01-09-12

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01-07-12

The jeep is back in service. Yea!

As I mentioned before, Junior has been taking rides every Wednesday with a jeep group and learning some new places to go.

This morning he took us out to try and find a place called the “Glory Hole”.

With us was; Junior and a French Canadian friend named Andrew,

Dave (Jo Ann is in North Carolina on Family business), Becky, Dennis, a new couple Maryann and Randy from Michigan and their dog, Sparky

in their Hummer H3

and of course Patti and I.

We left the park a little after 10:00 and drove east on I-10 to Highway 60. We went east on 60 to Vicksburg road where we turned north to Highway 72. We crossed 72 and stopped in a wide area for Dennis to off load his Rhino.

The first stop was the Queen Mine. Junior wasn’t quite sure where the trail started so we had to turn around a few times. Patti and I decided to put the cul-de-sac tours sign on his jeep.

Eventually Junior found the trail and we headed off into the desert.

Not too far down the trail we came to the Queen Mine.

Remains of an old cabin near the mine.

Loading shoot at the Queen Mine.

There was a neat tunnel that went quite a ways into the mountain.

Of course we had to explore the mine.

 

There were several side tunnels and a couple of vertical shafts. The tunnel was also the home for a bunch of bats. If you look close you can see them in the next picture. They are the dark spots on the ceiling and walls.

Above the tunnel was evidence of other diggings. A few of us climbed the hill to take a look.

We found a large water tank,

some collapsed tunnels and some prospect holes and lots of tailings.

From the Queen Mine we continued on the trail and stopped for lunch in a wide wash.

While we were having lunch some people came by on horseback.

 

Junior was having a little trouble finding the correct trail but in looking for it we found a couple more mines.

One was called the Yellow Monkey. The mine wasn’t to interesting. Randy learned why you don’t step on Cholla cactus. He had to have a few thorns removed from his toes. Ouch!!

The Yellow Monkey mine was at the end of a wash so we had to turn around yet again.

We followed a couple more dead ends and stopped to check out the Calcite mine.

You can tell by the expressions on our faces that we weren’t having fun.

At the Calcite Mine we decided that Junior didn’t know where he was so we turned around and headed back the way we had come. We got back to the parking area around 3:50.

We never did find the Glory Hole but Junior is determined to find it so tomorrow morning at 9:00 we will head out again.

Today was fun, tomorrow should be funner. :o)

01-05-12

Yesterday Dennis and I went out to the desert to shoot some clays. I took my 24 gauge trade gun. Dennis was duly impressed. He even hit a few birds with it. Un fortunately I didn’t get any pictures.

This morning I took the jeep to the shop. They said that they had all the parts so now 3:45 I am waiting for the call to come and get it. If I don’t hear anything by 5:00 I will call them.

Later in the morning I was sitting by the pond and got a picture of some quail eating from a plate of bird seed that the lady next door puts out for them.

later on I helped Dennis install some fender flairs on his Rhino.   

01-04-12

As every morning, I spent some time sitting by the pond listening to the water music and enjoying the sun. I got a few wildlife pictures.

Here they are for your enjoyment.

This afternoon Dennis and I are going out to shoot some clays. I am taking my 24 gauge trade gun and my smooth boar .50 caliber flint lock pistol. It should be fun.

01-03-12

Yesterday was a beautiful day with afternoon temps around 75.

In the afternoon we went to the French Quarter (a spot in the desert where there is an old cabin) to have a weenie roast.

The whole gang was there and we had a lot of fun.

I don’t really like hotdogs so we decided to cook a couple of Buffalo burgers instead. Yumm!

On the way out there I noticed that my fuel gauge was approaching the red line. We haven’t been going any ware lately so I didn’t think of filling the tank. I told Patti that we might run out of gas on the way home but was hopeful that we could make it to the gas station at the east end of town. Just to be safe I made sure that we left the party in front of Dave. It was a good thing that I did because the jeep ran out of gas about two hundred yards from the gas station, on the wrong side of the freeway overpass so Dave had to tow us in.

I have an appointment on Thursday to take the jeep in. I don’t know if the parts for the exhaust system will be delivered yet but I am having them replace the water pump and thermostat. That way we can at least go some where without worrying about the water pump failing. Looking back I wish I had just bought the pump and installed it myself.

01-01-12

Happy new Year!!

I was sitting by the pond yesterday morning and got these wildlife pictures.

 

Bathing birds.

Patti got this one while I was snoozing,

Later in the afternoon, Dennis and I took the Kayaks over to the Colorado River. Since the jeep is unreliable at the present time we put the boats in the back of Dennis’s truck

We decided to check out a slough just south of Ehrenburg, AZ.

It was Dennis’ first time in a kayak and I think he enjoyed it.

At this time of year there isn’t a lot of wildlife but I did get some pictures of these Crested Herons.

As we paddled along close to the edges we could see underwater dust trails as large fish scooted out of our way.

Sometimes we could see movement in the cattails as other creatures moved through them unseen. On a couple of occasions we could smell skunk but never saw anything of them. I am sure that later in the season the wildlife activity will increase.

We had a great day playing on the water.

I went out to turn on the waterfall this morning. Fortunately I had a camera with me. I was about half way there and noticed this hawk sitting on top of the fall.

I don’t know what kind of hawk it is. I couldn’t find any pictures on the internet that matched. If you know what kind it is let me know.

Cool eh?