Thursday's Short Ride...Wednesday was a Moving Day...

 Thursday, January 26, 2023

We are presently boondocking out at the Roadrunner BLM near Quartzsite, Arizona

Waking up the first thing we heard was the wind. Not as bad as a couple of days ago but wind just the same. After having coffee Tom took our hitch off of the motorhome and headed over to the "Big Tent" to drop it off so it can be serviced. His next stop was at Quiet Times to pick up our mail. I had decided, for me, it would be a do nothing type of day. 

When Tom came back he started going through the mail and we got to talking and decided to take a short ride down the MST & T Road one of several that take you into different areas of the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge. Today we only took the road as far as the sign that lets you know you are entering the NWR and turned around as it was already late in the day. We decided to take a road along the gas line that would take us, well we hoped would take us, to the road called Pipeline Road then back to US-95. It all worked out because eventually we ended up back home. The ride today was on BLM land.

This was my favorite picture of the day. 
Those are the Kofa Mountains in the background.

Saguaros standing proud and tall.

All different and all beautiful even in death.

Lots of arms on the one on the right.

We would not be able to get to the palms at Palm Canyon
on this road but we can see their home in the distance.
Cholla Cactus, not sure what kind the one in the middle is.
The right and left ones are Teddy Bears. 

This was once a travel trailer.
Must have been heartbreaking to watch it burn.
Something none of us ever want to see happen to anyone.

The road we turned on to followed the gas line. It looked 
fairly smooth at the beginning but turned into a bumpy ride

We went up and down several washes along the way.
The scenery and the mountains in the distance, beautiful.

On a quick ride into La Posa South we saw this rig.
Now that is an array of solar panels.
Our question is how fast does he get those down in the wind?

So that was our day. Not overly exciting but exciting enough for us.

Wednesday, January 25, 2023 (Moving Day)

We started the day on a ridge overlooking the Borrego Badlands while the sun came up over the Sultan Sea in the distance. It was a quiet day as we finished getting ready to roll our wheels East. This was as far west we will be traveling this year. As always it is bittersweet to be leaving a place we have thoroughly enjoyed being parked at. It has been so much fun exploring some of wonders of this place with special friends and it is not easy to wave so long for now and move on. Yet at the same time we know it is time to do so. The memories will come along for the ride and last forever.

The sun rising on our day.  

Looking down at our friend's home as the sunlight
begins to touch the area with its light.

Deb and Riley arrived in the Dogsled just as we finished going over the checklist to make sure everything was ready to roll. After standing and chatting for a bit about our plans and theirs we said our "see you laters" and with a couple of hugs it was time to take off. Since, we are going to be stopping a few miles down the road for Tom to dump our tanks and take on fresh water we decided to wait until that fun is finished before hooking up the Jeep.

I am down the hill waiting to see the Stinger "B" in my

mirror. There she is. I could see Deb and Riley up the hill 
waving and with a wave back the Jeep is moving east. 

After hooking up the Jeep we turned left on to CA-86
heading North. That is the Salton Sea in the distance.

On the side of a building in Sultan City.
Looked interesting.

Not snow...lol just a beautiful white.

Green fields 

and a lone tractor.

There is snow on the mountain tops.

We made a brief stop in Indio for groceries at Walmart and then Tom merged the 

Stinger "B" on to I-10 and we are headed East.

We have traveled on several Interstates over the years

but we do not think any have the number of Semi's 

as we see on I-10.

I took this as we were going by the Inspection Station  
 after crossing into California.

The Semis were continuing to join the line
as we passed this sign. 

I can see Saguaros on those hills.

We have missed 

seeing these guys.

Going by Dome Rock BLM we can see a lot of RV's.

We can see Quartzsite in the distance.

We will take the 2nd exit to put diesel in the Stinger "B". 
The last time we stopped was in Yuma on December 19th.
She is a little thirsty but her owners
 did not want to pay California prices. 

Looking right, as we turn left after leaving a nice chunk of
change with Arco. We are waving, Patsy and Bill, but you
 probably cannot see us with that building in the way...lol 

Heading toward US-95 on Kuehn we can see the 
"Big Tent" in the distance.

The Vendors at Tyson Wells are busy.

Turning left on to US-95 at the light above we head south towards the Roadrunner BLM and this will be home for the next few days while we take care of somethings and make a visit to the tent and some of the Vendors out on Kuehn Street. 

Side Note: We never remember it ever being this busy out at Roadrunner, in years past, when we have been here during the "Big Tent".

We pulled in, unhooked the Jeep, and took a ride back where we have parked in the past and managed to find a spot that was level and a decent distance from other rigs. Not ideal but like I mentioned we are only here for a few days this time so it will do. The plan is to come back up this way in a couple of weeks when it will be less busy and fingers crossed warmer.

We sat outside and watched the sun set behind the 
Dome Mountains. 

Not long after taking the above picture we came inside. The wind was picking up and it was, I have to use the word family and friends in the frozen north, cold it was cold. It was a long day driving for Tom; the wind began blowing as we left Indio and stayed with us all the way here. The good news is we made it safe and sound. We are looking forward to getting things done and hopefully at least one Happy Hour with friends while we are here. 

