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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.

Arizona, Mittry Lake, Places I've been, United States, Yuma , , , , 15 Comments

Summer Monsoon Sunset and wheelestate repairs

grass bush sunset clouds crepuscular rays Skull Valley AZWith summer officially begun, it’s a time to enjoy cotton candy clouds and famous Arizona monsoon sunset.  A perfect time to stay home and watch the skies while RV and truck repairs are going on.

Roadrunner bird Skull Valley AZRoadrunner

Although I still feel a longing to travel I am getting into a pattern staying home.  No I’m not up before the sun to get out and walk.  When the daytime highs get over 96° I usually have the AC on.  Otherwise door and all windows open plus several fans seems to be OK so far.  If I’m working playing on the computer I move from one side of the RV to the other to stay on the shady side.  Otherwise, I frequently go outside to chair hop in the shade and watch the world, with a little bit of reading thrown in.

berm trees mammatus clouds Skull Valley AZThe weekend highs actually cooled down to the low 80s and with plenty of breeze and clouds felt delightful.  Mammatus clouds looked almost heavy enough to release some precious drops but quickly retracted and moved on.  I can almost smell rain.  Only a few drops fell.  I am feeling the alive of summer, all senses receiving. Some visual greens with dancing in the breeze branches send off whiffs of summer and a tickle to the skin and nose.  Achoo! Come on monsoon!

caged yellow headlight bulldozer Skull Valley AZEven a short walk on the ranch can provide interesting objects and sometimes I find just a piece of, say a bulldozer, more intriguing than the whole machine.  Think it would fit on the hood of my truck?

grass bush Brushy Mt clouds sun rays Skull Valley AZCrepuscular rays before monsoon sunset

I actually did some yard work. Moved two Cottonwood stumps for chair hopping tables.  Plus working on placing winter rock collection on the berm below the metate.  (Photo ahead.)

grass bush Brushy Mt sunset clouds crepuscular rays Skull Valley AZMy Saturday night included a pep talk from Bob about making videos for YouTube.  We’re both learning and sharing ideas.  He encourages my “branding” in the funny black hat I wear in my profile picture.  I have lots of hats so may trade them around depending on, my mood.  I remind him to introduce himself at the beginning of his fun videos going kayaking, dirt biking, and 4x4ing.

Gaelyn intro Penguin videoA little warm for this outfit

African Jackass Penguin Boulders Table Mt NP Simon's Town Cape Peninsula South AfricaThe next day I was inspired to make a video about Jackass penguins that I saw in South Africa, and thankfully took video and still shots.  Took all afternoon to figure out each video clip had to be first trimmed and saved removing the background noise, then reopened and add softened wave sounds and saved, and then reopened again to add a recorded narration clip, and saved, before putting all the pieces together.  There’s probably an easier way.  I might have video of lions and elephants for the future.

At one point, I heard the quail fussing and looked out in time to see them chasing a coyote.  Yea!  Funniest thing ever.  I WANT a trail cam!

Raven bird against sunset clouds Skull Valley AZRaven soars

It actually felt cold that night, or at least cool enough to close the windows and sleep under a blanket.

tree hole in camper BLM Stanton Rd Congress AZcamper patch

That didn’t last and I rushed to finish and load the penguin video before the temperature reached 90°, inside.  That afternoon, the ranch handyman, worked on lots of little projects at my place and I hung around to mostly get in the way I’m sure.  He’d already patched the camper where I backed into a tree.  (Don’t ask, just read.)

solar controller repairsmounted Solar controller

12v socket repairsmounted 12v socket

He firmly mounted the solar controller and 12v socket that I jerry-rigged last winter.

door latchAnd replaced a door latch for the 5th-wheel as the old plastic one had broken and wouldn’t hold the door open in a light breeze.  The new one is metal.

trees cliffs Bradshaw Mts clouds Skull Valley AZI had overheated the previous day outside and not drinking enough water or eating so, Happy Solstice, I spent most of the day inside with the AC on.

grass trees clouds Skull Valley AZMornings offer clear blue sky but by afternoon the clouds build and threaten to drop rain, a sure sign of monsoon.

rocks berm grass trees Brushy Mt sunset clouds crepuscular rays Skull Valley AZTwo winters of rock collecting

sunset clouds Skull Valley AZBy late afternoon the windows are open once again and I am outside to enjoy a beautiful Solstice sunset on a perfect summer evening.

whiptail lizard on metate Skull Valley AZWhiptail lizard

The rest of the week’s weather forecast called for 30-40% chance of thunderstorms.  How I wish!

grass trees clouds Skull Valley AZAnother day of cloud building and racing across the sky, but no rain.

