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Tag: apricity

14 January 2020

Watching and walking as the desert calls at Kofa NWR

Saguaro cactus desert Kofa Mountains BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaFeels like my winter life is getting closer to normal as I spend my January watching and walking as the desert calls and the weather allows.  The wind comes about every other day.

My mobile lifestyle allows me to BE dry camped—off grid—on this BLM managed piece of the Sonoran Desert adjacent to Kofa NWR free for 14 days.  It just is where I’m living at the time, doing what I like, with no particular time schedule.  Still sleeping in and not getting up for sunrise.  Actually, I frequently wake up in time for sunrise, note there are no clouds, and snuggle right back under the covers, Sierra curled by my side.

Ocotillo Saguaro Palo Verde desert clouds sunburst Palm Canyon Road BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge Arizona

Ocotillo Palo Verde clouds Palm Canyon Road BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaThe desert calls me to walk during the warmest part of the winter day in the 60°s.  Not usually the best light for photography unless there are clouds to give visual interest to the otherwise famous clear blue Arizona sky.

desert Kofa Mountains reverse sunset clouds moon Palm Canyon Road BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge Arizona

desert mountains sunset clouds Palm Canyon Road BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge Arizona

desert mountains sunset clouds Palm Canyon Road BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge Arizona

Ocotillo desert Kofa Mountains sunset clouds moon Palm Canyon Road BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaPlus Southwest sunsets carry their own fame.  And those I’m awake for, and sometimes bundled up enough to get outside.

desert Kofa Mountains Earth shadow moon Palm Canyon Road BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge Arizona

mountains sunset clouds Palm Canyon Road BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaYet winter wind can be quite chilling in the desert creating an uncomfortable crispness to the air after the sun goes down.

Saguaro cactus Palo Verde desert Kofa Mountains clouds Palm Canyon Road BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaWhen there’s no chilly wind I get my healing apricity with some walking exercise.  One afternoon I sauntered for almost three hours and never left sight of camp.  I was checking out the scenery, looking at rocks, and following trails for another possible place to camp on the north side of the road.  Less RVs in my view.

Saguaro cactus Palo Verde desert Palm Canyon Road BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaThe Palo Verde frequently acts as a shade providing nursery tree for Saguaro cactus. Then as the cactus grow taller and demand more water they often outcompete the tree and it dies. Not this survivor Palo Verde at 30+ feet tall even with mistletoe growing in its crown.

Palo Verde desert Kofa Mountains clouds Palm Canyon Road BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge Arizona

Kofa Mountains light & shadow clouds Palm Canyon Road BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaClouds blew in the day before actual full moon rise.  That’s when I like to scope out exactly where to see the moon on the horizon.  I watched the changing light, shadows, and colors of the Kofa Mountains to the east while the sun passed through the day.  Getting crowded out here.  Late in the afternoon two trailers set up two lanes behind me to the SSW.  Then a big 5th-wheel backed in to the south and almost out of sight behind the trees also two lanes over.  Interesting to watch the configuration of vehicles.  I saw a Smart car towing a small flatbed trailer and didn’t get a photo.

desert Kofa Mountains moon clouds Palm Canyon Road BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaI watched for the moon through clouds.

desert mountains sunset clouds crepuscular rays Palm Canyon Road BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaThen turned around for sunset’s silver lining and crepuscular rays.

As I began my second week without moving the truck I thought about driving the 30 minutes to town for a paid shower at the Quartzsite laundromat.  But below 55° felt cold to me with NW wind gusts up to 30mph so I did not feel like going out.  Hey, I live alone so it’s OK to be a dirtbag at least sometimes.

truckcamper Palm Canyon Road BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaWatch what you ask for.  Mid-afternoon, I started to smell propane like a tank is almost empty so when it went off I wasn’t surprised.  I just turned on the other tank, presumably full, and nothing happened.  It wouldn’t work.  WTF?  So I had to go to town to either fill the tank that was working and now empty or stay at a RV Park for electricity to keep the full fridge/freezer working.  While getting propane I was reminded these new fangled tank valves have to be opened very slowly or they register as a leak and won’t turn on until they reset, and that is an undetermined amount of time.  It’s a safety thing.  It worked.

desert late light Kofa Mountains Palm Canyon Road BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaNow it’s good for over a week.  I headed back to Palm Canyon and parked in a slightly different place just before dusk.

full wolf moon rising Kofa Mountains Palm Canyon Road BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge Arizona

full wolf moon rising Kofa Mountains Palm Canyon Road BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaI should have taken the tripod out but settled with just a few hand-held shots of the Wolf moon rising over a hill in the distance.  I will continue to practice night photography, especially if it’s not cold.

desert late light Kofa Mountains Palm Canyon Road BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaLike it was the next day with chill hair-blowing wind when I stayed mostly indoors watching the Kofa Mountains change color over the moving light of the day.

Creosote bush Saguaro cactus desert Kofa Mountains BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge Arizona

dead tree Saguaro cactus desert Kofa Mountains BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaThis followed by a gorgeous day of no wind, mid-60°s afternoon when the desert calls, “Visit the Saguaros.”

