Shopping in Yuma twice within a week was a bit much, yet happily balanced boodocking at the feet of the quiet Cargo Muchacho Mountains that offer lots of options for desert walks, a historic townsite, and rockhounding. Presumably, there’s gold in them hills.
I happily left the noisy BLM-VFW camp early Wednesday morning as I had to go to Yuma for supplies plus find a new campsite before dusk. Bought groceries, treated myself to a Thai lunch, and filled the tank for an amazing $4.299/gallon for diesel. Not a great price but lowest seen in forever. Then I headed west for California. Not far across the border and just a little past Felicity, the official Center of the World, I took Ogilby Road—where I’ve been before—north into a huge track of BLM public land. Don’t need coordinates, just find the space you like without driving over plants and near an existing rock fire ring for up to a 14-day stay.
I opted for a turn onto American Girl Mine Road and eventually found a place to my liking not too close to others and next to a cute little wash. Lots of pretty rocks, great views of the Cargo Muchacho Mountains, and distant view of the Imperial Sand Dunes. Much better signal even allowed a 360° video of camp.
Ocotillo
A 40° morning felt chill, but I chilled all day in the new camp. I try to take a down day after moving or town. Did a short walkabout camp.
Enjoyed the quiet, except for military planes.
The following morning was 10° warmer but the cloud cover and crazy strong wind that persisted all day kept me inside labeling photos from April 2021. I am far behind but it’s fun to see snow at Bryce Canyon National Park during training. Thank goodness it’s not that cold here.
However the combination of high cirrus clouds and ice crystals formed a faint rainbow halo above the setting sun.
The next day was a repeat with a little more noise from the weekend OHV folks that like to fly down dirt roads in a cloud of dust.
Sunday started the upswing in temperatures and was a perfect outdoor day.
Joann came over and we went to explore Tumco historic townsite. Currently a ghost town with a few low rock walls to show where buildings once sat with an 1890s population of at least 500 people. The Cargo Muchacho Mountains have a long history of mining for gold, silver, copper, kyanite, and other minerals. After over 300 years of mining, the BLM and the California Department of Conservation’s Division of Mine Reclamation closed commercial mining in 1999 to allow the land to recover and began mine mitigation aimed at eliminating public safety hazards. I have yet to explore the entire town site and will eventually put up a video.
Sat outside reading and soaking up sun the following day, resting for the next day in town.
Bumper collection
Seems like I just shopped, but figured to stock up on everything before the last minute holiday rush in Yuma.
Yuma population close to 100,000
First stop, a shower at Joann’s place. She will spend Christmas with family, and we’ve already celebrated together. Then I shopped, dumped tanks, and filled propane driving round and round in busy traffic. Using Google maps gets me where I need to go but doesn’t really help me get to know the town.
Finally back to Ogilby Road and this time drove a little beyond the Tumco site to a remote area with a fantastic view of the Cargo Muchacho Mountains. (360° camp video here.) Sadly the signal was iffy at best so I guess the light I saw on the tallest peak isn’t a tower. Above that I saw Mars plus Orion rising over the ridge.
A 71° afternoon drew me out to explore a bit around camp. I sauntered along a two-track road and explored a few diggings and small holes in the Cargo Muchacho Mountains. Lots of white quartz, some showing sparkle of possible manganese, maybe a little turquoise, and perhaps that shinny stuff is gold and not pyrite. The bumper will be loaded with rock by the time I move on.
But I still have time here to enjoy a peaceful Christmas and more exploring. Like maybe the Center of the World. See you next year for more of this story.
Happy New Year!
Glad to see you are finally on this side of Yuma. Hopefully, we meet up before moving on down the road. Beautiful place you have there.
Nice to be out of the crowd by the VFW.
What’s not to like about a desert sunset? Guess a retired rangers pension includes a sunset bonus.
I’ve stood at the “Center of the World” several times, but the real draw for me is the “History of the World in Granite”. According to French Bibliotic: Felicity is the “Center of the World”. When you leave your beautiful campsite, enjoy your visit.
