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Tag: RV life

14 July 2024

Moving on to May in Congress Arizona

last light valley from Date Crk Mts Congress AZOK, so I only seem to blog monthly these days, maybe that’s because I’m exceedingly busy, and also working on videos.  I did a bit of moving around in May, starting with Congress and ending near Ash Fork, but still haven’t left Arizona.

Gaelyn & Ron in side-by-side Congress AZMeet Ron

I left you at the end of April with a surprise.

RV Congress camp AZ

light & shadow Date Crk Mts Cemetery Rd BLM Congress AZ

desert Date Crk Mts sunset Cemetery Rd BLM Congress AZArrived in Congress Arizona May 1st to a not overly crowded BLM site off Ghost Town and Cemetery Roads.

desert light Date Crk Mts Cemetery Rd BLM Congress AZ

Date Crk Mts sunset Cemetery Rd BLM Congress AZThis is a familiar area for my Spring and Fall migration.

dead rattlesnake Cemetery Rd Congress AZThree days later Jerry stopped by to tell me he’d accidently run over a rattle snake nearby.  It was dead and I wanted the rattles.  So I grabbed a pair of scissors that could have been sharper and as I approached the obviously dead snake a man rode up in a side-by-side OHV.  I handed him my phone with video running and said point it at me please.

side-by-side ride Date Crk Mts valleyThen he invited me for a ride.  I grabbed my water bottle and jumped in still wearing my slippers.

side-by-side ride Weaver Mts

side-by-side ride Weaver MtsRon is a friend of Jerry’s, and a local to Congress for many years.  We went places I would never otherwise see.  Some where distinct two-tracks, others not so much.

Gaelyn at mine adit Weaver Mts AZ

Weaver Mts mine shaftThis has been mining country since the 1500s when the Spanish arrived from Mexico into what is now Arizona bringing along donkeys to carry the loads.  These sturdy creatures easily survived the harsh conditions found in the desert SW.

opening donkey corral Date Creek Mts Congress AZ

stone donkey corral Congress AZ

arrastra grinding stone Weaver MtsThe dry stack walls of this donkey corral is evidence of their use during mining when they would pull the grinding stone called an arrastres over the ore laden rock.  Fascinating!

Gaelyn side-by-side Congress AZ

Date Crk Mts Congress mine AZNow I’ve cursed those noisy, dusty, rude-driven, OHVs forever.

town view Congress mine AZBut after several fun and amazing trips into the surrounding country on roads that might not be roads, I’m kind of hooked.  Well, not enough to buy one, however…

side-by-side ride Date Crk Mts Congress AZ

side-by-side Date Crk Mts Congress AZOver the next several days that became weeks I saw so much of the land I’d never drive to in my RV, or any previously owned vehicle.

side-by-side ride W RR easement to Wickenburg AZ

RR tressel Congress AZWe took RR easements and backroads with the side-by-side to Wickenburg then accessed more backroads to ride in a box canyon.

side-by-side ride Hassayampa R Wickenburg AZ

side-by-side ride Hassayampa R Wickenburg AZThe Hassayampa River originates as a small spring just south of Prescott Arizona and flows 100 miles to the Gila River near Hassayampa.  Sometimes it flows underground and thus the Native name meaning “river that flows upside down.”

side-by-side ride Hassayampa R Wickenburg AZ

Hassayampa R box canyon AZAn anonymous poet wrote: Those who drink its waters bright — Red man, white man, boor or knight, Girls or women, boys or men — Never tell the truth again.

side-by-side ride Hassayampa R Wickenburg AZ

Gaelyn RZR Hassayampa R ride Wickenburg AZI didn’t drink any of the water but did drive through some and even waded just a little.

Monte Cristo mine Constellation Rd WIckenburg AZMonte Cristo mine

O'Brien mine bldg Constellation Rd Wickenburg AZO’Brien mine

Gold Bar mine Consellation Rd Wickenburg AZGold Bar mine

Another backroad took us past several old mines, some inactive but still held by a claim.  Ron knows a lot of these old miners and got permission to explore on their property.

