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Category: Kirkland

31 May 2022

Days to play after going to town


Geogypsy

Thursday is town day, avoiding most working people’s weekend, and leaves me six days to play every week.  This retirement thing just might work out.  Especially if I only have to go to town every other week.  That’s my goal leaving more days to play.  I mean why is it, when I lived 2 1/2 hours from shopping I only went to town every 3-4 weeks, and now only 30 minutes away I go weekly.  Ugh.  Not my cup of tea.  Speaking of tea, note my new profile pic to match the rest of my struggling new Geogypsy brand on YouTube.  More about that coming.


Prickly Poppy Skull Valley AZ

Anyway, another reason for Thursday to town includes stopping at the dump weekly.  One 13 gallon bag, and sometimes something else, ranges from $1-$3, depending on who’s there or maybe a whim.  I don’t know.  It’s cheap enough.  That also being the southern direction for this town day about an hour away to Wickenburg.  It would be warmer 2200 feet lower in elevation so I took off early for me.

Prickly Poppies at the gate

repaving Iron Springs Rd Kirkland AZOf course the road is being resealed, it’s summer around here.  Stopped along the way at Peeples Valley Market and bought local ground beef plus filled the camper’s propane tanks to refrigerate my groceries for the return journey.  Drove through Yarnell and took video driving down the Yarnell Hill on SR89 because I’ve wanted to for a long time.  Haven’t shared yet.  Made a thrift store donation of—dare I say—outgrown clothes, and bought a couple summer tops and shorts.  I haven’t needed summer clothes in many years as I usually wore a uniform.  After stocking up groceries for an anticipated two weeks, I returned via Congress to meet Gypsy for lunch.  Two hours later, I discovered the local laundromat closed.  Minimal hand wash would get me through another week.

sunset clouds Skull Valley AZNice way to end a long day.

Sierra cat on desk Skull Valley AZFirst of six days to play often becomes a down day, recovery sort of from all the running around from town day.  I’m not entirely lazy as I work on the computer and online.  Why do I call it work?  Not used to retirement so I have personal work that I’m going to start calling play.  What the heck, nobody’s paying me to do this, yet.  I loved my work for so many years it’s a hard habit to break.  OK, I will admit to a lot of reading on the couch, with my feet elevated.  And thus, the only photo taken, from said couch.

sign Please Close GateBesides, the next morning was another early rise to beat the heat as I met Joann at the gate around 7am for a day trip in search of flowering cactus.

horses feeding fence mts AZJust the other side of Brushy Mountain from where I live, in the Lower Kirkland Valley a gravel sideroad caught our eyes.  We stopped regularly to take photos.  This is ranch country, horses and cattle.

Turkey Vulture birds perched Kirkland AZ

Turkey Vulture bird roosting Kirkland AZTurkey Vulture bird roosting Kirkland AZ

                                                                           Hello handsome

A wake of Turkey Vultures alerted us to a small wetland.  They perched at the top of mostly dead trees, some exposing stretched wings to the morning sun.  There was very little water.

Willows nursery log Kirkland AZGrowing out of a nursery tree

pink Desert willow tree flowers Kirkland AZYet enough to support the Desert Willow with showy blooms.

rd desert mts SR96 AZ

gate frames moon AZBack on pavement it was not long before a wide shoulder with a closed but not locked gate beckoned.  It appeared to be State Trust Land presumably “leased” to graze cattle. More about that in the video.

yellow Prickly Pear cactus flowers AZ

bee inside yellow Pickley Pear cactus flower SR96 AZbee inside yellow Pickley Pear cactus flower SR96 AZ

I was glad to see even sparse flowers on the Prickly Pear cactus though many were already gone.  Lots of pollinators doing their jobs.

cactus boulders SR96 AZ

Saguaro cactus flowers & buds AZWe continued westward, downhill through a curvy canyon noting the limited shoulder parking for the return drive.  Certainly in Saguaro country and just starting to flower.

gravel rd AZ

Santa Maria R AZAnother gravel sideroad drew us along 13 miles according to a sign, sometimes following the Santa Maria River/dry wash.  Almost turned around a couple times, but what’s just up ahead pulled us on.  Plus, even without looking at a map the direction would dump us onto a known highway.

broken windmill abandoned ranch Santa Maria R Rd AZSaguaro cactus buds Santa Maria R Rd AZ

Stopped at an abandoned ranch which I included in the video and saw more Saguaros covered with buds but only a few flowers.  Just a little early.

valley below Bagdad AZValley below Bagdad

Sure enough, we ended up on US93 and went north a short ways then looped back to SR96 and took a left to Bagdad for lunch.

cabin AZ

abandoned house desert AZTurned around and closed the loop with an additional stop for yet another abandoned building (again in the video).

wrinkled Saguaro cactus SR96 AZOnce back on the road towards home, thought I saw a cristate or crested-like Saguaro.  Located high above the road without a good place to park I merely snapped a few quick shots.  Once the images were on the computer and I could zoom in an extremely wrinkled cactus appeared.  I was told by a Sonoran Desert Ranger friend it’s a wannabe cristate.

