Moving around in spring desert wind

Moving around keeps me busy while visiting with friends, and lack of signal keeps me offline.  Oops, I missed last week’s update and took lots of photos to share. Have I mentioned the often brutal spring winds?

After another day trapped in the camper by wind I needed to get out and walk more than back and forth in my 10 foot floor plan.  I felt battered even though I didn’t go out into the sand blast.  So between the lack of good signal and the camper-rocking wind it seemed like a good time to take care of the dump and fill routine a few days early.

The morning began calm and colorful at sunrise.

In the quiet I heard a bird and searching saw a Flicker pecking away at the nearby dead Palo Verde tree.  And then it landed on the flag pole which got both of our attention.  I don’t see near enough birds out here.

By the time I set up at Shady Lane RV Court in Quartzsite the wind kicked in again and even with a little shelter the camper was rocking.  Finius and Breezy stopped by briefly to find out when I’d be back in Utah, very nearby their summer home.  But the wind made it too cold to hang outside for long even at 71°.  Predicted to be windy again the next day with a 30% chance of rain.

So instead of being blown around on the way to Yuma, I opted to stay a second night.  That turned out for the best as I received a job offer from Bryce Canyon National Park and had to take care of online paper work ASAP and had a good signal in the park.  I will return to work mid-April.

The next morning I watched heavily laden clouds racing to the northeast and heard from a friend it was snowing in Yarnell less than 100 miles away.  Time for some moving around further south.  So I drove a little over an hour to Yuma, the biggest town I’ve been in all winter with about 100,000 population, maybe more during winter.  Went to an eyeglasses store with adjacent optometrist.  Then decided not to get an exam until back in Utah as I may need to take care of cataracts.  Bought a few groceries and got out of town heading west just across the California border to join a friend boondocking on BLM along American Girl Mine Road.

Been a while since I stayed in this area.  It’s pretty enough with a few flowering Ocotillo and creosote yet sparsely vegetated.

Got a blazing fast signal with a tower in sight but could hear trains and faintly see lights from the interstate.  I know, I’m picky.

In the morning, when Paul came back from his morning walk with Tippy, I rushed outside and once again slipped off the bottom step and did a slow-mo fall onto my already bad left shoulder.  Nothing broken but sure was sore.  Probably bruised my ribs.  I took some anti-inflammatory pills and sat outside in the sun hiding from the wind on the leeward side of Paul’s big 5th-wheel.

Reverse sunset over Algodones Dunes

We chatting the afternoon away and I took some photos of the clouds slipping over the Cargo Muchacho Mountains, named after a couple boys carrying a load.  I thawed a pound of hamburger and he made a delicious chili dinner.

I was exceedingly sore the next day so the wind made for a good excuse to stay inside with limited moving around.  But the next day I just had to get out for a walk and Tippy went along.  We didn’t go far and he turned around before I did.  Found some really pretty rocks, blue kyanite, some calcite, and pegmatites.  My interview with James Morrisey in New York from the Nature Wildlife and Pet Photo Forum on FB was published that day.

Castle Dome from SR95 North of Yuma

I packed it up during the calm morning, said goodbye to Paul until next winter, and was in Yuma at the mall by opening time at 10am. First looked for shoes at three stores. Then at Best Buy I decided not to spend over $1000 on a laptop I think I want. Old one is still working and is i7 like I need for the fastest processing. It probably could use a major overhaul. I should get Jack to do that in Kanab, like I talked about doing last fall. Finished shopping at the large WalMart and almost spent $800+ on a laptop. Think I’ll do more homework and hold. I bought a pair of cheap shoes so now I can walk with soles and not my slippers or hiking boots. Overall, I didn’t get squat done in Yuma.

But I did return to the beautiful Kofa and parked next to a place I’ve been before this winter.  Wind was gusting big time and house was rocking.  Couldn’t even open the door.

However, my view was spectacular and I hoped some of the photos taken through the window came out.

Two minutes later than previous shot

I wished the wind would calm down and the dark clouds would bring some rain.

Fridge was acting up, I guess no surprise considering the wind, but that blew on the downwind side of the camper, on purpose. And if my house wasn’t dusty before, now it’s really gritty, and furry.

The next day I awoke in time for a calm sunrise but struggled to get out of bed.  Sierra had slept on me and I was doubly sore plus add the previous day’s driving and holding the camera.  My left shoulder is already a problem and none of this helps on top of the fall.

But I can’t stop myself from snapping pictures when the sun’s rays lit up the sky.

Wind picked up later and I once again didn’t go out much.  Watched a hawk soar for awhile through the window.  Also still using my free Hulu have watched Billy Holiday movie that I highly recommend.

Joann camped with me for a couple nights on her way to visit a friend in Yuma.  I suspect she’ll be back on the return trip. We sat outside the afternoon she arrived talking for a couple hours until the sun and temperature dropped.

The next morning we decided to hike the one-mile round-trip Palm Canyon trail, planning to be at the overlook around noon for best light on the crevice where the palm trees grow.  Joann drove us the couple miles to the trailhead.

Not a long hike but a rather bouldery ascent.

We heard a hawk like sound while watching the creeping light accent the row of Arizona Palm trees.  On the return hike we saw what I think was a Prairie Falcon.

Not long after we returned to camp Joann decided to go to Quartzsite for cooler ice, and an ice cream cone at McDs. Plus we stopped at the Hi Jolly memorial in town.  Secretary of War Jefferson Davis approved a plan to experiment with camels for freighting and communications in the arid Southwest.  In 1857, Arabic caretaker Haiji Ali and 70 camels accompanied the Beale Expedition to open a wagon road across Arizona.  The War Department abandoned the experiment and the camels were left to fend for themselves not far from Quartzsite, Arizona.  “Hi Jolly” died in Quartzsite December 16, 1902.

The next day began delightful with warm sun and barely wind.  Joann and I sat outside moving around for the shade, sharing our stories and laughing so hard my poor injured side hurt.  Yet I believe laughter is good medicine.  An ice cube was thrown on the ground from an otherwise empty cup and before it melted a lizard wandered over and licked on the cube for minutes allowing time for photos.  “After Larry the lizard (video of story in link) left he told about this unusual experience to yet another smaller lizard, Lucy. But when she got there it was gone. So she figured it was a made up story. But later, I saw another much larger lizard who said Larry sent me for ice.”  I sure do love to laugh with this remarkable lady.  After Joann left I sat outside in a sundress for a while.  But then the wind picked up and even at 83° I finally went inside.

Really won’t be long before I have to be moving around and start north to higher elevation.  But I believe there’s still some good days coming in this Sonoran Desert with a view of the Kofa Mountains.

Linking to Skywatch Friday