, Lorne and Marilyn headed back into town to rest up, Trueman, Keith, John and I headed into the trailer  and sat around the phony campfire.  Trueman shared some stories then it was time for him and Cowboy to head into town and time for  John and I to have some supper.
All in all, it was another good day.

Wednesday, March 23/2011

Well, the sun is shining this morning and it looks like it is going to be another glorious day in the neighborhood.  I can almost feel sorry for the poor souls back home battling the freezing rain and now the several inches of new snow.
Ben and Suzette did not come yesterday to breakdown Ben's campsite so I assume they will arrive today.  Maybe because of the rain Monday, they decided to hold off for another day before doing it.  I guess I will just wait and see what today brings.
John worked on the jeep today and now the new gas tank is installed.  Ben and Suzette did show up and we headed up to his old campsite to pack it up.  Charlotte and Keith helped and it didn't take us more than an hour to get everything done and the site clean.  There was no sign of Jim so we all assumed that he had pulled up stakes and left - he didn't even stop to say goodbye!!  Now what is with that!!
John and I had just sat down for happy hour and had just finished wondering if Lorne and Marilyn had left the area when they pulled up!  They have decided to stay for a few more days.  It was good to see them and we ended up chatting in the trailer around the campfire in a can then, John and Lorne drove into Wickenburg to pick up pizza and wings for supper.  It was great.  Once supper was done, it was time for them to head back into town with the promise to return for tomorrow's happy hour.

Tuesday, March 22/2011

I was up early coughing and hacking but generally feeling not too bad.  The weather had improved and the sun is once again shining although,  there is a bit of a breeze.  With yesterday's rain, I can only imagine how much greener the desert will be getting and the spring flowers will have gotten the little boost they need to flourish.  In a very short time I will once again see the absolute floral beauty of this desert.
The birds are busy at the feeder and I saw a quail again today.  I hope he finally comes to the feeder.  I loved to watch their antics last year so I will keep my fingers crossed.  There were a couple of cardinals at the feeder the other day and that was awesome.
I spoke with my sister today and she says they are getting some hellish weather.  At this rate she says, I will never come home!!  She told me it was 4000 degrees below which, I believe to be a bit of an exaggeration!!
I spent the morning relaxing and reading.  John worked on the Jeep a bit then played ball with Hogan for quite a while.  We haven't heard from Lorne or Marilyn today so don't know if they decided to head towards Sedona as planned then start their journey home or if they spent the day in bed!!
Charlotte and Keith went into town for water then joined us around the campfire for the evening.  Charlotte was busy sanding a Yucca walking stick for Keith while sitting around the fire and Hogan was keeping whatever creature that was in the woodpile at bay!!  It was quiet and very relaxing just sitting and enjoying the fire and the sounds of the desert night.  Awesome.

Monday, March 21/2011

Old Ford

Old stove 

Newer Ford

Workers complex

General store Mess hall

Marilyn on the dock

Roadrunner Bar

Driving to the Roadrunner Bar

Entering Parker

Cool Bar on the Colorado River

Huge fish swimming around the Bar

Lorne and Marilyn 

Power Plant

It was so incredibly windy during the night and early this morning that I got up to put the satellite dish down.  No point in tempting fate.  I felt much better when I was up doing it that I quickly sent an email to Lorne and Marilyn saying that I was feeling better and that we would indeed join them for the trip to Parker.  It was cloudy and miserable out and rain is in the forecast.  Time to get out of Dodge!!

Lorne and Marilyn arrived at 10:30 just after the rain started and we were soon headed off towards Parker. As we travelled further away from Wickenburg, the weather improved and we were soon in the sunshine.

We took a side trip to the ghost town of Swansea, and that proved to be a lovely trip.  We travelled on a real good trail and saw some incredible scenery.  The ocotillo were in full bloom and we managed to get some nice pics of those.  Lorne is a stopper and that was a very good thing!!   When ever Marilyn and I decided we needed a picture, he was always more than happy to accommodate us but stopping the truck!!  Of course, maybe that was just so the boys could get more beer!!

Swansea is one of the best preserved and most extensive ghost towns in Arizona.  The BLM has made some designated trails which we were to stay on and we spent several hours at the site.  The town itself is in a very pretty spot, nestled between the Buckskin and the Rawhide Mountains.  At one point, the town boasted 500 residents, a school, hospital, restaurants, newspaper, saloon and a movie house, not to mention a car dealership!!  The town was the home of a copper mine and before the demise of the town, attributed to by the falling price  of copper and the start of the depression, it is estimated that about 5 million dollars worth of copper was mined at this site.  

Lorne and I each found a bit of ore in the tailings pile that had flecks of gold in it so our days proved to be great!!   This is the same site where Ariane found her gold as well.