It took nine hours to cover 180 miles of fun and still had four days of play left to my week.

Raven bird walking Skull Valley AZI spent the entire next day playing with photos and making a video of the previous day’s adventure.

trees boulders Skull Valley AZHad to balance out all that sitting at the computer so dragged my butt out for another early morning walk.

meadow trees boulders Skull Valley AZGone for 1 1/2 hours and barely walked half a mile.  I feel a little guilty even calling it a walk.  Especially as I’ve been watching two friends walk the 500 mile Camino de Santiago.  But for me this is good.  It would take me a lifetime to walk that far.

Cottonwoods Skull Valley AZWalked west through the gravel pit and to the big wash that had just a little bit of puddle water.

dead tree boulders Skull Valley AZOf course I took video and haven’t done anything with it, yet.  It’s an interesting balancing act carrying the big camera and using the phone for video, but I’m getting better at it.

Whiptail lizard Skull Valley AZWhiptail lizard

I am easily entertained by my window views and think I live in Lizard Land where there seems unlimited days to play.  So many different species.

Gamble Quail birds Skull Valley AZThe Gamble Quail strut by every morning, and if not within sight of each other call back and forth, and back and forth, and…  Repeat that show in the late afternoon.  Could be a nest nearby but I haven’t seen any little ones.  I continue to dream about summer travel.  Yet may have to be content with days to play on the ranch.  It’s not a bad place to be.

old car Skull Valley AZI know, I’m pushing the videos.  Trying hard to set some goals which include continued traveling on a limited Social Security income.  I didn’t plan for retirement because I figured I’d have to work until I die.  Seasonal employees for the National Park Service don’t earn retirement.  It was a trade off, but retirement reality is setting in.  I have skills and should be able to earn supplemental income doing what I love, travel, write, photograph, share stories, and now video.  So, I’ve taken on a new job called play.  And I’ll share more about that coming up.  In the meantime, I created another video introducing myself to the YouTube world.  And then ran out of days to play because it was Thursday, and you know what that means.  I didn’t make it two weeks between town runs because I HAD to get the laundry done.

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Arizona, Bagdad, Kirkland, Places I've been, Skull Valley, United States abandoned ranches, birds, cactus, cristate, flowers, road trip 25 Comments
24 October 2016

Pack, move, park and settle in Kirkland Arizona

October 20-24, 2016

RV view North Martin Mountain Kirkland ArizonaMy new Kirkland view of Martin Mountain and the RR tracks

RVers who move frequently have the pack and move down pat, as do I under travel mode.  But after being parked in one place for six months I tend to spread out and decorate a bit so there’s more to put away for the 5th-wheel roll.  Yet after moving the big RV twice a year for the last 11 I have it down and I’m ready to settle in Kirkland Arizona for the winter.

I start packing about two days before moving.  If I put things away too soon I’m sure to need them.  And don’t think I pack for two days solid.  I just putter around at it.  Tackling one thing at a time in between being online, reading and writing blog posts, labeling at least three month old photos, and checking chores off the list.  There’s always a list.  A lot can be forgotten since the last move six months ago.

Morning light on pines from RV North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaActually, it just felt good not to set and wake up to the alarm clock to get ready for work.  I’ll miss that by spring when it’s time to return to Grand Canyon.  I like to just hang out in my RV home.  Especially after six months of being on for the park’s paparazzi.  All day long the sun filters through the giant Ponderosa Pines in my back yard, shadows work their way from west to east.

Bill and Sasha arrived Thursday afternoon.  He helped me get a few last minute things done like take down the booster plus haul a few things in the back of his truck making it less crowded inside the 5er with the slides in.

Truck & 5th-wheel leaving North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaHit the road Friday about noon headed only four hours away to Flagstaff.  No photos along this drive but you’ve seen the route before off the Kaibab Plateau, past Vermilion Cliffs, over the Colorado River at Marble Canyon, through the Navajo Reservation and Painted Desert and over the pass next to Humphrey’s Peak.

Bill's truck in side mirror SR67 North Kaibab National Forest ArizonaPulled into Flagstaff KOA about 4:30.  I’d requested and reserved a site large enough to accommodate the truck connected to the 36-foot 5th-wheel with three slide-outs plus space for Bill’s Toyota pickup.  Only needed to hook up to water and electric.  Was told the site is 55 feet long yet I have my doubts the curved and unlevel gravel with holes and rocks is anywhere near that as truck and 5er barely fit in.  Without unhitching there was no way to get the RV leveled front to back although I did put levelers under the truck’s back tires to help a little.  We slept nose down and I feared knocking Bill out of bed.  I do love all the towering pines, but this old park isn’t easy for today’s big RVs.  Water was on the wrong side so I didn’t bother for our one night stay.  No photos as I was too tired.

