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Tag: full moon

18 April 2023

Boondocking and birds at Mittry Lake

last light tall grass lake Mittry Lake Yuma AZLeft the Sonoran Desert on my birthday, March 26, spent one night at Owl, and then Yuma before heading to Mittry Lake.  I am excited to be boondocking by water!

Lupine & creosote flowers SR85 AZLupine along SR85

After two weeks boondocking on the Sonoran Desert, and five months without a water fix, I decided it was time for a change, like Mittry Lake.  As I was packing to roll, the door to the camper wouldn’t open.  There’s been problems with this 27-year old rig and the sagging door is only one.  Finally managed to pry the door open and then took a piece off the bottom of the frame, and viola, now it opens and closes.  Sometimes I amaze myself.  I even took a short video.

sign Tamales for Sale SR85 Ajo AZDriving through Ajo I saw a sign for home-made tamales for sale and hit the brakes.  Oh yum.  Bought six pork with red sauce for $20.  If you think that’s expensive, you’ve never made tamales.  Years ago I helped make traditional Christmas tamales and now I understand.

tamaleI popped right into the camper and enjoyed a delicious tamale birthday brunch.

Hist80 Owl AZThen drove north about an hour to Gila Bend to dump and fill tanks for free before hitting Interstate 8 west for a familiar one night stop below the Mohawk Mountains.

last light Hist80 Owl AZSpent the afternoon replying to birthday wishes online.  Thank you all.  Oh so nice sitting below a tower and having great signal with a beautiful view.

Mohawk Mts sunset Hist80 Owl AZ

strawberry shortcakeAnd enjoying the evening light before my favorite pizza dinner and strawberry shortcake for desert.

wrecking yard Owl AZLeaving camp in the morning I decided to drive the Historic 80 west—at least as far as I could—towards Yuma.  And I finally got to see Owl, Arizona, or at least what’s left of it.

wrecking yard Owl AZold bus wrecking yard Owl AZ

This wrecking yard is loaded with old RVs, trucks, buses, and cars.  I only parked on the shoulder to take photos but will keep it in mind for parts.  Sadly I didn’t see any slide-in campers like mine.

abandoned gas station Hist 80 Tacna AZTacna AZ

I continued west at a comfortable 55mph, barely any traffic, and better pavement than the within sight interstate.  I need to backroad more often as I really dislike the pressure of driving interstates.  Colfred, Tacna, Noah, Asher—mostly a few abandoned buildings with lots of farmland—and Wellton where I stopped at a small RV Park for the best price seen for propane.  Another few miles to Ligurta and no choice but return to interstate for the last mountain pass west into Imperial Valley and the Yuma sprawl.

The slow road put me behind getting to Yuma where I shopped at Wally’s and finally got to Joann’s by 1pm.  She had lunch made, chicken, green beans, and salad.  But the best part, she made me fudge for my birthday, lots of fudge, months worth of fudge.  Took a shower and while doing laundry we watched an interesting documentary about owls.

sunset VFW-BLM Yuma AZWas getting too late in the afternoon to look for a campsite at the unfamiliar Mittry Lake so I spent the night at the VFW-BLM and it’s a little less crowded in March but still noisy.

After a few more chores in town I took a slow drive north on Laguna Dam Road in search of a camp near water at Mittry Lake.  Twenty-six years ago I learned about boondocking here while caravanning with another nomad.  Earlier this winter, Joann and I drove out to the lake.

sluiceway gate irg canal Yuma AZI stopped at the historic sluiceway gate used to hold back silt and built by the Bureau of Reclamation after the 1909 completion of the Laguna Dam. Water diverted from the Colorado River is used for agricultural irrigation in Yuma.  If you eat greens in the USA, they likely came from Yuma.

After nine miles the pavement ends and the gravel road is doable even for a small car.  I followed the shoreline of Mittry Lake and saw a few choice camps right on the water, all full and also right along the road.  There are day use areas, a boat launch, a few gravel two tracks going uphill away from Mittry Lake, and a parking lot camp.  None of those appealed to me.  So I kept on driving and took video along the way.