old Chevy truck Prescott AZWent to town on Thursday, an almost all day affair.  Rained just a little as I exited the store in Prescott and I danced in the parking lot as it fell.  I’m sure nobody noticed or even cared, I was at a Walmart.

grass trees boulders sunset clouds Skull Valley AZAnother night of monsoon sunset and after dark thunder and lightning followed, but very little rain.

trees mammatus clouds Skull Valley AZThe next morning felt still, and quiet, clouds skirting around the little valley where I live.  I sat outside most of the day watching the ever teasing cloud show.

grass brush Brushy Mt storm clouds Skull Valley AZ

rain drops metate Skull Valley AZJust before sunset a breeze carried the scent of rain and still only a few drops fell.

trees rainbow clouds Skull Valley AZBut to the east there must have been more rain because when the setting sun broke through clouds a rainbow gift occurred.

sunset clouds Skull Valley AZThunder rolled all evening and finally about 9pm it began to rain and kept it up most of the night.  A soft female rain, just like this parched land needs.

grass trees anticrepuscular rays storm clouds Skull Valley AZ

brush trees boulders anticrepuscular rays storm clouds Skull Valley AZIn the morning the ground was damp, not more than 1/4 inch deep and didn’t last very long.  But still.

grass trees storm clouds virga Skull Valley AZAnother day of clouds, sometimes looking as tortured as I felt after word from the Supreme Court.  I don’t want to talk politics.  But I also don’t want to go back in time 50 years.  I shall say no more.

grass trees Brushy Mt sunset clouds virga Skull Valley AZBut along with rain and summer monsoon sunset, I shall shed tears.

Sierra cat through screen door Skull Valley AZWANTED: house/cat sitter, a StayCATion for you, in my 5th-wheel for one week mid-September in Skull Valley AZ only 30 minutes from Prescott.  Mom wants to fly to Chicago for her 50th High School reunion, and says I can’t go.  Meow!

Arizona, monsoon, Places I've been, Skull Valley, solstice, United States , , , 22 Comments

Staying home for June’s moon

tree frames moon Skull Valley AZI’ve been staying home to conserve fuel, work on a non-traveling pattern, and shoot June’s moon.  In my mind that’s my Mom’s moon, named after her birth month and born on the solstice she would have turned 96 years old, Dad a few days later would have been 99.

About two weeks since my last trip off the ranch to Dewey then back with chores along the way and I stocked up with enough food that I haven’t gone anywhere since.  And that was the plan.

Temperatures in the high 90s are mostly keeping me indoors and running the AC.  Sure glad I have big windows to see the beautiful landscape and wildlife.  In fact I put out three more wildlife water-bowls within sight of my desk windows.

trees stormy clouds Skull Valley AZ

trees storm clouds Skull Valley AZPresumably June 15th marks the beginning of monsoon in the Southwest.  I’ll believe it when I see it.  There was hope as dark clouds built up, swirling and wind whipped, but dropped no moisture.

white Prickly Poppy flowers Skull Valley AZOnly the hardiest flowers manage to survive like Prickly Poppy.

grass trees Brush Mt sunset clouds Skull Valley AZThough I try to keep the house comfortable too often running the AC, I also sit outside most afternoons chasing the shade, or as Bob calls it “chair hopping”.  The clouds do make for beautiful sunsets and once the sun goes down I open all the windows overnight.

moon Skull Valley AZCleared enough to give a peek at June’s moon.

Flycatcher bird Skull Valley AZIn the morning one bird I think is a flycatcher found the hanging bowl of water.  Sadly, it seems a lot of ants found a bowl on the ground.  I hope someone escaped to warn the others of drowning.  I moved the bowl in hopes of that not happening again.

grass trees clouds sunrays Skull Valley AZAnother 97° day kept me indoors running the AC until late afternoon when the sunlit clouds drew me out.

moon Skull Valley AZPlus another sight of June’s moon.

trees boulders mt sunset clouds Skull Valley AZ

grass trees sunset clouds crepuscular rays Skull Valley AZAnd another delightful sunset.  One bonus of hot weather is saving on propane to heat water as it comes out of the cold faucet hotter than hot.

selfie stick tripodvideo kit

bluehorn tripod/selfie stick extends 40 inches & BOYA miniature omnidirectional microphone

I guess everybody knows I’m bummed about not traveling so I figured if I shared a video about that I’d feel better.  One of the important things about a YouTube video is the thumbnail, you know that first image that is suppose to catch your attention and make you click and watch.  Being this video was just me sitting inside and kind of ranting a bit I racked my brains for an interesting thumbnail.  Little did I know how much pre-thought goes into making a completed video.  So I took my new toys/tools outside and set up a shot using the tripod/selfie stick and remote.  After the video went out Sue asked what the tools look like, so I took pics and here they are.  In fact I was out early in the morning for this staging as it was predicted to be 99° later.

