Page 4

1-17-19
Camping at Patagonia State Park
And riding in the area of Patagonia

Before riding today---I knew I'd be out in the middle of nowhere today.
So it was so nice of Debi to fix me a big breakfast.
She had a relaxing day sitting in the sun on the beach here and doing some drawing-----she's an
artist if you didn't know.

 

 

 

Right off the highway I was looking for a dirt road I'd ridden before.
There was a gate that you could open and shut---but since I'd ridden it before I went
further North to the Flux Canyon Road.

 

 

 

Flux Canyon Road----------This road started off really easy but turned into something much harder.

 

 

 

I got into some really tuff steep climbs on loose shale--------no pics---it's in the video.
And ran into a backhoe right in the middle of the very narrow road. He didn't want to move and motioned me
to go around him-----I don't know how I did it.

 

 

 

I sure wish the guy working with the backhoe had told me the mine had bought the mountain and
Flux Canyon road is not do-able anymore----not all of it anyway.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the way back I turned around and took a pic of this sign---which I had ignored on the way up the mountain.

 

 

The backhoe was out of my way on the way back and he'd smoothed out some of the rough stuff I'd went thru.

 

 

I talked to this guy a bit.
Him: "You a Cop" ?????
Me: "Heck no I'm just an ordinary dude like you"
Him: "You With The Border Patrol" ?????
It was pretty funny.

 

 

 

So I slid (not riding) back down the mountain---I was nervous being alone.

 

 

I don't guess I knew there was an Arizona hiking trail---I ran across it more than once.
It was just a narrow walking path.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stuff I saw-----look close at this picture------look again---what is special about it ?????

 

 

 

This road is part of the Arizona Back Country Discovery Route.

 

 

 

 

And I ride past another part of the Arizona Hiking Trail.
Man it would scare me out here on a trail like that----so remote---and rattlesnakes.

 

 

 

 

I had laid myself a route out before leaving camp this morning.
My route led me to Elgin, AZ-----population "Not To Many"
I was wanting to find the place where they filmed the train depot scenes in the movie 3:10 to Yuma.
My 2nd favorite movie--------2nd to "The Outlaw Josey Wales".
I couldn't find anything--------nor anybody to ask. It was like aliens had abducted everybody.

 

 

 

I tried to find my way thru a route I new use to exist out here---but never had ridden it.
Ranchers had bought it all up and closed the road.

 

 

 

 

In Patagonia I ran into a guy on a WR250R--nice fellow and we had a good chat.
He told me about 2 guys who had ridden WR250R's all the way to the Arctic ocean years ago.
I said------"Oh yeah" ????.........Said it was some guy they called "BigDog"....and his sidekick "Dingweeds".
Anyway----he told about this really tuff climb on top of a mountain near there up to some towers.
Way up there. So off I went.

 

 

This road turned into a much steeper loose shale climb than Flux Canyon road.
I don't know if I could have made it or not......but being alone I turned around and was surprised
I made it as far as I did. Video shows it better.

 

 

I could see that steep switch back road up there and it looked nasty.

 

 

 

 

Still good daylight left----I headed further South towards Lochiel, AZ which is right on the border.
This is what remains of the town of Harsaw.

 

 

 

 

Lochiel AZ......right at the border.
Trump is coming along nicely with his border fence.
The last time I was here there was a huge hole in it.
I don't know how many people live here----I'm guessing 2-3.
And he'll yell at you if he sees you-----thinks it's his property---maybe it is.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I took a marvelous picture here years ago----of a magnificent tree and windmill.
The windmill is gone and replaced with an electric pump-----------I hate change.

 

 

And here is that picture----and a couple more.

 

 

 

 

The Kansas Mine
I was heading West to Nogales, AZ
Another border town.

 

 

 

And the road and ride was as good as it gets.

 

 

A Short Video Of My Ride Today

 

 

 

 

1-18-19
Me and Debi enjoyed a relaxing morning over breakfast, coffee and just talking about stuff.
Her knee has been bothering her really bad so she stayed at camp and got some painting done.
We played with our dog DiDi---you can't wear her out.

