Day 17 of Social Distancing in the Sonoran Desert

Yes, I’m still hanging out and practicing social distancing in the Sonoran Desert near Ajo, Arizona—thank you BLM—partially because I have no where else to go.  I am staying at home in my camper, and right now, this is home.  When I settled in here on the 9th the plan was not to be here quite this long.  But like everyone right now, plans have changed.  To what, I don’t know.  I’m just grateful to have a safe, and beautiful, place to be.  I know many full-time RVers that also don’t have a home base and that’s what I was going to blog about.  But it became a bit of a rant so I put it aside.  Here, neighbors come and go waving from a safe distance.  Instead I’ll share what’s been going on in the last week since I posted.

It’s a good thing I keep a daily journal as one day rather blends into another out here in the desert.  Sierra and I have a morning routine.  After the coffee is made she gets her morning treats then I sit down on the computer, with her curled next to me, and catch up with the news.  Lately that’s a rather sad and frustrating activity so as I feel my anxiety rise I change to looking at and processing photos taken the day before and usually share a few on Facebook, a place I spend waste way too much time.

In the afternoon I usually go out for a walk and take more photos.  I try to head a slightly different direction from camp every day.  To the east along the dirt road I’m parked off of there is some old mining equipment.  With that large Palo Verde tree growing through I’d say it hasn’t been used in a while.

I spot a few flowers: Globe Mallow and Fairyduster.  Then the weirdest thing, a desiccated Sonoran Toad encircled with rocks which is the only reason I even saw it.  A friend/Ranger who works in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument says it’s not uncommon to find these carcasses as it doesn’t take much sun to dry them out.  This thing was as big as my outstretched hand.

A few new neighbors moved in, keeping a respectful distance.

That evening the clouds rolled in as a harbinger of predicted storms for the next several days.  I think clouds improve on sunsets most of the time.

Greetings from the morning sky brought more clouds.  I sent several Facebook messages and emails to people checking on how they are doing through these troubled days.  Felt good to get, and give, reassurances of wellness and safety.  I am practiced at self imposed isolation for most of the winter anyway.  Yet sure glad to have a strong signal for phone and internet to connect via social media.

Before noon the wind picked up a bit followed by intermittent gentle rain.  Moist enough that two Cattle Egrets found puddles on my roof.  Hours later the wind increased, temperature dropped, and rain turned briefly to hail blowing sideways.  The camper and Saguaros were rocking.

Not more than 30 minutes later, rain almost stoped, patches of blue showed as the clouds broke apart and that means look for the rainbow.

Sure enough, it’s a double.

Another day of partly cloudy and cool had me climbing in and out of the camper to take photos of light and shadows.  Heck, I was still processing from the day before.

Afternoon warmed up enough—with an extra layer on—to open the door and windows.  The spring bird songs are melodious and all the sound I need.  The current Sonoran Desert theme song on play all day by the Cactus Wren.  A friend from childhood, and also online, asked if I can record the song.  Hmm, I am not practiced at videography and suggested she google it.  Yet several days later I used my phone and although the image is fuzzy I caught the sound.  It’s on my YouTube, here.

Sure is a pretty desert to live in for right now.

The following day, a light gray sky seemed to hold down the desert quiet even with no rain in the forecast.  Below, puffy clouds moved northward keeping distant from each other just like us folks.  A fine afternoon for a walk to the west of camp.  I followed a faded two-track or just wandered between the vegetation.  My pace was slow.  I looked ahead to not only find my path and next ten foot destination but search the ground to avoid potential critters.  Warming temperatures bring out snakes but so far I’ve only seen tiny lizards and active ants.  Butterflies flit about too fast to capture a pic.

Lovely wildflowers speckle the land without enough density for a carpet of color.  Makes it more fun to search for but difficult to photograph.  Along the edge of a now dry wash and under the shade of the Palo Verde trees moist ground produced clusters of brilliant orange Globe Mallow on their two foot stalks surrounded by lush grass.

Clockwise: Phacelia & Chicory, unknown, Globe Mallow, Phacelia, unknown, Lupine, Maidenhair Vine, unknown

Clumps of Lupine in various shades of blue are interspersed with deep purple Phacelia and other unknown whites and yellows.

Shades of yellow and green spread across the desert as Creosote bushes and Brittlebush bloom to steal the show.

Finally, a morning of clear blue sky and temperatures in the 70s.  A perfect day for another walk in the same direction as the day before but try to get a little further along.  I found myself inspecting Organ Pipe Cactus for crests, or cristates.  It was in this general area a few years ago, I took photos of the most magnificent example I’ve ever seen.  And though I haven’t found that one yet I’m not complaining as the views, scents, and sights are beyond beautiful.  I am beginning to run out of descriptive words.

I’m not entirely alone out here.  Turns out one of my nearest neighbors is fellow blogger and winter desert boondocker Doug and his dog Yuma.  He wandered into camp when I was sitting outside reading.  Thanks to Al, Bayfield Bunch blogger, for recognizing that we took photos of the same scene and gave Doug a heads up.  Mind you, we spoke from a safe distance.

Sierra and I both bolted awake to the sound of loud tapping on the camper.  Seems drips of condensation fall on the bumper and provided a morning drink for a woodpecker.  It was time to get up anyway and start the day.

A friend asked for a social distancing selfie, so we obliged.

A Cactus Wren sat atop the nearby leaning Saguaro and sang a varied tune for well over a minute.

I puttered, as usual, resting up for town the next day.

Having made it eight days it was time to fill the propane tank before I ran out and the ice cream could melt.  Was on the road before 10am and decided to take the 4.5 mile Scenic Loop Road to Ajo.  I’d never been that way because I drive only a few gravel miles on Darby Well Road to find a camp.

It was Gorgeous!  I probably won’t drive it again.  I really don’t mind slow but there were many rough spots and dips through dry washes and it took me almost an hour.  Truck can do it but sure shakes the shit out of my camper/house.

Brittlebush

That with barely stopping for a few photos.

Saw lots more nice looking camping areas near the town end of this road with boulders and flowers galore.  But located on the wrong side of too many washes for me to consider a move.

Happily, the grocery store was open and had most things I needed though I did forget to get myself some birthday cake.  I wore latex gloves and wiped down all my groceries before they went into the camper.  Then went to Belly Acres for propane and that Texas good ole boy doesn’t understand personal space.  I basically hope for the best being in this remote area with no known cases of COVID-19.  I’m good for another week, except for chocolate cake.

I returned to the same place to camp.  Why not?  Good neighbor, high ground, great views, and lots of desert to walk.

Which I did that afternoon.

How much longer I’ll be here is currently impossible to say.  I still have a start date of April 12th at Bryce Canyon National Park, provided it’s still open.  Their visitor center is closed and entrance is free.  Please believe the reason for no entrance fees at park sites has more to do with protecting staff than getting more visitors.

I’m doing OK as I now face Day 17 of social distancing in the Sonoran Desert, and actually I’ve been doing that most of 2020 so far anyway.  Hope you are all doing well whether it’s staying home or not.

March 26, 1954

Happy Birthday to me!