Bloo Nelley mine Constellation Rd WIckenburg AZI got a private tour of the Bloo Nelley mine and the owners are working on several projects open to the public.  I took video of the tour and it will be posted eventually.

storm clouds Date Crk Mts Congress AZ

storm clouds Date Crk Mts Congress AZThere was also plenty of time for sky watching from my desert camp.

Joshua trees rest area US93 AZ

flowering Saguaro SR97 to Bagdad AZ

flowering Saguaro SR97 to Bagdad AZ

flowering Palo Verde tree desert rd off Bagdad Hwy AZ

Bagdad mine AZBagdad mine

A long-day loop-drive went through a Joshua Tree forest, past a few flowering Saguaro and lunch in Bagdad Arizona before returning to Congress.

bumper rock collection Congress AZAfter three weeks playing in Congress and temperatures rising toward triple digits It was time for me to move on.

clouds Yarnell Hill SR89 N AZ

Iron Springs Rd Skull Valley AZI headed north up the familiar Yarnell Hill, through Skull Valley and stopped to visit a friend in Dewey.

full moon rise Dewey AZfull moon rise Dewey AZ

Kept an eye on the full moon from a rural yet urban location.

light on grasses trees clouds FR35 Kaibab NF Ash Fork AZ

Orange Mallow flowers grasses Juniper tree FR35 Kaibab NF Ash Fork AZBy the end of May I was ready for some quiet time out in the middle of nowhere so I headed north on SR89 to find a camp on the Kaibab National Forest south of Ash Fork.

Orange Mallow flowers grasses Juniper trees FR35 Kaibab NF Ash Fork AZ

orange Mallow flowers bee FR35 Kaibab NF Ash Fork AZ

tree sunset FR35 Kaibab NF Ash Fork AZ

trees sunset clouds FR35 Kaibab NF Ash Fork AZTurned out to be a real beautiful landscape of flower-filled grassy meadows and low Juniper trees topped by breathtaking sunsets.

flock sheep FR35 Kaibab NF Ash Fork AZ

flock sheep RV FR35 Kaibab NF Ash Fork AZ

RV flock sheep FR35 Kaibab NF Ash Fork AZ

flock sheep FR35 Kaibab NF Ash Fork AZAnd four-legged visitors, who set up a little dust but just moved on past, several times during the rest of the month and into June, which will be part of the next post along with a two-legged visitor.

sheep FR35 Kaibab NF Ash Fork AZ

sheep FR35 Kaibab NF Ash Fork AZOf course I have since moved on to a couple more forest camps in June and July and will share them eventually.  I do recommend checking out my YouTube channel and subscribing to see more of my adventures, even though admittedly I’m not current there either.  Guess I’ve just been busy enjoying life.

last light grasses & flowers trees FR35 Kaibab NF Ash Fork AZBTW, I’m starting to think about a 2025 calendar.  How about you?  Please let me know if you see some photo worthy of including and if you’re interested in purchasing a calendar.

 

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Arizona, Bagdad, Congress, Kaibab National Forest, Places I've been, United States, Wickenburg OHV, RV life 20 Comments
24 April 2024

Back on the road again

RV sunset reflection Pilot Knob BLM LTVA Felicity CAWasn’t sure I’d ever get back on the road again, especially with three RVs.  But here I am, solo* and on the road again traveling in the new RV revisiting places and exploring new spaces while thinking about summer and what to do.

sunrise moon Pilot Knob BLM LTVA Felicity CAOnce the 5th-wheel and shuttle bus were sold I was free to get back on the road again, and I was more than ready to leave Quartzsite drama behind.  I had nothing on my calendar until an early April wedding in Ajo, southern Arizona. 

