Searcher: 2013

It has been a long time since I posted on this blog. Been too busy enjoying myself in the desert and visiting with friends we made from last winter. So good to see them again this year. We just parted this past weekend with us going south and they heading north to Colorado. We will eventually turn east and north but want to soak up as much sun and warmth as possible before we do that.

We left our favorite camping spot which we fondly call 18 Wheeler Hill because a semi pulled in here last winter and gave everyone camping here all kinds of crazy ideas as to what he might be up to. One group called the Sheriff and the California Patrol. Both agencies showed up, broke the man's window just as he came walking out of the mountains wearing a purple back pack. He was rock hounding during his mandatory 36 hours of rest from driving! All our imaginations were quickly dashed. He dumped out his "contraband" at the feet of the police. No drugs, just large rocks which he cuts or slices and polishes to inlay into coffee tables and other pieces of furniture.

No 18 Wheeler this year but this area is one of the greatest for rock hounding and hiking. There are relatively shallow canyons and huge washes that are dry this time of year and are great places to find Agate and Jasper, Quartz and sometimes Rattlesnakes. Many snakes were sighted this year but none by this writer......darn. Always had the camera ready but all I got were lizards and bugs and butterflies. The absolute best quality of this home away from home was quiet. Only bird song and an occasional jet overhead. No highway noise, no hum of high power wires and no TV. It was truly amazing watching the desert come alive after a couple days of good soaking rain. The ground became like green velvet and just a couple of weeks ago all the cacti and other desert bushes began to bloom. This was the first time we have seen so many things blooming.

We did leave our "home" a few times for other camping spots. My next favorite would be down at Telephone Cove on Lake Mohave (think Reservoir). We made friends with people and ducks!!! Beautiful place on the water with few people.

Yesterday we left the Mohave Desert to enter the Sonoran. We are just south of Wickenberg, Az in (hopefully) Bureau of Land Mangement territory......if our map is correct! Lots of Ocotilla, Saguaro (my all time favorite cactus); Teddy Bear Cholla, Jumping Cholla (I came home today from a hike limping) One of the Cholla thorns went right through the sole of my hiking boot into my foot and Richard had to pull it out with pliers!! This area is a little higher in elevation making it a bit cooler which is a nice break from the high 90's of the past couple of weeks.

We will move on tomorrow but for this day and night we are resting in the surrounding desert.

Prickly Pear near Earp, Ca (18 Wheeler)

18 Wheeler land - (camper top right)

Almost full moon at dusk on 3-26

Last campfire with friends 3-30-13

Last sunset over Earp

Telephone Cove on Lake Mohave

Richard feeding the "Odd Couple on Lake Mohave

Male is a Peking and female is a Mallard

Sonoran Desert south of Wickenberg. AZ

Today in the desert

One more of our "ducky" friends!

Birds of a feather???

A few years ago I had no clue what the term “boondocking” meant. I knew that I lived in the “boondocks” – you have to admit, Crystal Falls, in Iron County is situated right in the middle of the boondocks! As mentioned in prior posts; Boondocking is simply pulling out into the desert or other public land and staying for as long as you have water and supplies. The rule is: Pack it in and pack it out. Perhaps that is why I so enjoy “boondocking” in camping. I do not like large cities and I also do not enjoy staying in the mega-huge RV parks that are plentiful in the southwest. If you like being able to pass sugar through your window to the camper next to you then they are great. They definitely have their perks with many parks offering classes in everything from art to zoo keeping. They offer tennis, sometimes golf and many social gatherings. One of the biggest draws is that they offer community which can be missing when camping out in the desert alone. However, Richard and I have found community these last couple of years in two of the areas that are our favorite boondocking sites. Both are just across the Colorado River from Arizona into California. At present we are on the California side of the Colorado River across from Parker, Arizona in a location that is named Big River. We met people from Colorado last winter and hope to see them here once again this year. We have also met a few others and find ourselves getting together at least once a day to visit (me to get my dog fix from a couple of people who have dogs) and often we have campfires in the evening to chase away the chill that accompanies the setting of the sun in the desert. Boondocking is not for everyone , but for us it is the best way to find peace, quiet, the wonders of nature and warm dry air during the winter months for “older” muscles and bones.