Saguaro cactus arms BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge Arizona

Saguaro cactus Kofa Mountains BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaMeet the cactus people, each so unique you will soon know them by name.

desert RVs Kofa Mountains clouds Palm Canyon Road BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaHave I been here too long? Excuse me, I have to go, the desert calls.

Saguaro cactus skeletonInside a dead Saguaro cactus

 

OK, maybe you already looked it up, but… “dirtbag – A person who is committed to a given … lifestyle to the point of abandoning employment and other societal norms in order to pursue said lifestyle.”

 

Big RV show 18-25 Quartzsite Arizona

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MscerVCt-tA&feature=share     documentary about Quartzsite

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Arizona, Kofa NWR, RV lifestyle apricity, desert healing, photography, winter 26 Comments
07 January 2020

Healing desert apricity at Kofa NWR

I almost chickened out.  Kept watching the predicted weather reports while enjoying the electric heat.  I could just stay longer and pay more rent.  But I so wanted to BE, sitting in the desert, no close neighbors, soaking up the healing desert apricity.

Ocotillo trees desert sunburst clouds Palm Canyon Road BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaApricity (n) – the warmth of the sun in winter.  I tend to find apricity in the desert but it can be found almost anywhere.  Hopefully where you are and especially if that’s in the cold northern hemisphere.

tanks tower building sunrise clouds North Ranch RV Park Congress ArizonaI once again slept through the midnight celebrations welcoming in the new year.  In fact, I went to bed early and actually woke in time for sunrise, thinking it was good practice for desert life.  Glad I’ll be heading to a better view than the water tanks.

OHV Road desert mountains Congress Arizona

Lonesome Saguaro mandela desert Congress Arizona

trees dry wash OHV trail Congress ArizonaJoann came down from Prescott and we walked into the BLM adjacent to North Ranch following an OHV track to the Lonesome Saguaro, which sadly looks like it’s been used for target practice.  I’m going to miss our weekly visits although she may come visit me in the desert.

truckcamper desert Kofa Mountains ArizonaI was in no rush the next morning.  Got a blog post scheduled for the next day, dumped tanks, fueled up and got on the road at noon.  Stopped for lunch a couple hours later in Quartzsite and was parked level by 3:30pm just under two miles off pavement along Palm Canyon Road on BLM adjacent to Kofa NWR.

I was actually awake in time for an uncolorful sunrise and was grateful for the heat of the oven to take off the morning chill at 39°.  And there’s part of the problem with getting up at the coldest part of the day.

Palo Verde & Ocotillo trees desert Palm Canyon Road BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaOnce it warmed, I went out for a two-hour mindful walk weaving between desert plants while exploring the vicinity south of camp.  I look for vegetation that could block the view of other RVs and make a good foreground in photos.  Palo Verde with dense twisted green branches, narrow stalks of Ocotillo some with green leaves and others with red flowers, Saguaro cactus are scattered and sparse unlike creosote bushes that are everywhere with burrow holes around the mounds at their base.  I never see anything go in or out.

Sierra cat on leash desert camper Palm Canyon Road Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaSierra came out for a little walk on her leash.  Then we sat and enjoyed the apricity.  With no wind, the desert is a quiet place.  I cannot find a specific word for that so have made up my own.

ocotillo desert sunset Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaDeserquies (n) – silence only found in the desert.  Think I should submit it to Webster?

desert clouds Palm Canyon Road Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaGayle came by to park for the night in her RV and we chatted the afternoon away.

Saguaro cactus desert Palm Canyon Road Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaThe next day we enjoyed a two hour saunter, sat and chatted, and then she left to meet up with a friend.  What an inspiration, she’s 83 and been RV traveling for 25 years.

Ocotillo tree desert sunset clouds Palm Canyon Road BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaI’m using the big camera and find it heavy and a bit difficult to zoom and focus with my lesser healed left hand.  By evening my arms and hands are sore.  I think the camera is acting up, intermittent shutter and focus problems.

Ocotillo tree red flowers moon Palm Canyon Road BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaThe desert warmth in winter frequently includes a cooling wind that can drop the temperature 10°.  I find plenty of healing desert apricity at 66° but wind and 56° not so much.  So some days I hang out in the camper enjoying my window views.  Watching hummingbirds on the brilliant red Ocotillo blooms.  It’s the moon in this shot.

desert last light Kofa Mountains Palm Canyon Road BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaOn those inside days I’m on the computer a lot and fortunately here I have a decent signal.  Clear sunny days mean the solar panel keeps my house battery up to snuff for lighting the propane refrigerator and lights in the evening.  I use an inverter plugged into the trucks power-point with an extension cord run into the camper to charge phone and laptop.

Ocotillo trees desert sunset clouds Palm Canyon Road BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaBeing it’s coldest in the wee morning hours I’m going back to my usual watch sunset, stay up late (11pm), and sleep in.  Since I broke my wrists I seem to easily sleep through ten hours a night.  Right now, if the wind stops, I enjoy being outside mid-day for more healing desert apricity.  It’s working.

Full moon rise Friday the 10th.

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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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