moon rise Cargo Muchacho Mts BLM Tumco CAI made plans to watch the moon over Cargo Muchacho Mountains, and went to town preparing for a couple busy days with company, followed by down days making plans for the next move.

Cargo Muchacho Mts BLM Tumco CASomething I’ve noticed in only one year of retirement is my lack of making plans.  There’s no work schedule to dictate up to 40 hours a week or more.  Meeting basic needs while RV boondocking becomes my main reason to make plans.  Sure glad my needs are minimal and can be met in this desert/mountain environment near Yuma, Arizona.

moon rise Cargo Muchacho Mts BLM Tumco CAmoon rise Cargo Muchacho Mts BLM Tumco CA

moon rise Cargo Muchacho Mts BLM Tumco CAmoon rise Cargo Muchacho Mts BLM Tumco CA

I find myself making plans to watch the moon many days ahead of an actual full moon rise.  Using PhotoPills and the Photographer’s Ephemeris plus a compass I try to figure out approximately where the moon will rise over the horizon.

moon rise Cargo Muchacho Mts BLM Tumco CA

moon rise Cargo Muchacho Mts BLM Tumco CAI do like the jagged line of mountains in the foreground which means the actual time the moon crests a peak/ridge will be later than a low horizon line.

Ocotillo sunset clouds Cargo Muchacho Mts BLM Tumco CA

sunset clouds Cargo Muchacho Mts BLM Tumco CAI also tend to shoot several days before the 100% full moon as that puts the rise before, during, or soon after sunset providing ambient light.  Then lazy me doesn’t dig out the tripod and just shoots hand-held.  Those plans worked pretty well two days before the full moon.  And with sunsets.

mts moon clouds Cargo Muchacho Mts BLM Tumco CA

mts moon clouds Cargo Muchacho Mts BLM Tumco CAClouds and a chill wind from the southern edge of that huge storm over California made for eerie skies.  Clouds do make for colorful sunsets but also changed the plans to watch the moon the next night.

mts sunrise clouds Cargo Muchacho Mts BLM Tumco CA

desert mts sunrise Cargo Muchacho Mts BLM Tumco CAWith plans to shop in Yuma, I was up early enough the next day for a rewarding sunrise.

Ocotillo moon set Cargo Muchacho Mts BLM Tumco CA

Ocotillo moon set Cargo Muchacho Mts BLM Tumco CAI had no plans to watch the moon set yet was lucky enough for mostly clear views behind the spray of Ocotillo branches.

Ocotillo moon set Cargo Muchacho Mts BLM Tumco CA

Ocotillo moon set Cargo Muchacho Mts BLM Tumco CATown tends to be a full day.  I made plans to run errands on the west side of town, actually mapping out the route—propane, post office, dump tanks, and shop—before visiting with Joann including a nice long hot shower and she super spoiled me with home-made soup.

moon rise Cargo Muchacho Mts BLM Tumco CA

moon rise Cargo Muchacho Mts BLM Tumco CAWith plans to watch the moon in full, I barely made it back to camp at dusk and was too tired to put up the tripod.  My company arrived after dark.  They had driven from Santa Barbra, California, a minimum six hour drive, and left just ahead of the storms.

camp rigs BLM Cargo Muchacho Mts Tumco CA

sign Center of the World Felicity CA

pyramid Center of the World Felicity CAWe made plans over a friendly bacon and eggs breakfast in my camper.  They refitted the car they were camped in and we took a drive to the Center of the World.  Which is located only about 12 miles away so I figure that includes me.

sign Museum of History in Granite Center of the World Felicity CA

church Center of the World Felicity CAOnce there, we opted out of the $7/person fee even though the Museum of History in Granite had been recommended.  If there’s a vortex at the center of the world, I didn’t feel anything.

Plank Rd Historic Site Imperial Sand Dunes CAWe also visited the historic Plank Road.  Imagine the drive from San Diego to Yuma trying to cross six miles of up to 300 foot tall sand dunes in an early 1900s automobile.  No 4-wheel drive back then.

Plank Rd Historic Site Imperial Sand Dunes CAIn 1915 the plank road was built by placing 8×12 foot sections of boards held together with metal and bolts and set end to end across the sand.  Traffic was one way so every 1000 feet an extra section was set in width to allow for passing.  Wind blown sand would obliterate the road and horses were used to scrape the sand and reposition the sections.  Finally, in 1926 a paved road was built, now Interstate 8, and the plank road was abandoned.  In the 1970s a group of people formed and preserved 1500 feet as a historic landmark.

Cargo Muchacho Mts BLM Tumco CAThe next day our plans included taking a walk into the Cargo Muchacho Mountains.

tracks Cargo Muchacho Mts BLM Tumco CA

grasshopper white Mallow flower Cargo Muchacho Mts BLM Tumco CAThe 1 1/2 mile loop took us a couple hours as we looked at the view, rocks, lots of animal tracks that looked like bobcat and deer to me, and a lone mallow with a tiny grasshopper inside.  It’s so nice to find folks that like to walk as slow as I do.

sunrise clouds BLM Cargo Muchacho Mts Tumco CAThey left early Monday for the uncertain drive to Santa Barbra and ended up in a hotel in Ventura because of flooding and closures on 101.  Safe is good and more important than the plans made to be home that day.

sunrise clouds BLM Cargo Muchacho Mts Tumco CALucky me, stayed home with no plans.  A down day, and pretty sunset.

sunrise clouds BLM Cargo Muchacho Mts Tumco CA

clouds BLM Cargo Muchacho Mts Tumco CAThe next day wind blew the clouds into ever changing window displays for my entertainment.

sunset clouds BLM Cargo Muchacho Mts Tumco CAI started making plans for my next move to the Quartzsite area.  But no rush, I didn’t figure on leaving the Cargo Muchacho Mountains for another week.  (Blog posts are always a week or two behind real time.)  And by then, I’ll be making plans to watch the moon over the Kofa Mountains.

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New Water Mts full moon rise MST&T Rd BLM Kofa NWR AZYou might recognize this shot from the 2022 Geogypsy calendar

Speaking of full moons, I plan to be at Kofa National Wildlife Refuge for February’s full moon.  Join me for this Geogypsy Journey, 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