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Tag: Pinyon/Juniper

28 April 2020

Moving on up

Old welcome sign Yarnell ArizonaFrom the upper Sonoran desert in Congress, Arizona, rising temperatures had me moving on up in elevation with a change in scenery.  Starting with the familiar 2500 foot climb up Yarnell Hill along SR89, “Where the desert breeze meets the mountain air”, to Chaparral, and then beyond into Juniper/Pinyon woodland, 10° cooler with company on friends’ 45 off-grid acres.  It smells delightfully different.

A woke Friday morning in the desert to 77° at 8am.  A good time to be moving on up into cooler temperatures.  Stopped to fill the almost empty propane tank at B&B and left the wonky-only-intermittently-working tank behind to be either repaired or replaced.  This struggle has been going on for a year now and I believe Manchester needs to step up.  My guess, when the new regulations came out for horizontal use 5-gal propane tanks they answered the call and there are bugs in the valve system (like first updates on Windows).  We shall see.

Quick stop at the dollar store in Yarnell finally yielded two boxes of chintzey kleenex.  So why is it that Angle Soft TP bought at discount stores are wrapped loosely with less product for cheaper than other stores?  Hmmm, maybe why I don’t usually shop at those places.

Parked in front of Gilligan’s along main street Yarnell and called in my order to go.  Twenty minutes later I was sampling said pizza before bringing the rest to my hosts.  It passed inspection as usual and I ate another piece later for dinner with my friends.  Sadly, in the morning I suffered for that pizza as has been happening in the last several months with any pizza, one of my favorite comfort foods.  I may have to eliminate it or try gluten free.  I actually tracked what I ate for about a month and noticed that more than two slices of bread for a sandwich did the same thing, so, who knows, maybe another change in life.

Hassayampa bridge Wagnor Road Arizona

TK Bar Ranch fence Wagnor Road Walnut Grove ArizonaIt was after noon when I turned off SR89 onto Wagnor Road for the first nine miles, mostly paved, across the Hassayampa River bridge, through ranch land, much owned by Rex Maughan who also owns the Forever Resorts concession at several national parks and abroad.  Crossed several deep dry washes so was glad there’s no rain predicted for a while.

Chaparral mountain Crooks Canyon Road Walnut Grove ArizonaPulled in, parked and was distant visiting by 3pm. Took almost an hour from SR89 to go 12+ miles.  Of course I do drive slow like a granny should.

Mary has 45 acres with a marvelous straw-bale house they built, plus a guesthouse, and multiple shops. Jerry says she owns it and he gets to live there. And he has ‘stuff’ spread all over. After dinner he gave me the Royal tour.  Ford trucks, graders, grinders, and lift trucks, motors, generators, tractors, trailers, the bus conversion they lived in, and a fire truck. If he doesn’t have the part, he can make it. Tall and slightly bent at 80 he’s busy, on and off, all day and there just isn’t enough time to geteralldone.

Mary’s garden is a delightful piece of more cultivated green with flowers, ponds, vegetables, and outdoor art. The inside of the house reminds me of Berta’s in collections, antiques, miniatures, paintings, photographs, and arrowheads (some made by Jerry).

truckcamper Walnut Grove ArizonaAfter Mary showed me a few places she thought would be good to park and offer shade, I chose a spot with the most direct warm afternoon sun. Thank goodness for a breeze. I watched around me to see where the shade would be better.

stinky blue Phacelia flowers Walnut Grove Arizona

trees crescent moon Venus sunset Walnut Grove ArizonaGoing outside that night to turn off the inverter I suspected having a skunk neighbor.  However, it turns out to be a pretty blue Phacelia flower that is carpeting a lot of the land right now.

tree mountain sunset Walnut Grove ArizonaThe next day I dumped my holding tanks and moved into a shadier location.  I am surrounded by some old and healthy Juniper and Pinyon Pine trees.  Lots of shade to sit under for afternoon reading.

trees mountain sunset Walnut Grove ArizonaDistant views of the Weaver Mountains from a new perspective.

trees mountain sunset Walnut Grove ArizonaNow I just need to motivate enough to get out and take more photos of this beautiful place.

trees Weaver Mountains sunset clouds Walnut Grove ArizonaHow long I’ll be here is hard to say.  Current start date to return to work at Bryce Canyon National Park is May 10th.  Of course, that could change again.  I have to return to B&B in Congress to pick up my replacement propane tank.  Yes, the manufacturer is coming through.  Then it’s only another 20 miles to Wickenburg for my mail—including a replacement solar controller.

solar panel & windmill Walnut Grove ArizonaAlthough I am currently plugged into the solar system here to charge my phone and laptop I still need to work on the power issues.  Thanks for the suggestions.  A tablet just wouldn’t cut it for all I do on my laptop.  I need to beef up the solar system.  Hopefully, I’ll return to work soon and be able to afford that for next winter.

