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Tag: boondocking

Making a jump in June chasing comfortable temperatures: Ash Fork to Williams AZ

01 DSC_2141lewfbr wild iris camp Kaibab NF FR48 Williams AZWild Iris Kaibab National Forest Arizona

Yes, I’m a bit behind sharing stories of my summer travels.

02 20240617_103545lewfbr Gaelyn sheep camp Kaibab NF FR48 Williams AZ-2I have managed to create a few videos but am also behind there.  You can watch Boondocking with sheep under the Pines  https://youtu.be/FPT0uQkEsao  for more about my Williams camp.

03 DSC_1977lewfbr sheep FR35 Kaibab NF Ash Fork AZI continued to enjoy the Junipers and meadows, complete with sheep, on the Kaibab National Forest south of Ash Fork Arizona into early June before making a jump to another area of forest south of Williams.

04 DSC_2061alewfbr White Horse Lake Kaibab NF AZ fbWhite Horse Lake Kaibab National Forest Arizona

Ron visited from Congress so we took his Jeep on a couple of backroad rides.  I love connecting the dots on my map and exploring areas I wouldn’t drive the RV.

05 093519lecwfbr elk crossing Perkinsville Rd S Kaibab NF AZ-2Without shopping in Ash Fork it was time to look for other options and Williams, only 22 miles east on I40, seemed just right and especially with another bump up in elevation to avoid heat.  After free dump and fill plus a grocery stop I parked the RV south of town and we took the Jeep out on forest roads in search of another ideal camp.

06 DSC_2116lewfbr glow on grass camp FR48 Kaibab NF Williams AZ fbOnly 12 miles from Williams on the Kaibab National Forest we found a large camp with nobody nearby.

07 20240605_100727leytr Jeep with hood up FR48 Kaibab NF Williams AZ-2Sadly, the Jeep’s transmission linkage broke so I walked a ways back to a camper and asked for a ride about four miles back to my RV.  After doing some online research, Ron figured out what part was needed and ordered it from a store in Williams.  Ron slid under the Jeep and replaced a bushing to make the Jeep move again.

08 20240605_165823lecwfbr sheep RV camp FR48 Kaibab NF Williams AZ gfb-3While he worked four-legged sheep visitors moved through camp, more than once, and didn’t give us a second look.  After repairs it was time for Ron to return to his pets and high heat at lower elevation in Congress, 100+° while I enjoyed the 80s.

09 20240607_152947leecccwfbr Red Garter Williams AZ fb-5The Red Garter Williams Arizona

I enjoyed visiting with friends from Grand Canyon before making a jump further east then north of Bellemont and up once again in elevation.

10 123712-2 RV leaving Williams campPeople who don’t live at high elevation often don’t understand the lack of oxygen and struggle breathing.  Congress 3045’, Ash Fork 5181’, Williams 6916’, Bellemont 7132’, Flagstaff 6821’.  And then there’s Reverse Elevation sickness.

 

Arizona, Kaibab National Forest, Places I've been, RV life, United States , , 16 Comments

April in southern Arizona

last light Organ pipe cactus ORPI NM AZ

The last blog post was April 24th as I prepared to leave Old Fogey Hot Spring in southern Arizona then continued further south to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.  How can that be as I roll through early June while writing this post?   I am reminded by Sue that blogging has fallen by the wayside for many.  And to be fair I am sharing my stories on YouTube now at  https://www.youtube.com/@geogypsytraveler/.  Yea, I know, not everybody does YouTube, however there will be many links to videos I’ve posted since the last blog post.  Just sayin’.  If you like what you see please subscribe to the channel.  You can check out ideas about summer travel plans and monetization here.

RV cg ORPI NM AZI continued into southern Arizona most specifically to attend a Ranger wedding where they met years ago while working at Organ Pipe Cactus.  It was a three day affair that included the solar eclipse, and I camped in the park’s campground.

desert late light Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZ

desert sunset Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZBut before that I spent a few days boondocking south of Ajo near a favorite BLM site along the Darby Well Road.

Plaza Ajo AZThen before heading to Organ Pipe went into Ajo for groceries, laundry, and a visit to the Plaza where I bought myself a few pieces of jewelry.

ring earrings pendant Ajo AZOld Sterling Silver & Turquoise ring & necklace, plus hand-carved Pipestone turtle earrings

I’m really not collecting again after the fire, but if I see a piece I love that fits, well it becomes mine.

