Searching For Fort Bowie

 This was my true destination as I wandered around through the desert.  Built in 1862 by California Volunteers, it was more of a temporary camp to help fight off the Apaches and Chiricahua Indians.  No surprise there, the Indians did not want people on their land, using up their resources of food.  As for the Apache, it was normal for them to attack any establishment that had food and supplies that would sustain them.

By 1868 a more substantial fort had been built which even included a hospital.  After Geronimo surrendered in 1886, there wasn't much use for the fort, which was completely abandoned in 1894.  

As the sign says, it's an 8 mile drive from the paved road to the parking lot and another 1.5 miles to walk.  I thought twice about that walk since it was getting late in the day and I was wearing Levis in the heat.  I turned off on the gravel road.

Let me just say, I'm used to dirt roads.  But THIS dirt road was beyond my expectations.  There's nothing to see for miles around except one or two far far away ranch houses.  About that time I hit the first washboard section.

Good grief this is REALLY bad.  Having aired up my tires for pulling heavy weight didn't help one bit.  I slowed to 10 mph.  It got worse.  I slowed to 5 mph.  I tried every section of that road from left to right and could not get even 50 feet without jarring my teeth.  

I actually made it two miles in 25 minutes before I called UNCLE.  Now if I was in my Jeep, with a much softer suspension, I probably would have continued.  I think I put two years on my truck in that two miles.  

By the time I made it to the parking lot it would have been 3:00 and very hot.

I sadly turned around and drove back, hugged up tight against the fence so it would be at least a tad bit better ... not quite as bone shaking.  

What to do now?  By looking at my little map, there was a big loop around the valley.  I'll go that way.  Almost immediately I spotted this huge stand of trees.  These don't grow in the desert, so someone must have planted them.  The second I saw the headstones, I slammed on the brakes and backed up, to the scowl of a guy across the road coming through a locked gate.

As I crossed the cattle guard, I spotted the deer.  I stopped quickly and turned the engine off.  They were very spooky.  Two jumped the fence into the cemetery while the rest wandered around the back side.  That was pretty amazing to see all these deer in the middle of nowhere.  

This is the Riggs Family Cemetery.  Apparently big cattle ranchers back in the day, and maybe still going strong.  Truly, it's a big cemetery and completely full of headstones.

The one on the right is Ida Lilly Riggs, born in Waverly Missouri in 1852.  I bet the history on this family would be an interesting read.  One of the headstones was for a 19 year old boy.  The stories they could tell.

As I drove along, praying I was really on the road I was looking at on the map ... because you drive for miles and miles seeing absolutely nothing .... I finally landed at the Chiricahua National Monument.  NOT my destination.  I was not surprised that the first first thing I saw was another cemetery.

This is a terrible picture, but I couldn't get it any better due to the harsh shadows.  I'm heading into Bonita Canyon, which is where this picture was taken of the Erickson Family on a picnic in the early 1800's.  Not shown in this picture is Lillian Erickson who married a Riggs and is buried in the cemetery above.

These immigrants from Sweden established a homestead here known as the Faraway Ranch.  Lillian was first to be born at Fort Bowie.  Eventually all the family members left and Lillian became the Lady of the Ranch.  She operated a guest ranch here for years before it became a National Monument.  All the members of this family are buried here except Lillian.

 I headed on up the hill as the road narrowed and bypassed the Visitor Center.  Too many people there for me.  The road narrowed considerably with no place to turn around.  Pretty soon I felt like I was hanging on to a cliff with my teeth while trying not to hit the rocks on the right hand side.  

Now THIS is an adventure.  The Chiricahua National Monument is tomorrow's story.

Two Heads Are Better Than One

Uno Cabezas, Dos Cabezas, Tres Cabezas.  Actually there aren't tres, only dos.  The Dos Cabezas Mountains are just south of Willcox Arizona.  This is NOT what I was looking for, but these two rocky outcroppings are how the town of Dos Cabezas (Two Heads) got it's name.

I was off to check out Fort Bowie National Historic Site.  If you want to see it, you have to hike in 1.5 miles from the trailhead at the end of an 8 mile dirt road.  No problem I even brought food and water.

What I spotted along the way was this cemetery where I got completely sidetracked.  

This is the Dos Cabezas Pioneer Cemetery.   Although Kansas Settlement is located across the valley, a huge crop growing enterprise that began after World War II due to big markets and new techniques in irrigation, there's nothing here but dirt, mountains and scrub brush.  

It started out as a stage depot on the Apache Trail in the 1870's because of available water.  Later, gold was discovered in the Cabezas mountains.  Due to the water, there was lots of game to eat, but not much else.

For such a small town, this is the biggest cemetery I've seen in a long time.  It seems families have carved out their separate sections.  

There are many with iron fences, but most have no headstones or names.

Although very little information seems to be available, this cemetery is one of the biggest I've seen.  You may have to click on the picture to see the number of rebar crosses scattered across the landscape.  No names, but MANY crosses.