Once we were done looking, we headed back and eventually found Shea Road.  This is the same road where John and I spent the first three weeks of our Arizona winter this year - where the hitch broke!!

Once in Parker, we found the Roadrunner Bar - a floating bar on the Colorado River.  It was awesome.  The mallard ducks and what we believe were mud hens were floating right beside it grabbing whatever tidbits the patrons shared with them.  There were huge fish swimming around the barge as well.  It was completely open on three sides with one side having no railing what so ever - man overboard!! This side is where passing boats can come and dock and the boaters can enjoy a beer!!  The wind was blowing pretty good but we stayed on the barge and drank our beer anyway.  What a great view.  The Colorado is a mighty river at this point and the current is strong.  There was a fairly large piece of drift wood going by and in no time at all, it was gone.  With our beer finished, it was time to head back to Wickenburg.  As we got closer home, it was obvious that it had rained off and on all day.  We stopped at the Seven for supper - the filet was incredible.  We saw Mike there and it was good to chat with him.  It was very busy  in the Seven and Tommy the owner said that it was the busiest Monday he could ever remember.  I guess no one wants to cook when the weather is lousy!!

With supper over, it was time to head back to camp.  Hogan had been left at home and his poor little bladder was probably bursting.  He was happy to see us and was soon cuddled into bed with me!!  What a great day and I actually felt pretty good all day - Bonus!!  Perhaps I am going to live after all!!

Sunday, March 20/2011

It is cloudy, almost hazy this morning.  I was feeling a bit chilly so started the heater to take the chill out of the air.  Then, time for coffee and to catch up on the blog and Facebook.   I heard from Jace and Kim this morning.  They enjoyed the Grand Canyon and were looking forward to Yellowstone National Park today.
Hopefully, today is going to be a quiet day and I can sit back and relax.  Still feeling lousy and still no end in sight.
Ben and Suzette came for a visit.  Ben is looking good and is in good spirits.  Suzette plans on staying a few more days to help out but will be heading back probably by the end of this week.  Ben has been lucky to have the extra help in this early part of his recovery.  Jim is thinking about heading up to Camp Verde for some more Jeep work so will be breaking camp for good.  Ben was up to see him and will need to deal with all the camping gear and tent that Jim has been using since Ben moved into town.  Since Ben won't be able to lift anything, I told Suzette that I would help her break the camp down and get it stored away in Ben's truck.  That is scheduled for Tuesday.
Lorne and Marilyn stopped by just as Ben and Suzette were leaving.  The weather was starting to turn lousy so we sat in the trailer until it was time to get the "campfire in a can" and take the chill out of the air.  Trailer Party!!  Several beer and hot toddies later, it was time to head into the bus and bed.  We have a trip to Parker to have a beer on the floating barge scheduled for tomorrow if I feel up to the trip. (Hopefully I have fed my fever enough hot toddies tonight!!)

Saturday, March 19/2011

Super  Moon

Fire dying down

Lone coming into Box Canyon

Box Canyon

Lorne and John

Marilyn Wading

Time for a beverage

Yes that's a Parrot !

Working our way up Box Canyon

Traffic coming the other way

Quads

Gate keeper

Desert Flower

Checking out Weaver Ghost Town

Checking out Stanton Ghost Town

Behind the bar

Lorne and Marilyn

John

More Super Moon

I awoke a few times during the night, took more decongestant then fell back to sleep.  This morning, I feel a bit better and am sure with the decongestant that remains in the box, I will be able to breath for the rest of the day!!
Hogan slept late - no Coors around to get him up early!!  It is cloudy out this morning and I hope it clears up a bit because tonight is the Super Moon!!
Lorne and Marilyn are supposed to be here around 11am to pick us up for our adventure to Stanton Ghost Mine.  They haven't seen it yet so are excited for the trip.
The trip to Stanton was awesome but the stop at Box Canyon was by far the high light of the trip.  Compared to last year, there was hardly any water in the box.  We were able to drive to the very end and out the other side.  Last year, we had to turn around as it was too deep to continue.  We sat on the sand, beside the water that was flowing and had a beverage and watched several quads (one with a parrot on the handlebar) trucks and horses enjoy the canyon as well.  It was awesome.  I finally got to see a roadrunner this year.  I was wondering if I would and was pleased to spot one just before Stanton.  We took the back way up to Yarnell and I can't imagine the ride that would have been in a stagecoach!!
We had supper at Nickols West restaurant in Congress - it was good and then came back to the campsite and sat around the fire for a bit.  My cold was kicking the crap out of me and it wasn't too long before Lorne and Marilyn headed back into town and I headed to bed!!  To heck with the super moon!!
John said he got some pictures of the moon and it was awesome but when I woke up around midnight, it was pretty cloudy out although it was bright outside.