Space X Sonoran Desert ORPI MN AZSpace X seen from campground

Most of the wedding party were, or still are, Park Rangers from all over North America, so of course we got along fabulously.

Saguaro cristate Ajo Mt Dr ORPI NM AZCrested Saguaro

dbl arch Ajo Mt Dr ORPI NM AZDouble Arch

One day we carpooled on the Ajo Mt loop drive making stops along the way.

hawk Saguaro Ajo Mt Dr ORPI NM AZcactus flowers Ajo Mt Dr ORPI NM AZ

Took four hours for the 21 mile drive.  That’s naturalists for you.

Ramsey & Chelsea hands ORPI NM AZThe next day, before the wedding ceremony, we shared food at the group camp area while safely watching 75% of the solar eclipse.

desert eclipse site ORPI NM AZsolar eclipse

I set up camera on tripod and shot about every 5-10 minutes then eventually put together a composite.

RV sunset Darby Well BLM Ajo AZ

desert moon Jupiter Darby Well BLM Ajo AZ

Gaelyn tophat eclipseBrittlebush Ocotillo Darby Well BLM Ajo AZ

After the wedding activities I returned to Darby Well Road for about a week of camping and learning how to make the eclipse composite while enjoying the southern Arizona Sonoran desert outside my door.

Plaza Ajo AZ

RV camp BLM Alley Rd Ajo AZThen back to town for groceries and postcards where a different boondock was recommended along Alley Road.

Organ Pipe cactus spine glow yellow Brittlebush Alley Rd BLM Ajo AZOrgan Pipe cactus spine glow Alley Rd BLM Ajo AZ

I love that new camp location even better, if that’s possible, because of less traffic and people, and more dense Sonoran desert vegetation.

desert mt Alley Rd BLM Ajo AZNear enough to a tower to successfully work online and load videos.

desert sunset Alley Rd BLM Ajo AZ

desert Ajo Pk sunset Alley Rd BLM Ajo AZ

RV reflection sunset clouds Alley Rd BLM Ajo AZdesert sunset Alley Rd BLM Ajo AZ

Spectacular sunsets.

desert mt moon Alley Rd BLM Ajo AZmt moon rise bird Alley Rd BLM Ajo AZ

moon rise Alley Rd BLM Ajo AZSaguaro desert mt moon rise Alley Rd BLM Ajo AZ

Watched the full moon rise.

Coyote Alley Rd BLM Ajo AZAnd had a coyote visitor.

yellow Brittlebush flowers Ajo Mt sunset clouds Alley Rd BLM Ajo AZ

desert last light Alley Rd BLM Ajo AZ

yellow Brittlebush flowers clouds Alley Rd BLM Ajo AZI spent another week before starting slowly northwards.

RV in carport Yuma AZJoann’s neighbor let me park across the street

Next stop, a visit with Joann in Yuma for a couple days.

red Ocotillo flowers Kofa Mts BLM La Paz Valley AZ

desert Chocolate Mts sunset BLM La Paz Valley AZThen a five day stop, still in southern Arizona, on BLM adjacent to Kofa National Wildlife Refuge.

flowering Saguaro SR97 to Bagdad AZMay 1st I arrived in Congress where something special happened.

 

Yes, there are a lot of photos here.  But there’s even more good ones laced into the linked videos.  I believe some of these will be contenders for the Geogypsy 2025 calendar.  Have any favorites?

Ajo, Arizona, Kofa NWR, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Places I've been, United States, Yuma , , 21 Comments

Waiting for shipments while watching the desert world in Quartzsite Arizona

sunrise burst Kofa Mts BLM camp Palm Canyon Rd AZ

Over the last three months, since the fire, I seem to do a lot of waiting. Waiting for the insurance company while waiting to get a replacement vehicle. Waiting to replace stuff lost in the fire. Waiting to see who bought what off my Amazon wish list. Thank you everyone.  Waiting to return to the middle of nowhere Arizona.

cheap drill
Remote and distant from shopping, that I don’t like to do anyway. I’ve bought more stuff/junk from Amazon in the last month than in my entire life. And it seems I’m always waiting for some order, and frequently disappointed with the products.  Description and reality are often not in agreement.

bus BLM N of Yuma AZ
Even drove 1 1/2 hours to Yuma to finally buy a laptop. After too much time agonizing over which one to buy, my choice was not in stock. So I waited over a week for it to be shipped to an address in Quartzsite, only ten minutes from camp.  Best Buy strung me along for two weeks with four different lies before admitting the model was out of stock, everywhere but China where ASUS comes from.  Cancelled that order.  After a super long day in town I spent the night just north of Yuma.

