The Mission

March 26, 2020

Last Monday (3/23) we made our first sorte into town after 10 days in the desert.

We had 4 objectives ...

1. Propane
2. Water
3. Food
4. Laundry

Laundry and Groceries

I established a rear guard at the laundromat while Joan proceeded to the grocery store to gather supplies. Pickn's was slim! The store restricted purchases to only 1 of any 1 item, except bread, 3 per customer. Joan tried to buy 1 red and 1 green bell pepper but she was only allowed 1. No Almond milk! We keep a small supply of pasteurized Almond milk in the closet in case we can't find any in the small out of the way places we frequent.

A lady in the store commented to Joan she was lucky to have a mask to which she replied "we already had some". Living in such a small space, we use them when one of us gets sick. I got a double take from a lady at the laundromat when she saw my mask.  I smiled at her but then it dawned on me, she couldn't see it.

Do we think Ajo is a hot bed of Coronavires? No, I think this is one of the last places to find it. But after our 10 days of isolation, we wanted to maintain that feeling of security as long as possible.

Water

There are several kiosks in town that dispense R/O (Reverse Osmosis) drinking water, $1 for 5 gal. We have the capability to carry about 11 gallons of drinking water plus our onboard 40 gallon tank which we use for any nonconsumable purposes.  To preserve the onboard supply, we've assigned 4 drinking water gallon jugs to tap water used for washing.  That worked well for the first 10 days so we kept the same ratio.  The onboard tank is still reading 2/3 full.

Propane

The Shell gas station has diesel fuel, propane,  a R/O water kiosk and a tap to fill the non-drinking water jugs.  Oh, and did I mention the liquor store.  A one stop shop.

Our mission completed, we retreated to basecamp in the desert.

Moved

March 21, 2020

We've completed our first week of sequestration in the desert south of Ajo AZ.  Actually this is what we'd planned to do before the Coronavirus.  We're just planning our trips into town a little more carefully. 

We went on another walk in the wash yesterday and discovered our favorite camp site (Holy Javelina) was open, it was 3 pm.   If we were going to move we'd have to hot foot it back to the Wellhead site (about a 45 min. walk), break down a very established camp, make the move across 3 washes and get setup before dark.  All went well and we were sitting down to dinner as the sun was setting behind the javelina rock.

A bright sunny morning on the Holy Javelina site.

Here's some pictures from last week...

March 15

Up close and personal with a Saguaro Cactus (link). 

What remains of an ancient Saguaro.

"Hills" in the background are tailings from the New Cornila copper mine (link), operated from 1915 to 1983.

March 17

Another walk in the wash... this time heading east, down stream.

Black Mtn.

We think this is Bates Well, just off Bates Well Rd.

March 18

A storm's a brew'n!  It actually rained for about 24 hrs, but not enough to make the washes flow.

What-da-ya do on a rainy day in the desert?  Well, re-string not 1 but 2 day/night shades, of course!

Joan tried her hand at making air-pop popcorn on the gas stove, a yummy success. 

March 19

Remnants of yesterday's rain, low clouds hang over Ajo Peak.

 

Sun setting on the Wellhead site.

Back to the Desert

March 14, 2020

After the rain stopped yesterday afternoon, we scouted the available BLM boondocking (link) sites and found 2 of our choice sites available, the Wellhead site and the Garden site (names we assigned based on memorable characteristics).  But, would they be available in the morning?

The Garden site (more desirable for it's remoteness and privacy) required 2 wash crossing made a little rougher by 4 days of rain. 

See pictures and comments on the Garden site in center of this post from last March (link).

The Wellhead site is about 2 miles from the paved road and the first one we came to.  It's  easier to access with no wash crossings.  Not as private on the side facing the road...

... but the side facing away from the road, with our door and awning, has a great view of the slopes leading down to the wash and the hills beyond.

Deciding to keep things simple, we stopped there.

So, it's Deja-Vu all over again.  We're right back where we were last Monday, the Wellhead site. 

After leaving Shadow Ridge RV Resort (where we waited out the rain for the last 5 days) at 8:50 this morning, we were completely setup at 9:25.  By 9:45 we were back in Ajo, buying veggies at the farmers market. While in town we made another run by the grocery store, stocking up for an extended stay.  Later, we had lunch with Margot, a friend from our volunteer days at Cabeza Prieta NWR (link).

A very good day!

A Walk in the Wash

March 7, 2020

Saturday morning at the Plaza having coffee with friends.

Saturday market in the plaza.

March 8, 2020

When we pulled into this site last Monday, the plan was to stay one, maybe two nights before moving on to a more desirable site. The longer we stayed, the more the site started to grow on us. It's a nice high'n dry level site with a great view to to the south.

The only down side is it's proximity to the road.  

With little traffic and the prevailing wind blowing any dust away from us to the north, we saw no reason to move.

In the desert, dry river beds (washes) are like an alternate road system for ATV's, motorcycles, bicycles, wildlife and hikers.  Today we're going for a walk in the wash behind our campsite.  This is the same wash that was flowing the day we arrived.

Brittlebush growing on the wash/river bank

Fairy duster

Yellow Bell

Some pockets of water still remained from last Monday's rain.

Walking toward Ajo Peak.

Here's a few more pictures in and around the Wellhead site.

Sun setting in the west, moon rising in the east.

March 9, 2020

After 7 days in the Wellhead site and a predicted 4 days of rain and cloudy skies (limited solar power), we moved to Shadow Ridge RV resort in Ajo to wait it out.

Coming next, Back to the desert. 

Hunt for the Crested Saguaro

March 3, 2020

The day after arriving at our boondocking spot south of Ajo AZ, we were joined by Steve, a friend from Portal AZ (Cave Creek Canyon). 

Cave Creek Canyon

This was his first time in the Ajo area.

Steve is a professional Photographer and his goal was to visit Organ Pipe Cactus Natl. Monument (link) and photograph a rare Crested Sagurao (link). It's believed that only 1 in 1200 have this curious formation.

After Steve got his camper setup, we were off to Organ Pipe NM, just 34 miles south on US 85. 

Arriving at the Visitors Center right at 2 pm, we joined the Ranger walk through a nature path that highlights some of the local ecosystems.

Armed with information provided by the Rangers, we were off on the Ajo Mountain Drive (link) in search of the elusive Crested Saguaro.

We found several, mostly Organ Pipe Cactus Cristates...

Organ Pipe Cactus with Cristate near the base.

... but a prime example of a Saguaro eluded us.

March 4, 2020

After some creative navigation and a little luck, we finally found the target of our quest late in the afternoon.

Hunter and pray stand toe to toe.

"Almost" full moon shares the stage.

We had a good time visiting with Steve and helping with his... Hunt for the Crested Saguaro!

What adventures lay ahead... stay tuned.