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!!