I can’t thank friends enough times for providing a place to park, though they may get tired of me.  Or summer temperatures will rise some more and then I’ll have to be moving on up to higher elevation again.  Guess I could live on the North Kaibab National Forest at 8000 feet next.

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Arizona, CORVID-19, Places I've been, RV life, United States, Walnut Grove friendocking, Pinyon/Juniper 32 Comments
04 June 2010

Transitions into Spring on the Colorado Plateau

I don’t consider going to town a “fun” day, especially when it involves having very expensive brakes put on the front of my truck. But it’s good for stopping.

Kaibab Plateau Hwy 67 South Kaibab National Forest Arizona

And on the drive back climbing out of the hot valley through the Pinyon/Juniper woodlands I enjoyed the transitions into spring on the Colorado Plateau and had to stop and smell the roses so to speak.

Cliff Rose Hwy 67 Kaibab National Forest Arizona

The Cliffroses are in full bloom and smell as sweet as any rose.

Cliff Rose Hwy 67 Kaibab National Forest Arizona

This shrub or small tree is part of the rose family displaying spring and summer flowers .75-1 inch (2-2.5 cm). The later fruit produces a cluster of showy, whitish, feathery tails.

Cliff Rose & bug Hwy 67 Kaibab National Forest Arizona

Cliffrose provides an important browse plant for deer especially in winter.

Bark of Clifrose Hwy 67 Kaibab National Forest Arizona

In the past, Native Americans used the shreddy bark to make rope, sandals and clothing.

Cliff Rose, Juniper & pinyon Hwy 67 Kaibab National Forest Arizona

Not the only bloom found in this dry, limestone rock under the pinyons and junipers.

Pink Sego Lilys Hwy 67 Kaibab National Forest Arizona

I discovered a true delight in the various shades of pinks the Sego Lilies exhibited.

White Sego Lily Hwy 67 Kaibab National Forest Arizona

I usually see only white Segos at a higher altitude in the park and later in June.

Pink Sego Lilys Hwy 67 Kaibab National Forest Arizona

This 3-petaled beauty can occasionally be seen in magenta or tinged with lilac.

Pink Sego Lilys Hwy 67 Kaibab National Forest Arizona

The Sego Lily is neighboring Utah’s state flower.

Yucca in bloom Hwy 67 Kaibab National Forest Arizona

The long creamy Banana Yucca blooms had started to turn into a pod-like fruit that looks much like squash and is edible as are the very moist flowers.

Desert Globemallow along Hwy 67 Kaibab National Forest Arizona

After a wet winter, the Desert Globemallow has formed a spectacular exuberance as it lines the highway.

Desert Globemallow Hwy 67 Kaibab National Forest Arizona

The many stems offer clusters of bright orange-red .5-1.5 inch (1.3-3.8 cm) flowers well into June.

Pinyon&Juniper woodlands Hwy 67 Kaibab National Forest Arizona

The Juniper/Pinyon woodlands grow from 5000-7000 feet (1524-2134 m) in a transition zone between desert and forest.

Pinyon Pine with cones Hwy 67 Kaibab National Forest Arizona

The “two-leaf” or “Colorado” Pinyon grows to 15-35 feet (4.6-10.7 m) tall on open, orchard-like slopes of the plateau.

Pinyon Pine cone against sky Hwy 67 Kaibab National Forest Arizona

The delicious edible seeds, known as pine nuts or Indian nuts, can be eaten raw or roasted and once provided a staple food for southwestern Indians. I love to gather them in the fall if I can beat the pinyon jays, wild turkeys, packrats and deer to the harvest.

Utah Juniper Hwy 67 Kaibab National Forest Arizona

The Utah Juniper, also called a cedar, has scale-like leaves and produces bluish green berries which are edible but I find them a little bitter.

Shoe on rock along Hwy 67 Kaibab National Forest Arizona

I also found a “shoealongroadside” looking a rather dull gray beside a Desert Sage. I believe it to be an invasive species, not the sage which smells rather nice in comparison. Sure wish travelers wouldn’t leave these things behind. And there’s probably one hopping child somewhere.

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Arizona, Colorado Plateau Kaibab Plateau, Pinyon/Juniper, spring, wildflowers 19 Comments

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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