Say's Phoebe bird on side mirror Pilot Knob BLM LTVA Feliity CASay’s Phoebe

During early March, I set up camp just west of Yuma, across the border into California, at Pilot Knob LTVA BLM (Long Term Visitor Area permitted by Bureau of Land Management). 

yellow Desert Marigold & purple Sand Verbena flowers Pilot Knob BLM LTVA Felicity CADesert Marigold & Sand Verbena

Only 20 minutes on the road from Joann’s place so we got in a lot of visiting. 

sunset Pilot Knob BLM LTVA Felicity CAMy timing was constantly off there because California was still on daylight savings time.  I literally had to ask Google “What time is it in Arizona?”  Solved problem with a clock/thermometer I bought at a thrift store, about a week before stupid savings time ended. 

white Desert Lily & yellow Creosote flowers Pilot Knob BLM LTVA Felicity CADesert Lily in Creosote bush

bumper rocks Pilot Knob BLM LTVA Felicity CABumper rock collection

You’ll find more of this story, and others, on my YouTube channel.  I know, not everybody wants to go there.  That’s OK by me.  But I do want to share that I made it past 1000 subscribers and want to thank those of you that helped make that happen.  I’m not really monetized, yet.  However I’ll have some big news about it all very soon.

sunset Mittry Lake Yuma AZStill staying nearby Yuma, I got on the road and went for a total change of scenery at Mittry Lake, actually a reservoir along the dammed Colorado River.  I camped there last winter and loved it. 

storm clouds Mittry Lake Yuma AZ

sunset Mittry Lake Yuma AZMaybe rising Spring temperatures and rain brought the mosquitoes that descended every evening at dusk. 

Great-tailed Grackle birds Mittry Lake Yuma AZGreat-tailed Grackles

Yet bugs bring birds. 

Osprey bird Mittry Lake Yuma AZ

Osprey bird Mittry Lake Yuma AZPlus I spent much time watching the Osprey soar, stoop, and hopefully catch a fish when I heard a splash that was out of sight. 

boat Mittry Lake Yuma AZPeople who launch small boats and fished sometimes caught a decent sized bass or two. 

sunset Mittry Lake Yuma AZ

sunset Mittry Lake Yuma AZIf nothing else, sunsets reflected on water where worth the stay even if I sometimes had to shoot through the screen door. 

Space X Falcon 9 launch Mittry Lake Yuma AZAnd then I got lucky and saw SpaceX Falcon 9 fly cross the sky. 

clouds reflection Mittry Lake Yuma AZ

bees bearding Mittry Lake Yuma AZOne afternoon, I heard a large swarm of honey bees that clustered on a bush in what is called “bearding”, a resting practice that a swarm of bees will do when searching for a new hive site.  Got video and shared as a SHORT.

Imperial Sand Dunes CA

Gaelyn Imperial Sand Dunes CA by JoannMarch 26th, time for something different, because IT’S MY BIRTHDAY!  OK, it’s over now.  I returned to Pilot Knob for a night and Joann and I went on the road for a reconnaissance trip in her minivan to check out my next possible camp.  With fudge brownies for on the road we headed west on Interstate 8. 

Plank Rd Imperial Sand dunes CA

Plank Rd CAFirst stop, the Plank Road, original way to drive your 1915 Model-T across the Imperial Sand Dunes.  Would you do that? 

Imperial Sand Dunes CAIt’s mind boggling to think of building an Interstate highway and an irrigation canal across five miles of shifting sand. 

Old Fogey hot spring Holtville CA

Old Fogey Hotspring Holtville CAThen less than 20 miles further on the road, in a dry Mojave desert, we found a cluster of palm trees shading the semi-developed Holtville hot spring located on BLM with nearby boondocking.

Old Fogey Hotspring Holtville CA

Gaelyn Old Fogey HotspringI got on the road and returned the next day, set up camp, and soaked in Old Fogey hot spring while waiting for friends to join me for a couple days. 

Old Fogey Hotspring Holtville CA

Gaelyn soaking Old Fogey Hotspring Holtville CAA nice place to stay that will be on my list for next winter, though it’s a little close to the noisy interstate. 