Mittry Lake Yuma AZAfter three miles of gravel I found another boat launch including a dock for small fishing boats and kayaks, and a handful of boondockers respectfully spaced apart.  Perfect.

Egret bird in flight Mittry Lake Yuma AZAlmost immediately I saw an Egret in flight.

Great-tailed Grackle birds on tree Mittry Lake Yuma AZ

Great-tailed Grackle birds in flight Mittry Lake Yuma AZLater when out for an evening walk I saw a plague/group of Great-tailed Grackles roosting and soaring.

last light grasses water mts clouds Mittry Lake Yuma AZ

sunset clouds Mittry Lake Yuma AZHow special to watch a reflection at sunset on Mittry Lake.

Mallard ducks water Mittry Lake Yuma AZ

Anna's hummingbird yellow flowering creosote bush Mittry Lake Yuma AZ

Osprey bird soaring Mittry Lake Yuma AZYou know while boondocking near the Cargo Muchacho Mountains this winter I was missing birds and fortunately I saw some birds later in the Sonoran Desert.  Mallards and Coots swimming, hummingbirds hanging out with flowering creosote, and all the time Osprey soaring over Mittry Lake in the hopes of spotting and catching a fish.  Only saw one drop and splash once but I wasn’t fast enough to get photos.

Saguaro Mittry Lake Yuma AZTook a walk to the only Saguaro within sight through desert of Palo Verde, Mesquite and giant creosote.

camp from walk Mittry Lake Yuma AZSuch a crazy contrast seeing desert plants next to so much water.  Mittry Lake is actually a 600 acre section of the Colorado River entrapped between the Imperial and Laguna dams.

military plane Mittry Lake Yuma AZIt’s also adjacent to the Yuma Proving Grounds so silence is sometimes broken by military planes, jets, and helicopters.

lake clouds sunset crepuscular rays Mittry Lake Yuma AZ

lake marsh mts sunsest clouds rays Mittry Lake Yuma AZEvery night a fabulous sunset show.

Great-tailed Grackle birds posturing Mittry Lake Yuma AZA windy day made 67° feel chilly so I stayed inside working on a video about the drive from Organ Pipe Cactus to my Sonoran Desert camp.  Towers in three distant directions kept the signal strong.  I also watched out the window while two male Grackles postured and the females ignored them and ate ants.

window sunset clouds Mittry Lake Yuma AZAnd didn’t even get outside for sunset.

Osprey bird soaring Mittry Lake Yuma AZimm Yellow-rumped Warbler bird Mittry Lake Yuma AZ

                                           Osprey                                                                                Maybe Yellow-rumped Warbler         

The next day was calm and at 74° I moved a chair around my truck between sun and shade watching birds between book chapters.

reflection sunset clouds Mittry Lake Yuma AZEven stayed calm for a magnificent reflected sunset on Mittry Lake.

people dogs kayaks Mittry Lake Yuma AZWeekend had one neighbor leaving, and so I took their space just a little closer to Mittry Lake.  Also more traffic with people launching small fishing boats and lots of kayaks.  I don’t fish but was told by neighbor Eric from Canada who had a small boat at the dock people caught mostly Bluegill and Bass, though he hadn’t any luck catching anything.  Several tent campers arrived and the couple, Mark and Alice, nearest me had rather loud voices.  I was entertained with their obvious newbie antics.  This is one of the most social places I’ve camped all winter and I learned just about everybody’s name.

sunset window view Mittry Lake Yuma AZJoann came by Saturday afternoon and we sat outside chatting away, which means I didn’t take photos until sunset.

Swallow birds murmur reeds mts Mittry Lake Yuma AZMonday morning I woke in time for a calm sunrise and got down to the water in time to catch the murmur of Swallows.

dusty view Mittry Lake Yuma AZ

dusty view Mittry Lake Yuma AZLater the wind kicked in and blew dust that obscured the not so distant mountain views.

Osprey & Swallow birds soaring Mittry Lake Yuma AZDidn’t stop the Osprey, or the Swallow giving chase.

Gaelyn shadow on reeds Mittry Lake Yuma AZThen cleared in time for sunset.