Sunrises will always be overtime for this Ranger. I wondered how hokey the Center of the World is, but the museum looks interesting.
Tried to toss a LIKE on here, but like so many WordPress sites, it’s a no go. Just know that I *did* like your post! ;->
Thanks. That LIKE button seems to work sometimes.
Sounds like you’ve found a lovely, warm spot for a bit. Nice bumper collection! Happiest 2023 to you & Miss Sierra!
Thanks. It’s a nice area for warmth and rocks. Happy New Year!
Looks like a good place to stay and not too cold. We are seeing how cold it is in some places in the US at present but it appears to be clearing a bit with now lots of rain in Buffalo NY. Of course you are on the West side and sensibly not on the East side!
Lovely set of photos and love to see Sierra with Elf.
Enjoy the New Year, we will drink to you, staying over night with friends,
Hugs from us both Diane and Nigel
Thanks. A little pocket of the Southwest didn’t get the cold blast, thank goodness. Cheers to you both for an amazing New Year!
You say you love a certain camping spot. But aren’t you worried about destroying what you love, by publicizing it on the internet?
It’s not like I’m camped somewhere the entire internet doesn’t already know about. Some places I keep to myself.
Not sure why the comments boxes in the middle of the comments but I guess it doesn’t matter. Happy New Year to you Sierra and your elf friend. I love the pictures of your skies out there in your wide open spaces.
Thanks, I do love the big skies over desert. I’ve given up trying to figure out WordPress. Guess it doesn’t matter where the comment goes as long as it goes.
Great shots of a great place. I first learned of Ogilby Road from Nina and then from George. Loved it there, the quiet is wonderful and the space is fantastic. Although, for some reason my phone keeps thinking I am in Mexico and tries to charge me for international calling. Learned to go farther north toward American Girl to keep that from happening, but then of course the signal fades out. Always something. Off grid is nice sometimes. Write Read Knit Sit with no internet and no phone is a good experience. And as the previous commenter posted, this spot is already pretty well publicized on the internet by all of us who have been blogging about it for 15 years or so. Takes a certain breed to love it there.
It’s nice here for a quiet Mojave desert experience. No biggie anymore about the phone. I could use mine in Mexico at no extra charge. And finally have a good signal.
Nice you could find some space not too close to others this time of year! Love the wispy clouds over the mountains and the cool hole in the side that looks like it’s been surprised 🙂
It is quiet out here with less people now that I’ve moved further out. Just the way I like it.
Hi Gaelyn, glad it wasn’t too cold where you are. As always , lovely photo’s here and what a lovely journey. I hope you enjoyed your Xmas. Wishing you all the very best for the coming new year 2023. Take car.
Thanks. Temps are hanging around 70-80°F, I like that, and can handle nights in the 50s. Happy New Year!
Wait a minute…is that a cave in next to last photo?? That’s where I’D be. Well, there’s so much there, your blog here. I’d not heard of this mountain range, thanks, will look up. Did you see any American Girls? (collection dolls I got my daughters) I looked up gorgeous blue Kyanite and learned has varied hardness, shares composition with two other minerals, and an orange variety in Tanzania. Didn’t imagine. Cool thx. Seeing the bumper rocks, thought came to mind, “bumper crop”…of rocks!! Cute elf again on his journeys. Fun. That COULD be a running gig. Speaking of a GT, I drove 17 Mile Rd, into GT of Signal, not much left, but found one of many mines there, on way to north side Apache Lake. Back to first photo…what’s that rock you think? Nice ending, Sierra found Elf:) Happy Newest Year.
Holes everywhere, big and small, from mining. I am an American Girl. I’d like to think that chunk of quartz has gold on it, but it’s likely to be pyrite. 🙁
I love that you are out and about and exploring things and finding out stuff and posting. Love it.
Happy New Year to you!!
Thanks. I don’t know what else to do. Happy New Year!