It was difficult mentally to leave the southern Sonoran Desert? I did spend most of the first three months of the year enjoying the desert for my yard. Even after leaving the Ajo area a short journey took me north, yet still in the upper reaches of the Sonoran Desert, to Wickenburg and Congress area which sort of feel like home.
I thought about several options and possible plans for the ‘where next’ from the Ajo area and ended up staying one night at Belly Acres RV Park to dump, fill, shower, and charge. Also gave me time to formulate a plan for the next day that was basically a reverse of January’s trip south. Doesn’t seem like I can plan much further than that right now.
Left in the morning with thoughts of grocery shopping either locally or in Buckeye which is a much bigger town. Yet I wasn’t desperate for anything in particular. It’s just the unknowing of what stock will be like at the next store option.
Instead I drove the familiar historic Highway 80 to the west of Buckeye and stopped once again at the Gillespie bridge and dam.
The water was a little higher than my last stop. With Cormorants and Great Egrets about.
I didn’t stay long as the mosquitoes were densely visible and over friendly.
Continuing a slow ride north on back roads I felt like somewhere between peaceful Earth and the Twilight Zone. Traffic was minimal.
Approaching the dips and rise along Vulture Mine Road I hit the brakes and found a firm shoulder to park on for brilliant patches of poppies under gray overcast sky.
Pulled onto BLM camping and joined quite a few others, though still parked further apart than a campground or RV park. For only one night I didn’t get too far off the road. Walked about and found a few flowers between the cholla forest.
The next day I braved into the town of Wickenburg and when I pulled into the busy parking lot at Safeway almost changed my mind. Instead, I got up my nerve, put on my gloves, and went inside. Thank goodness it’s a big store and most people were staying out of each other’s way. I got what little I needed and got out unscathed.
Already had an appointment the next day in Congress for an oil change and two new tires on the truck so I went to their local BLM off Ghost Town Road not too far from an old cemetery. Exploring my new yard lead to a nearby wash where I startled a cottontail followed by a jackrabbit startling me.
After the truck maintenance, I went to the Dollar Store and although there was no paper products on the shelf a clerk asked if I needed anything and went in back to get me a 12-pack of TP and two rolls of paper towels. It’s hard to thank these people enough for their continued service.
This is where Al and Kelly from the Bayfield Bunch lived for several winters
Then I returned to Ghost Town Road and parked one site over from the previous day and finally had a decent signal. Now that I have two propane tanks again I’m good boondocking for two weeks at a time.
Joann stopped by for some physically distant visiting and we went for a short walk in the desert. She’s been encouraging me to create more videos similar to the one I did touring my Darby Well camp. I did try another here but with the wind it’s impossible to hear most of it so I’ll keep working on that.
Been spending way too much time on Facebook yet I need to interact with others, stay abreast with the news (that’s almost a joke), and get in a good laugh (might include the previous).
As of 6pm last night “Bryce Canyon National Park will temporarily close until further notice effective Tuesday, April 7 at 5 p.m.”
And so I am on hold in a safe place with nearby services. I watch and listen to the birds, rabbits hopping everywhere, and enjoy the comfortable temperatures in the 60-70°F range during the day and low 50s at night.
Think I’ll go sit outside in my Sonoran Desert yard, possibly in the shade of the overly trimmed Palo Verde tree that somebody even screwed a board into which makes me sad. But the beautiful world around me makes me smile.