wearing rubber boots Skull Valley AZ

trees boulders moon Skull Valley AZ

almost full moon Skull Valley AZAnd it was still warm when I went out at 6pm to shoot the almost full June’s moon.  Some may laugh, but because so many plants here have burrs that stick to clothing, I wore my rubber boots while out shooting the moon and scoping out a location for the next night too.

yellow Devils Claw flowers with thorns Skull Valley AZDevils Claw

BTW, I did feel more accepting of the lack of traveling after making that video.

ice bottle in front of fanAwake to 70° at 7am with door and windows open all night but the AC back on in a couple hours then off in a couple more hours when the power went out, thankfully only for another couple hours but enough for the RV to warm up.  Big winds kept the outside 90° doable for a while at 87° inside. I tried ice in front of a fan and wouldn’t want to have to rely on it.

I spent most of the day chasing news about the Pipeline fire northeast of Flagstaff and the flooding in Yellowstone National Park.

unidentified bird on Apache Plume Skull Valley AZUnidentified bird

Finally in the late afternoon I went outside to just sit and enjoy the air.

tree Bradshaw Mts full moon rise Skull Valley AZtree Bradshaw Mts full moon rise Skull Valley AZ

tree Bradshaw Mts full moon rise Skull Valley AZtree Bradshaw Mts full moon rise Skull Valley AZ

Then I donned my rubber boots and walked the electric line trail to a nearby hilltop to shoot June’s moon the night before actual full Strawberry moon.

tree mt bird full moon Skull Valley AZI took lots of photos but the night’s winner was when the Raven flew by.

baby quail birds Skull Valley AZSo many photos of June’s moon and more kept me busy inside processing and managed no AC at 89° outside.  I finally had to get out in the late afternoon but didn’t get much reading done because of the nearby small wildlife watching.  Saw some baby quail starting to grow topknots.  They are just so cute.

Side-blotched lizard Skull Valley AZA side-blotched lizard posed for a while while flexing its muscles.

dragon fly on leaf Skull Valley AZThe biggest surprise was seeing a dragonfly in this dry environment.  I can’t believe my little water bowls are enough to bring them in.

Whiptail lizard on metate Skull Valley AZHowever, the lizards sure like the easy access metate water-bowl.  This whiptail drank, then after its pushups I wondered if it was going to throw the mano like a medicine ball.  Great morning entertainment.

tiny grasshopper on yellow Cowpen Daisy flowers Skull Valley AZI did manage once again to stay inside working playing on the computer much of the day without AC.  Yet by about 3pm it was time to get outside and see what my world had to offer.  Have you ever seen a grasshopper so tiny?

chipmunk on metate Skull Valley AZThe next morning, Chipmunk came by before I filled the waters.  The metate is so shallow it dries up rapidly.

scrub jay bird Skull Valley AZScrub Jay

Yet birds are beginning to find the water also.

RVs clouds crepuscular rays Skull Valley AZ

grass shrubs Brushy Mt clouds crepuscular rays Skull Valley AZAnother day of AC inside until afternoon when clouds danced above and looked like possible rain.

brush boulders rainbow clouds Skull Valley AZI heard drops on the roof, rushed outside, and felt six raindrops. Could almost smell rain in the air.

trees rainbow clouds Skull Valley AZThe westering sun broke through and delivered a lovely rainbow as the clouds slipped to the north.

sunset clouds crepuscular rays Skull Valley AZFollowed by an exquisite sunset.

trees clouds dbl rainbow Skull Valley AZAnd an encore of double rainbows.

Cottontail Skull Valley AZSo once again the next day there were lots of photos to process.  In between taking more photos like when a Cottontail joined me for breakfast.  Then outside in the afternoon sitting on the shady side of the RV.  I only get a little reading done because the world distracts me.

grass bush sunset clouds crepuscular rays Skull Valley AZ

grass bush sunset clouds crepuscular rays Skull Valley AZCloudy sunsets are magnificent, especially with crepuscular rays reaching out.

rope holding door open Skull Valley AZI’m getting into a pattern.  Certainly not my usual pattern.  But it will do for now.  If I stay home I don’t spend money.  Well, that’s not 100% true.  Because there are parts ordered for repairs on the 5th-wheel, camper, and the truck’s AC.  But that’s next week.

Arizona, full moon, Places I've been, Skull Valley, United States, wildlife , , , , 23 Comments

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