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!