Osprey bird soaring Mittry Lake Yuma AZFollowed by another day of high wind, with no dust, that rocked the camper and kept me inside again.  I was undecided about my next move.  Temperatures in the Yuma area would soon reach the high 90s headed to 100°.  I contemplated going north to Kofa for the full moon and then home to Skull Valley.  But honestly, I’m not ready to go “home” yet.

brush moon Mittry Lake Yuma AZDid make it outside after the moon had broke horizon.

reflection mts sunset clouds Mittry Lake Yuma AZPlus caught another reflective sunset.

Cottontail rabbit running Mittry Lake Yuma AZWednesday morning I woke up cold to 43°.  Crazy weather.  Here I am worried about moving out of high heat.  I look out the window and see a Cottontail only a few days early for Easter.

Laguna Dam Rd & Gila Main Canal Mittry Lake Yuma AZ

camper Mittry Lake Yuma AZIn the afternoon I took a walk along the nearby Laguna Dam Road that runs parallel to the Gila Main canal and Mittry Lake.  The water runs swift and cold.

full moon rise Mittry Lake Yuma AZ

full moon rise Mittry Lake Yuma AZ

full moon rise Mittry Lake Yuma AZThat night I caught the moon best I could.

sunset Mittry Lake Yuma AZJust around sunset.

Ground squirrel Mittry Lake Yuma AZLife really is a balancing act.  And so I move on from Mittry Lake.

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Arizona, Mittry Lake, Places I've been, United States, Yuma bird watching, birthday, boondocking, full moon, sunsets 15 Comments
21 March 2023

Chasing the moon Kofa to Owl Arizona

Saguaro desert Kofa Mts sunset moon King Rd BLM Kofa AZStayed at my Kofa camp and shot the pre-full moon for a few nights before clouds settled in.  Then left, chasing the moon first to cloudy Yuma followed by clear skies in *Owl, Arizona.

desert Kofa Mts moon King Rd BLM Kofa AZI spent four days chasing the moon before it was full, starting at my Kofa camp.

Saguaro moon King Rd BLM Kofa AZ

Saguaro moon King Rd BLM Kofa AZSadly, I wasn’t always paying enough attention to see it break over the horizon during a cloudless afternoon.  But I did have fun shooting the moon with the big Saguaro cactus next to my camp.

Northern Mockingbird in flight cactus King Rd BLM Kofa AZAnd I tried for birds.  They’re so fast, this Mockingbird didn’t pose for long.  Would have been really cool to catch a bird on the cactus with the moon nearby.  I’ll have to work on that.

mt bird moon rise King Rd BLM Kofa AZ

Saguaro desert mt moon rise King Rd BLM Kofa AZI was way more prepared the following day and under clear sky found myself chasing the moon up over the horizon of the rugged Kofa Mountains, not for the first time.

Saguaro mt moon King Rd BLM Kofa AZAnd still played with the cactus.

sunset clouds King Rd BLM Kofa AZPlus enjoyed a lovely sunset.

Mockingbird Saguaro King Rd BLM Kofa AZThe next day’s clouds didn’t forebode well for chasing the moon.  Yet a bland gray sky makes a nice background for shooting birds.  And when I’m inside editing video, like this one about safe boondocking in bad desert weather, the camper acts like a bird-hide.

Mockingbird Saguaro King Rd BLM Kofa AZAnd if the windows are clean enough some shots come out pretty good among the scores of lousy ones.  Bonus is listening to the elaborate song of the Mockingbird, named for their ability to mimic everything from sirens to other bird species.  I don’t talk to them for fear of them sharing my secrets.

desert Chocolate Mts sunset clouds King Rd BLM Kofa AZBummer about clouds obscuring the moon however did bring on a delightful sunset.

Coyote

Sierra in bed King Rd BLM Kofa AZSierra when I tell her “We’re going to roll.”

In the morning I discovered the trail-cam caught a coyote after dark, and that the camper was out of propane.  The later meaning I have no choice but to move to a town for a refill.

desert Kofa Mts sunrise clouds King Rd BLM Kofa AZ

bumper rock collection King Rd BLM Kofa AZAnd being clouds were predicted through the day and into the night my decision sent me toddling south to Yuma.  So I said a sad goodbye to the Kofa Mountains and my lovely rock collection and hit the road.