It wasn't till about noon I fired up the Honda and off I went---as I found another road on
on my Benchmark map of AZ that I hadn't been on--how great would that be ?????
Another great ride or a bust ??? You decide.

 

 

 

I think I've ridden past 1,000 of these signs the past few days.

 

 

 

 

 

Not 10 miles down the road I found the road I wanted to ride West over the mountains.
Somebody greased some politicians---and you see what happened.
I mean this road over the mountains was 60 miles long and you couldn't get on it ????

 

 

 

Heh, Heh, Heh----there was another way I found---and West I went.
Riding alone or with one rider----rerouting is a breeze.
Get 10 riders involved and it's a nightmare.
This road was touted 4-wheel drive on my benchmark map---but was super easy at the start.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was astounded to find this on the way West.
I couldn't figure out the way it was withering away with time----pretty weird.

 

 

 

When I rode in here there was this huge turd in the road------it wasn't mine !!!!

 

 

 

 

And no------------I didn't put that Hot Taco Sauce package on it.
I laughed so hard when I saw it.
Mind you....that is something I'd do----but can't take credit.
A genius did this------a frickin' genius.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also had a very interesting talk with a border patrol guy out here.....after I assured him
my helmet video camera was indeed................OFF.
He told me some stuff-----really bad drug people out here----and told me of a hair raising
pursuit they had out here in the middle of the night the night before----------holy crap!!!!
He also related to me he wasn't getting paid----I wanted to ask but he just told me.
I had heard that.

 

 

 

 

 

About 20 miles of this road was really tuff-----first and second gear.
It's more apparent in the video I took.

 

 

 

After about 45 miles I crested the mtns. and the road became easier and easier.
I encountered 2 bicyclists about here---they were trying to get to Patagonia today.
I tried to tell them they'd never make it today as they would be pushing their bikes up all the hills
and probably down most of them----as the loose shale would get you sliding.
They weren't on real mountain bikes---it would be tuff for them.

 

 

I tried and tried to rotate this photo????

 

 

 

 

Pink cacti

 

 

 

 

Here is a pic of the pink cacti next to green cacti
Prickly pear to be exact I believe.............never saw pink ones before.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had a nice fire our last night at Patagonia Lake State Park

A Short Video Of Todays Ride

 

 

 

We Hit The Road Again

1-19-19
And Debi Finds Some cool rocks to crawl on.
We didn't know where we'd end up today......but boondock (free)camped in the Wal-Mart Parking lot
in Benson AZ-----this worked out perfect as we needed to stock up on groceries and other stuff.
It wasn't really free----as we spent $200 in Wal-mart on misc. stuff.
No wonder they let you park there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1-20-19
We make camp in Roper Lake State Park near Safford AZ
Snow in the mountains

 

 

 

We enjoy our nice campsite and meet some neighbors.
We camped in the dry camping area (no hookups...we didn't need them) and it was much less crowded.
In fact the next day--------everybody left and we had the place to ourselves.

 

 

 

1-21-19
I've ridden in this area a lot......a few years ago I rode up into those snow covered peaks on my
690 (before it blew up) and hit snow up there. It was a dead end road but was spectacular.
Also out there is Aravaipa canyon---one of the best rides of my life.
But today I wanted to go where I hadn't been and check out some places I've heard about.
I head out early to try and find "Hot Well Dunes" recreation area and on the way find this
alternate road and mark it with my gps in case I needed it later---------I did.

 

 

I wanted to drive our motorhome to this place and boondock here for days.
Debi would love it here.
I needed to check out the road conditions as I heard they were pretty bad.
I think I would have beaten up my camper getting here---but other people do it.

 

 

I found the camp hosts place---he's been here for 8 years.
Boondocking....he was a cool character who looks after the place and makes sure you pay the $3 to use the place.

 

 

Guys I met at the Hot Tub
The guy with the hat is the care taker of the place.
The 105° water is pumped into the tubs by a solar pump.
At night---the pumps quit and the tubs drain out.
Pretty cool system. There are changing rooms here...but us old hippies didn't bother with
such city nonsense.
There are bathrooms here too----and a jillion places to just drive out into the desert and camp.