We are glad you stopped by!

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

The White Lion Heads East...Fonts Point..(Walk Through the Calcite Mine Slot Canyon)

I wrote and published this post on Wednesday, January 25th. I can even see it on Facebook though when I click on it, it says the page does not exist. I have no explanation for what happened because it shows as a draft, shows it has 10 comments (which I remember replying to), and 201 views. Plus it does not show as being published. I am going to re-publish it and see what happens.   

Tuesday, January 24, 2023

We started today with our first cup of coffee inside the Stinger "B". We brought our second cup outside to enjoy Coffee Hour with Deb and Riley as Doug got ready to head down the hill. Doug then decided to join us and we spent some time talking about this and that including where we would all be headed next. It quickly became time to say our "see you laters" and the White Lion was off. After watching Doug pull away the four of us sat and chatted for a little longer. Tom and I had decided to take a ride out to Fonts Point and we asked if they would like to join us; happily they agreed and we decided on a departure time after lunch. 

Our last sunset parked out near the Borrego Badlands.

The view of the sun setting standing by the Igloo
parked at the Ocotillo Wells BLM

Up the hill and this is the view of the sunset 
standing by the Stinger "B".

While I was taking pictures of the sun setting 
this guy went buzzing by.

He was up above the hill where we are parked then
down below above where Deb and Riley are several
times. It looked like he was having fun.

The sun is gone but I can see our friends home
as the night descends upon us. 

Back to the beginning of our day. I might as well just admit it now and get it over with; this blog has a picture overload. Or I could say it is filled with pictures when looked at in the future will bring back special memories of a time spent with friends enjoying the days and Tom and I will smile.

Doug and Yuma are on their way.

Fonts Point is part of The Anza Borrego State Park. Looking for information about Fonts Point I found one description of it as one of the most breathtaking places to visit in Southern California. We have not visited very many places in California but I will say the views are spectacular. They are worth the 4 mile ride in the sandy wash, though, it is recommended you do it with a 4 wheel drive vehicle Then it is an easy walk up the hill to see some wonderful views looking down over the Borrego Badlands.  

The views of the canyons, crevices, mountains, and Salton Sea in the distance seem to go on forever.

Click on the next two pictures and they should open in a new window and you can read more about this beautiful spot and how it came to be what it is.

Turning into the wash that will bring us to Fonts Point.

From the parking lot we can see the Clark Dry Lake 
with the Santa Rosa Mountains behind in the distance.

We have walked up the hill and these are our views. I know I have said it before but it is the truth, the camera does not do what the eyes see justice.

The Salton Sea is out there.

All smiling and looking the same with the
Borrego Badlands behind us.
Yes, those are my arms and hands holding my phone 
perfectly reflected in my glasses.

One last picture and we headed back to the 
Jeep to make our way back out to H22.

One last stop on our way out.

Patsy you are just going to have to believe me.
There were to many large rocks to get any closer. 
It is filled with tiny green leaves! 

Our home in the distance with the Sultan Sea behind it
and the Chocolate Mountains behind the sea.

Another good day spent enjoying some of the beauty that is in this place. Our last in this spot for this Adventure. Tomorrow we will head out looking forward to were the road will lead us as we continue the Journey.

(The Rest of the Walk Through the Calcite Mine Slot Canyon.)

Friday, January 20, 2023

I had stopped but Deb, Doug and Tom continued on. Tom offered to stay back and then Doug said no he would stay back with me since he had been there earlier in the week but I convinced them both to keep going. I felt perfectly safe and did not want anyone else to miss out because I did not feel I should continue.

After they moved further on I stood looking around at the spot I would wait for them.

It sort of makes me dizzy looking up but
the colors of the sand/mudstone against the
blue sky are beautiful,

 

Looking down I could see rocks imbedded in the
sand/mudstone along the path.
Basically they are cemented in there.

Standing there looking at the path we had just come through it is again a reminder of the force and strength of the water that flows through here.

Tom's pictures of what was ahead of where I stopped.

Then they were back and we started the hike back out. I always find it fascinating how the views on the same path take on such a different look going in the opposite direction. 

High Five, I actually remembered to take a selfie of us 
while in the Slot Canyon and I got us all in and smiling on the
first try...lol I think you can tell we are having fun.

Do you see her holding a baby?

The shadows and sunlight, bring out the variation

of colors and textures of the walls as we walk along.

Tom took these looking 

down a slot.

These three

pictures are of the walls

just outside the slot.

Is that some one up there?

Tom taking a picture while Deb and Doug
have stopped ahead to discuss something.

Small boulders holding up the walls

or has Deb stopped to do so?

Face?

Layer after layer of packed sand.

Almost back to where we started this lovely hike.

How much longer will the column be up there?

Turning the corner Doug has beat us to the Jeep.

It was a great hike and I think we would all agree we had fun.  We headed back home and Deb stayed and visited for a short time before heading back home herself.  

I just liked the look of the landscape and
mountains in the distance.

The sun going down

on what was a good day spent with friends.

We are glad you stopped by!

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