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.

Goodbuy Tucson, Hello Ajo AZ

March 2, 2020

Update: As stated below, I drafted and THOUGHT I published this post last Monday. Several days later I discovered it failed due to the lack of AT&T service in and around Ajo.  After some adjustments,  I'm trying again.

There's still some "catch up" posts coming for the rest of the trip to Tucson back in January. However, I'm trying to be proactive and stay up to date from now on. So, here's where we are right now.

After the month of February at Tucson Meadows RV resort, we left this morning to have some preventative maintenance done on the camper. That all went well but while we were there I saw this Boo-Boo.

The trailer shop owner said they lost a wheel when a "never lube" bearing failed. Don't know how many miles they had on it.

Maintenance done, we headed for BLM land south of Ajo AZ.

Blue dot, lower center, is our location. 

The forecast was for rain starting about 2pm and we were heading right into it.

To get to our favorite site we'd have to cross 3 washes (dry river beds, ie: flash flood possibility). While on the dirt road leading to the site, we saw water already flowing in the wash next to the road. This is  only the second time we've seen water flowing in a desert wash.

Knowing a crossing was coming up, we decided to turn around and spend the night at a site we'd just passed. Not our favorite but not to shaby. Here's some pics...

Two hours later, the flow was almost over.

We celebrated our safe arrival with popcorn and beer, followed by leftover home made pizza... and more beer.

Ahhhhhh, it's good to be back in the desert.