The Wind Is Visiting

 Sunday, November 19, 2023

Leaving for Blythe this morning just after 8 o'clock there was a breeze but the air was still fairly clear and we could see the mountains in the distance. The sun was already up and shining as we made out way out of Roadrunner BLM then to AZ-95. In Quartzsite we merged onto I-10 and headed West. As we were riding along, maybe I should say bumping along it is a little rough, we realized it was our first time on I-10 this year. I always enjoy this ride driving through the Dome Rock Mountains then coming out the other side looking down at Blythe I just think it is a pretty ride. The ride back is just as pretty even when some of the mountains are lost in the dust like they were today.

"Q" Mountain in the early morning light.

We are now on I-10

and I said to Tom is this new or did I just not see it last year...😎

Coming out on the West side we can see Blythe in the distance.

The same as last year on I-8 we are being waved through
the "fruit and veggie" checkpoint.

Mass was at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Blythe, CA
Very pretty church, A sure sign we are in the Southwest is
when we start seeing pictures or statues of 
Our Lady of Guadalupe in the Catholic Churches.

Tom and I both like going to Church on Sunday and we have three choices: 3 o'clock in Quartzsite, 8 o'clock in Parker, or 8 o'clock in Blythe. Our usual choice is Parker but it is nice to go into Blythe once and awhile. With the time change it is 9 o'clock Arizona time and we get to sleep in an extra hour Sunday morning.

After Mass we stopped at Denny's for breakfast then we made a stop at Dollar Tree, another reason I like going to Blythe...lol Two stops for a few groceries at Smart and Final then Albertsons and we were back on I-10 heading East. The first thing I noticed was the dust in the air ahead.

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Coming back into Quartzsite 
some of the mountains have disappeared 

and the dust is evident in the sky above the town.

The "Q" was visible.

Driving back into Roadrunner the mountains to the East 
are behind the dust.

The ones ahead are just faint outlines in the distance.

Then coming up to our neighborhood it looks like it is in
a dust free clearing with sun shining down. 
Though the color of the sky above says differently.

Archie stopped to visit during Happy Hour.

Happy Hour gang minus Sue who was out shopping.
She did join us later.

The sun going down on our day. On thing about the dust
it did bring some beautiful color to the sunset.

Another good day parked out in the desert by good friends to be filed in our Memory Book

Saturday, November 18, 2023

My plan for Saturday was a "Do Nothing Go Nowhere Day" and I must admit I did very well and accomplishing my plan. The farthest I wandered was next door in front of Kim and Ken's home on wheels for Happy Hour. Tom on the other hand had a plan to fetch us some fresh water and he did accomplish his plan. Thanks to Lorne and Sue was able to head over to La Posa South to fill up our bladder.  Isn't it wonderful when all your plans come together. 

Through our dirty front windshield. I did not want
to disturb whatever world problems the three of 
them, Ken, Lorne, and Tom, were solving by letting
them know I was taking their picture.

Happy Hour
Kim, Ken, and Deb

Lorne, Sue, Riley, and Tom

Our Happy Hours have been filled with wonderful discussions and laughter and I seldom think about taking pictures. Personally I do like that I can make that statement. Tonight I remembered to take one of the group but missed the sunset.

I did see and take a picture of this one lone pink cloud after
the sun had set.

Plus there was a lovely orange afterglow but the camera would
not pick up the color and I tried several different things.
With some "enhancing" I was able to get a little orange but
 not anywhere near what my eyes could see.

Tom and I are both enjoying our time parked out here in the Sonoran Desert. Life is good.

Side Note: As I finish writing this blog today, Monday morning, the wind is still howling around us though the air looks clear and we can see the mountains surrounding us.

We are so glad you stopped by!

If you have time to leave a comment we would enjoy hearing from you. 

Q Mountain and Kofa National Wildlife Refuge

(Clicking on the pictures will open them larger in a new window.)

Thursday, March 23, 2017

We have been talking about taking a ride over to Q Mountain so today we stopped talking about it and did it. I would like to be able to climb up so I could say I did but sitting below I knew there was no way my right knee would be able to make the trip back down. We then followed a road to the west as far as a wash. We decided far enough, we have made it through worse but the road ahead look more suited for ATV's then Jeeps.

Some pictures taken at the wash where we decided to turn back.

The yellow flowering bushes are beautiful.

After taking the pictures above we talked about it and decided to take a short ride into the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge. We turned in at Crystal Hill/Pipeline Rd. Our short ride turned into about three hours and the scenery was beautiful. (This area will be in several more Blog Titles in the next few days.) 
If you are into rock-hounding and collecting the only place it is allowed, in the refuge, is within the boundaries of the Crystal Hill Area. There are very specific instructions at a Kiosk in this area. (This is not something we are interested in doing at this time so we continued without getting out to explore.)

We could see the Kofa Mountains as we turned off of AZ 95.

Our first stop was at the Kiosk. Besides the information provided, pictured
below, they have brochures available with information about the refuge
 that includes a map. The map lists most of  the roads and what type they are,
either any high clearance vehicle or 4 wheel drive recommended.
After taking one of the 4 wheel roads today we would say take the
recommendation as fact. We were down and up quite a few washes.There 
was nothing to steep, on the roads we were on today, but we did encounter 
several very rocky areas including a couple of hills where we did some slow 
rock crawling and encountered loose gravel at the same time .Plus, the road 
was very narrow, (trees, bushes, and saguaros close to the road), in spots and a 
large four wheel drive vehicle would have had fun getting through.

We are on the Pipeline Road and according to the brochure the New Water Mountains are on our left.

The Kofa Mountains are on our right.

Basically, every direction has breathtaking views.

We turned onto a 4 wheel drive road towards Scott Well and  Jasper Spring. We went past Scott Well but did not go all the way to the Jasper Spring, looking at the time we decided it was better to head out of the refuge. Looking at the map we turned onto road (1) which would take us to MST&T Road and back to AZ 95.

Scott Well from the road above.

Some of the flat part of the 4 wheel drive road.

Two views of the same hill.

When I got out to take a picture of one of the cactus below these flowers 
were growing through the rocks on the side of the road. 
It is amazing to me that these little tiny beautiful flowers are able 
to take root and survive in such a harsh environment.

We are now on Road (1).

Reaching  MST&T Road we had a choice left or right. Left would takes us to AZ 95 and right, according to the map, would take us to the MST&T Tower. You probably can guess which way we went first from the picture below. Seriously, how could we be on the MST&T Road and not go up to the tower?

Pictures taken of the views going up to and down from the tower.

The views at the top standing near the tower.

On the left the tower in the distance as we are headed up
to it. On the right we can see it in the distance from the
road as we circle around towards AZ 95.

Caught a glimpse of pink on the side of the road and when we stopped
we saw these two cacti in bloom.

One last look at the Kofa Mountains behind us.

The sun setting on what has been another wonderful day on this
"Our Third Adventure".

"Take it all one day at a time

and enjoy the journey."

~Kristi Bartlett

Hope you had a wonderful day. 

If you have a moment to leave a comment we would love hearing from you.