We had a very nice dinner at Pita Jungle.  Made a quick stop at Whole Foods, REI and Eddie Bauer for Bill.  Called it an early night as we were both tired after the morning’s final packing.

On the road by 9am Saturday morning and the 2 1/2 hour drive brought us to Kirkland.  Some of the route bypassing Prescott on Iron Springs Road is being resurfaced so the speed limit is only 35mph but no actual construction going on Friday through Sunday.

Martin Mountain from Kirkland RV Park Kirkland ArizonaMet Mike the Kirkland RV Park manager, the owner lives in San Diego.  Nice guy.  After meeting me he decided which site I’d get.  I must have impressed him somehow as I’m far back on an elongated loop away from the road with cottonwood trees to provide shade, still a concern at this elevation (just below 4000 ‘), and a northern view of Martin Mountain.  Plus the RR tracks.  So far only about 3-4 trains in a day.  Bill heard one in the wee hours but I zoned right through it.  Not terribly noisy for long although they do have to blow the whistle due to the nearby crossing.

 

 

 

View North Kirkland RV Park Kirkland ArizonaWith Mike and Bill’s help I backed into this relatively spacious site between the trees and utilities.  I’m not good at backing up the 5th-wheel but I do know how with some time, patience, and a good spotter.  Best part, I was absolutely level side to side and when unhitched from the truck level front to back too.  I think that’s probably a delightful first.  Set up was easy and out went the slides.

Light & shadow on hills North of Kirkland Arizona

Light on plants Kirkland Arizona

Fall Poplar near RV Kirkland ArizonaWe sat outside and enjoyed the breezy view for a couple of well deserved hours.  The light on fall drying vegetation so different than I’m used to.  Poplars instead of Aspen and low scrubby brush means learning some new plants.

Martin Mountain Kirkland ArizonaMet two neighbors; next door is Cindy, a single 50s lady who seems nice and so far very quiet, and Tom across the street who Bill says is originally from California.  It’s a quiet place full of retirees.  There’s an empty site next to me so could get another neighbor.  Martin Mountain, Cindy said the locals call it “Old man snoring” and sees that from both left to right and right to left.  I only see it one way.  How about you?

Drove the 14 miles to Berta’s for dinner in Yarnell.  The dark drive back was really dark with no streetlights anywhere.  Just how I like it under a bowl full of stars.

BNSF train engine Kirkland ArizonaBill left Sunday afternoon and I puttered around setting up the computer with good internet signal but only 1-2 bars on the phone so will put up the booster again and hope for the best.  Windows wide open the first time in months, no heaters running overnight.  In fact as I sat typing it was almost too hot, but not hot enough to put on the AC.  Yikes, I’m paying for electricity again.  Along with my view of Martin Mountain the other side of the train tracks runs the road to Bagdad, neither very busy.

Building & Martin Mountain Kirkland Arizona

Sunset Kirkland Arizona

Sunset Kirkland ArizonaJust at the end of the road is an open area with some kind of building, I know not what, and a marvelous sunset view over the McCloud Mountains.

Sunset Kirkland Arizona

Rabbits Kirkland Arizona

Sunset Kirkland ArizonaI followed game trails around what looked like coyote scat, grasshoppers bounced out of my way, quail flew by, and rabbits searched for food allowing me to get mighty close.  I hear that coyote, javalina, and fox are frequently seen and recently a coatimundi.  I’m so happy this place is right out my door.  Will do more exploring after I finish setting up.

Sunset Kirkland Arizona

Sunset Kirkland ArizonaNot quite done unpacking and still have to hook up the sewer and signal booster.  Then time to put the camper back on the truck and ready for an early November trip to the South Rim for the Grand Canyon History Symposium.  Yippee!!!  A canyon fix.  Then maybe slow down a bit, hide out for a while, take day rides to explore the area, and just settle in Kirkland Arizona.

Lenticular clouds over hills North from RV Kirkland ArizonaHowever, today I plan to relax a bit, listen to the wind bring in possible rain and watch clouds dance over the hills.  And dream of some new adventures for the winter.

Except it seems today is lawn mowing day, so there is that.

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Hi, I’m Gaelyn, the Geogypsy

I retired after 29 summer seasons as a Park Ranger, traveling solo for 40+ years. My passions include travel, connecting to nature, photography, and sharing stories.

I started exploring US National Parks in 1977 and 20 years later became a seasonal Park Ranger.  I’ve lived full-time in a RV for 30 years working summers and playing winters.  I’m still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow old, other than grow up.

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