 

 

 

 

 

I met the owner of this 80's van there.
He seemed lonely out here and was anxious to show me everything about his boondockin' rig.
It was the finest thing I ever saw----and how he had it set up was just amazing.
He never needs plugged in---never. The wind generator was whirring away and created 110 volts
to some kind of converter thingy--------he was a genius and answered to no one.
Sadly his wife and son died and in those sunglasses lenses were pictures of them.

 

 

 

 

 

This was on the side of his van.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was totally unprepared for the wizardry he put into this thing.
Think of all the stuff in you house...........TV, pooper, sink, water heater and on and on...it's in his
van------and did I say washer and dryer---it's in there---in the left corner you can get a glimpse of it.

 

 

I headed South toward Bowie, AZ and played dodgeball with the tumble weeds.
It was a hoot out there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My mission-----if I decided to accept.
Find-----"Happy Camp Canyon"

 

 

Those rocks back in those mountains are wet from all the springs back up in there.
This area is called "Indian Bread Rocks"........recreation area.

 

 

 

There is a guy on you tube----------"Slim Potatohead"
He's an ultimate boondocker and I found about this place from him.
Again I'm scoping this place out hoping to get our camper in here and boondock till the shitter gets full !!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

There were several motorhomes back in here---not too many spots, but it was beautiful back in here
and the solid sand road would be no problem getting our camper back in here.
Good hiking here too. We'll see if we get here ?????

 

It's time to head back towards camp but I sure as hell ain't going back the way I came.
Out here I ran into a track log I had in my gps I had gotten from a friend of mine "Scott Cauldwell".
Known as "Connector" on the AdvRider site.
He's not well known, but has laid out more cross country routes in the U.S. than anybody I know.
Anybody.

 

 

 

 

And I find some cool roads on the way back.

 

 

 

 

And remember Tanque road I marked on the way down.
Here it is and it was awesome---smooth moist red dirt---my favorite.

The next day it snowed a whole lot more up in those mountains.

A short Video of The Day

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday 1-22-19

Like I said ............it had snowed up in those mountains during the night and I had heard
a tinkle of rain on the roof of our camper.

 

 

We were leaving Roper Lake State Park----but after a big breakfast we wanted to stretch our legs
and go on a hike before we left the park. This hike took us high up on a mesa.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And up there we got a really good view of the snow on those mountains to our West.

 

 

And we got a great view of Roper Lake, the campground and our camper in the lower right.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We headed East............kind-a.
And were on one of the most scenic and curvy roads I've ever been on.
Debi was scared to death--------I was just smilin'

 

 

 

 

Yes she looked just like this on the hairy parts---especially the down hills.

We drove into Silver City, New Mexico that day and boondocked at Wal-Mart again.
We had things to do---this is the first time me and Debi had ever left our home for such a long time.
Paying bills and getting our meds on the road was a challenge---but Wal-mart had all our meds
on record----so we don't have to go home.............yet.
It took a bit to get our stuff to the pharmacy in Silver City but we got er done, filled
the propane tank in the motor home---so were good for dry camping or boondockin' for awhile.

 

Wednesday 1-23-19
We didn't drive far today and found a cool campsite in City Of Rocks State Park.
That's us nestled in those rocks............$10 a night with no hookups...we didn't need any.

 

 

 

 

We weren't parked 30 minutes and went for a short teaser hike.
A bigger hike we will do tomorrow.

 

 

Tomorrow morning----we or maybe just me (Debi's kneee is still booger'd up) will hike up on top
of that mesa -----the highest part to the right in this picture..........will we make it ????
It's legal to ride my bicycle up there----but I looked at what the trail turned into just at the
bottom-----------no way could I do it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I got a similar picture on my bicycle ride coming down another mesa.
I rode a good 10 miles......mostly on trails and it felt good to get on the bicycle
and stretch my legs and get to breathing hard.

 

 

I couldn't believe it took her 5 hours before she climbed up on those rocks at our campsite---she love this.

 

 

It was a bit scary riding over this.

 

 

 

A good picture of our camp.

 

 

 

 

And lo....and behold...........by god...........the sun went down in the West........er Southwest.

 

 

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