RVs BLM-VFW Yuma AZAfter filling both propane tanks and getting a few groceries I ended up back at the BLM-VFW camp just north of town.  Thank goodness for just one night, with cloud cover there was no chasing the moon.

Sierra cat in bedI left that crazy camp by 9am, rather early for me, to visit Joann plus shower, laundry, fill water bottles, and she fed me.  We talked about improving ourselves, looking for the right words, and so far like “evolving” meaning change and growth.  I love our mind expanding conversations.  Left her place to dump tanks and drop off garbage bags for free at the Speedway.  Then hopped on Interstate 8 east to continue chasing the moon from my next camp.

desert Mohawk Mts Owl AZ

purple Phacalia flowers Mohawk Mts Owl AZred flowering Ocotillo Mohawk Mts Owl AZ

                                       Phacelia                                                                Ocotillo

Exit Mohawk Valley, where I didn’t actually go.  Years ago I tripped on a little piece of BLM land in the Mohawk Mountains with many small drainages that offered wildflowers at this time of year.  Sadly, not as many this year but still a pretty place.

camp view E Hist80 & I8 Mohawk Valley Owl AZAnd not a bad place to boondock considering how close to the Interstate and railroad.  You can see that camp in this video.

moon light behind Mohawk Mts Owl AZmoon light clouds behind Mohawk Mts Owl AZ

full moon rising clouds Mohawk Mts Owl AZfull moon rise Mohawk Mts Owl AZ

Even with some clouds I did watch the moon rise over the Mohawk Mountains well after dark but was too lazy to set up the tripod so handheld doesn’t come out very good.

desert full moon set Mohawk Mts BLM Owl AZ

full moon set bushes Mohawk Mts BLM Owl AZBut the following morning came out much better as the moon set and ended March’s time for chasing the moon.

Next stop Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument and here’s the road trip to get there.

*Owl, Arizona was established as a water station at Mohawk Mountain pass in 1870.  Later a garage and dance hall was built and people came from 50 miles away to dance.  The town burned in the early 1960s and is now privately owned by J.L. Foraker.

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Arizona, full moon, Kofa NWR, photography, Places I've been, Sonoran desert, United States, Yuma boondocking, full moon, moon, photography, Sonoran Desert 13 Comments
11 January 2023

Greeting the new year Cargo Muchacho Mountains boondock

dry wash mts clouds Cargo Muchacho Mts BLM Tumco CAIt’s been cloudy with intermittent blue sky over the Cargo Muchacho Mountains where I’ve taken a few walks exploring the terrain.

desert mts sunrise clouds Cargo Muchacho Mts BLM Tumco CAI love winter in the warm Southwest because I frequently wake up in time for sunrise.  Clouds certainly enhance that morning experience but usually mean there’s some weather on the way.

Gaelyn camper flag shadow BLM Tumco CAThe overnight rain was predicted to last all day but instead the sky cleared and I sat outside.

possible moon planets alignment BLM Tumco CAThat night I kind of tried to shoot the alignment of planets using the cell phone as I was too lazy to get the tripod out for the big camera.

rd mts first light clouds Cargo Muchacho Mts BLM Tumco CA

desert dunes snow on mts clouds BLM Tumco CAMorning light on Imperial Sand Dunes and snow on distant mountains

The next day was also cloudy over the the Cargo Muchacho Mountains with high wind that did open up a bit through the day but pretty much kept me inside.

desert mts sunset clouds Cargo Muchacho Mts BLM Tumco CA

waxing moon BLM Tumco CATurned into a day of musing.  I thought about going to town being almost out of ice cream.  But I didn’t have the gumption to move.  Instead I spent a bit of the day dreaming of summer travels.  I’ve been trying to revisit the Pacific Northwest for over ten years.  Last summer’s trip that didn’t happen would have included that and beyond if the fuel prices hasn’t gotten so high.  I’m thinking north on the east side of the Cascade Mountains and back south down the Pacific coast visiting people, exploring hot springs and rockhounding along the way.