Space X Old Fogey hotspring BLM LTVA Holtville CASpace X Old Fogey hotspring BLM LTVA Holtville CA

Saw SpaceX again. 

I just posted a video about the hot springs, so you should check that out.

sunset Old Fogey hotspring BLM LTVA Holtville CASunset from Old Fogey hot spring camp

Early April, I got on the road southeast to Ajo and beyond to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument where I attended a Park Rangers’ wedding, watched—and photographed—the partial eclipse, then stayed for another couple weeks boondocking in the Sonoran Desert I so love.  More coming about all that. 

fish Holtville hotspring CA

10in fish pond Holtville CAFish in natural pond where there’s no swimming

And because it’s getting hot in the desert, I’m also thinking about a summer plan.  Northwestward, is about all I can say at this time.  I’d like to get to Cape Flattery Washington, the most northwest location in the lower 48 states.  Just have to see. 

mapsmaps route

If you’re in this area let me know.  I have no direct routes and don’t like interstates.  See ya’ on the road.

*As of the beginning of March I am once again a solo nomad.  Seems it’s what I do best.  No hard feelings and life goes on.  I’m sure to cross paths with the caravan nomads somewhere again.

 

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20 July 2023

Waited out the holiday then headed into northern Arizona

trees crepuscular rays Skull Valley AZAfter wintering in southern Arizona I returned to my home base to make plans and repairs while waiting out the holiday weekend before heading into northern Arizona for the beginning of my summer travels.

trees mts clouds smoke I17 N to Flagstaff AZLeft a friend’s house June 1st and drove further into northern Arizona and a smoky Flagstaff from prescribed burns to the west.

trees snowy peaks FR545 Coconino NF Flagstaff AZI hoped my Coconino National Forest camping place outside of Sunset Crater National Monument wouldn’t be affected.  There was a definite haze but doable.

red Paintbrush flowers FR545 Coconino NF Flagstaff AZyellow Larkspur flowers FR545 Coconino NF Flagstaff AZ

                                         Paintbrush                                                                                     Larkspur

Sparsely scattered flowers popped color on the pine needle covered forest floor.

trees Sunset Crater FR545 Coconino NF Flagstaff AZ Sunset Crater

I was excited to be under the Ponderosa Pines once again and had to hug and sniff a tree.

last light trees clouds FR545 Coconino NF Flagstaff AZI figured the smoke and clouds might bring a pretty sunset through the trees but obscure the waxing moon.

tree branches moon FR545 Coconino NF Flagstaff AZ

grass trees reverse sunset clouds moon FR545 Coconino NF Flagstaff AZThen got lucky.

a'A lava flow Sunset Crater NM AZI wasn’t in a rush the next morning to get to my next destination so decided to go the long way.  A loop drive of 35 miles took me through Sunset Crater and Wupatki national monuments.

red Penstimon flowers trees clouds Sunset Crater NM AZBeen so long I’d forgotten just how gorgeous this drive can be.

grass trees SF Pks clouds FR545 AZ

trees storm clouds FR545 AZThen add dramatic storm clouds over an otherwise fantastic landscape.

white Datura flowers FR545 AZSacred Datura

grass SF Pks rain clouds FR545 Wupatki NM AZI stopped frequently for flowers, views, and whatever caught my eye.

cattle shute FR545 AZ

grass SF Pks rain clouds FR545 Wupatki NM AZLike a corral with a place big enough to park and awesome views of the San Francisco Peaks.

Citidel ruin Wupatki NM AZ

Nalakilu ruin Wupatki NM AZ

walls sinkhole SF Pks clouds Wupatki NM AZOnly made one stop in Wupatki at the Citidel and Nalakilu ruins.

storm clouds SR64 W Navajo Rez AZAfter three extra hours of driving I returned to SR89 and continued into northern Arizona to my destination for the next several days.

Indian taco stand Gray Mt AZHowever a growling belly caused me to stop for an Navajo fry bread burger.

 

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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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