stuff to go away La Posa South LTVA BLM camp Quartzsite AZ

Give away

old art La Posa South LTVA BLM camp Quartzsite AZ

Throw away old high school art work

In the meantime, I worked on reducing the amount of stuff in the 5th-wheel, still making piles and packing boxes under the bed in my new wheeleastate.

sunset clouds Kofa Mts La Posa South LTVA BLM camp Quartzsite AZ

05b DSC_0049lewr sunset clouds Chocolate Mts La Posa South LTVA BLM camp Quartzsite AZ

05c DSC_0056lewr sunset clouds New Water Mts La Posa South LTVA BLM camp Quartzsite AZ

Plus enjoyed several magical desert sunsets.

06 DSC_0065lecwr moon New Water Mts La Posa LTVA BLM camp Quartzsite AZ

Waiting for the moon.

07 IMG_20231118_151910364lewr Fall Festival concert city park Quartzsite AZ g-2

Attended a concert in the Quartzsite City Park and listened to awesome rock-n-roll music from our past, 1960s, 70s and 80s.  Fun to imagine people in the crowd attending concerts in their past.

08 DSC_0062lecwr sunset clouds Chocolate Mts La Posa South LTVA BLM camp Quartzsite AZ g
I waited two weeks for a refrigerator/freezer that will hold 7.5 cubic feet including space for ice cream. A big step up from 3.2 cubic feet and barely room for an ice cube tray.  Sadly, it was never shipped as it was out of stock but Amazon strung me along.  Cancelled that order.  And enjoyed more sunsets.

09 IMG_20231123_160350677_HDRlecwr people Thanksgiving Lit Cactus La Posa South LTVA BLM Quartzsite AZ-2

Lots of awesome and friendly people clustered together in the desert. Friday nights there’s always happenings at the Lit Cactus located next door.  Over 200 people gathered for a magnificent potluck Thanksgiving.  No problem staying busy and lots of socializing.  Almost like living a perpetual block party.

10a IMG_20231122_123137337_HDRlewr bus Kofa BLM Palm Canyon Rd AZ-2

10b IMG_20231121_174227944_HDRlewr bus Kofa Mts Earth Shadow moon BLM AZ-2

When it got too peoplee, I went away a few days further into the desert to recharge near the Kofa mountains.

11 DSC_0098lewr desert moon Kofa Mts Palm Canyon Rd BLM camp AZ

Tried to shoot the moon with the new camera.

12a DSC_0082alewr sunset sundog clouds Chocolate Mts Palm Canyon Rd BLM camp AZ-Pano

Seem to have better luck with sunsets.

13 DSC_0094lewr sunset Kofa Mts Palm Canyon Rd BLM camp AZ

How I love it out there in the middle of nowhere.

14a IMG_20231204_130327498_HDRlewr Tim new fuel pump bus La Posa South LTVA BLM camp Quartzsite AZ-2

Returned to the La Posa South camp and my rig died. Better there next to Tim the mechanic than the middle of nowhere.  Only waited a couple days for a fuel pump replaced and rolling again.

15 DSC_0118lecwr camp fire La Posa South LTVA BLM camp Quartzsite AZ

While waiting, I enjoyed campfire with friends.

16 DSC_0141lewr sunset Chocolate Mts La Posa South LTVA BLM camp Quartzsite AZ

And more sunsets.

17 IMG_20231212_144441598_HDRlewr new laptop-2

Decided to omit the middleman and ordered a HP.com laptop. Even paid extra for priority two-day shipping.  They got the address wrong and shipped it to someone in PA.  More waiting.  In fact, they wanted me to wait until the misdelivered order was returned before reshipping and I screamed NO.  This time I only waited two business days for my 17” HP Envy laptop.  Of course, I am still waiting to totally figure out Windows 11.  (OMG, there’s an app for that!)  This post was successfully completed on the laptop including photos processed in Lightroom.

18 IMG_20231116_173414362_HDRlewr sunset clouds New Water Mts La Posa South LTVA BLM camp Quartzsite AZ g-2

Though I stay busy all day, I don’t mind waiting for more amazing desert sunsets.

 

Arizona, Places I've been, Quartzsite, RV life, United States , , , 25 Comments

Lijit

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