too close RV BLM Cargo Muchacho Mts Tumco CAWindow view

In the afternoon an RV pulled in and became a new neighbor parking, where I think, too close.  There’s not many people camped out here so there’s lots of room around the Cargo Muchacho Mountains.  My general boondocking rule includes parking at least 1000 feet apart when possible.  Out of sight is even better.

fog Cargo Muchacho Mts BLM Tumco CA

low clouds Cargo Muchacho Mts BLM Tumco CAFriday morning brought fog and low clouds with 98% humidity.

clouds Cargo Muchacho Mts BLM Tumco CA

chrysocolla rock Cargo Muchacho Mts BLM Tumco CAYet it cleared enough later for a lovely walk into the Cargo Muchacho Mountains where I saw some pretty rock.  Most likely chrysocolla but I keep looking for turquoise, or gold.

Doug & Yuma BLM Cargo Muchacho Mts Tumco CALong time friend and fellow blogger Doug stopped by with his dog Yuma and we caught up.  They’ve been camped nearby.

Gaelyn finger holding water for Dean BLM Tumco CAA neighbor went to town and picked me up some ice cream.  That saved me from having to move until next year.  Upon his return he offered to fill my empty water jugs from the 100 gallon tank in the bed of his pickup truck.  Sadly, the spare tire had fallen on and broke the spigot so there wasn’t much water left in the tank.  I tried to help while he found a cap and felt like the Dutch boy with my finger in the dike.  I actually ended up giving him a gallon of water for the night.

sunrise clouds Cargo Muchacho Mts BLM Tumco CASunrise

He returned to town the next day to replace the spigot and filled my water jugs after returning to camp.

sunset clouds Cargo Muchacho Mts BLM Tumco CA

sunset clouds Cargo Muchacho Mts BLM Tumco CASunset

The last day of 2022 was a stay home day.

SierraWe went to bed long before midnight.

mts clouds BLM Cargo Muchacho Mts Tumco CAFirst morning of 2023 brought light rain that either cleared off or was blown away by the 30mph wind that rocked the camper all day long.  I barely got out the door to put away the chairs and table before they ended up on top of the Cargo Muchacho Mountains.  I waited for a brief lull to get back inside.

Ocotillo sunrise clouds BLM Cargo Muchacho Mts Tumco CAEven with most of the clouds gone later, the western horizon was obliterated by a sandy haze.  I made a video through multiple windows greeting the New Year.

sunrise clouds Cargo Muchacho Mts BLM Tumco CA

reverse sunrise clouds Cargo Muchacho Mts BLM Tumco CAThe next day, no wind and a pretty sunrise.  A boondocking neighbor had to call an ambulance for a visiting friend who got sick.  Basically they were dehydrated and got a saline drip.  Glad it was nothing more serious.  Nice to know emergency vehicles can find us in these remote areas.  All campers within sight came together to offer assistance if needed.

dry wash mts clouds Cargo Muchacho Mts BLM Tumco CA

moth on yellow flowers Cargo Muchacho Mts BLM Tumco CAFinally, the third day of the new year I got out for a walk.  I had in mind to find a different place to park without the too close neighbor.  I followed a large wash that might give options for wildlife, or at least some birds.

fenced Hedges cemetery Tumco CABut even though access was good it’s right next to the fenced cemetery and I didn’t feel comfortable with that.  Cemeteries don’t bother me but I figured people would want to visit it so might get traffic.

valley Cargo Muchacho Mts BLM Tumco CAI decided to stay in the same site for the full moon rise over the Cargo Muchacho Mountains though it seemed a good possibility clouds might obscure the view.

———————————————————————–

Kofa Mts moon rise Kofa NWR AZSpeaking of full moons, I plan to be at Kofa National Wildlife Refuge for February’s full moon.  Join me for this Geogypsy Journey Tour, Sharing the Kofa Light February 2-6.  From morning to moon, early February light dances with the Kofa Mountains located south of Quartzsite, Arizona.  Join me to explore the Sonoran Desert life, geology, and history. RV/camp for free on BLM public land adjacent to the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge.  More information here.

2022 Sharing the Kofa Light

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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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