This is probably the oldest one I found.  Born in 1820, William VanDeWalker died in 1893.  He must have been pretty well off to have a headstone carved for him way back then.

I'm not even near the top of the cemetery ... that's my truck you can barely see at the bottom of the tan grass.  Watch out for rattlesnakes if you visit.

As I drove through the actual town just a half mile down the road, I spotted a few adobe buildings disintegrating into the ground.  There are about five families that still live here in very old, very small houses.  

This one little house is still standing, but is vacant.  The town was first settled around 1878 and sported a post office, a brewery, a barber shop, a hotel, blacksmith shop and a brick yard.  Mining was the name of the game, but it was such a slow producing area, it didn't last long. 

I did notice there would be one little house and eight cars parked out front.  I'm not sure if they were having a party or they all lived there.  

This is apparently the old grocery store.  It's kind of sad that all these buildings are vacant.  Don't you think one would make a great  QUILT store??  Nah, me either!!

Back on track, THIS is my destination.  

Will I make it?  Will I get lost and never return???  Where the heck AM I???  The adventure continues tomorrow!!

The Highs And The Lows

In to every life some rain must fall.  I think I've been pretty lucky just to have rain and not 12 feet of snow.  That's what I was thinking while sitting on my patio enjoying the WARM yesterday.  Can you believe it?  It finally got up to 79 degrees!  To make it even better, I just received a text message saying my generator was going to be delivered!! 

The puppies were also very happy to be outside smelling the smells.  Of course Cooper never goes far without his ball in tow.  He's waiting for me to get up and kick it back to him.  The smell of coffee and grass wafted through the slight breeze.

Then it happened!  DING DONG!!!  MY GENERATOR IS HERE!!  I know, weird things float my boat.  I always check out the boxes first for damage, but it looked in excellent shape.  After getting the pretty heavy 47 pounds out of the box and plastic wrapping, I discovered this.  My balloon burst!!  I heard a big sigh come from my mouth.  Really?  It's damaged??

I didn't think it look TOO bad, but would never know without putting in oil and gas to start it up.  I called to report it and they said send pictures.  If I keep it, there will be no warranty.  Oh so sadly, I packed it back up.  Now I get to sit here for another three days and wait for FedEx to pick it up.  Low Low Low!!!

How low can you go?  Time to figure out the cage situation for Jonathan.  I took the cage from the Class A ... it must weight close to 47 pounds itself ... and wrangled it up the steps into the 5th wheel.  I spent 20 minutes covering it with towels and blankets that help keep him warm.  Even though I had measured everything, it did not fit.  RATS!!

Let's switch cages!!  He wasn't too happy, but now comfy in one cage while I tried the SECOND one.  I got it in the hole, but it was so close to the cabinets, he would definitely have a ball chewing on the wood and window valances.  DOUBLE RATS!!  I hauled it back in the house and switched a now not so happy Jonathan back to his original cage.  What to do!!  I really didn't want any more expense, but none of his cages are going to fit.  

I've been here before ... trying to find a suitable parrot cage.  Pet stores don't carry them any more, nor can you find much of anything but parakeet cages on the internet.  Suddenly Wayfair popped up.  Wayfair?  They have bird cages?  Why yes they do.  I felt a little high coming on!!  This one is just for demonstration, but his new one (on sale no less) is coming in a few days.  I'm praying my measurements are correct and it will fit.  By the way, that other little one you saw is only for transportation.  He barely fits into it, so it won't be good for anything else.

With a cage solution finally in hand I brought out my huge piece of corned beef for St. Patrick's Day.  I know, I'm a little bit behind.  I tossed it in my instant pot and walked away.  I love it when I can do that.  Ninety minutes later it was done.  Wasn't I surprised to find it had shrunk to a mere 6"x 6".  My cage high deflated like a popped balloon.  

The good news is that it tasted WONDERFUL!!  There's only enough for maybe three sandwiches, so I'll savor every bite!!

I went to bed dreaming of generators that sounded like jet engines.  Today I'm on the hunt for ghost towns.  

Changing Hats

 It seems the older I get, the more hats I have to wear.  Not all of them are as fun as the photographer one stalking pronghorn across the valleys of Arizona.  Sometimes I even have to wear sneaky hats just to get the job done.

There were two things missing from my fifth wheel when I got it home.  The promised sewer hose and an outside spray/shower hose that attaches in the bay.  I dreaded going to LazyDays to try and get them, knowing it was going to be a hassle.  Once you drive out the gate, it's sayonara!!

Sure enough I was told my service guy was off and sewer hoses do not come with the units.  My sales guy who promised it was out on the lot showing off more trailers.  Waiting is not my speciality.  I left that office and drove over to the service bay.  I have found the guys there to be much more accommodating.

Luckily as I was standing outside with my most forlorn, poor me I'm a little old lady hat, the gentlemen who made sure I got hooked up to the trailer stopped by.  He got the spare tire put on .... so, in my best "blonde" what-am-I-to-do speakese, I asked for both ....... and I GOT THEM!!  I drove out as fast as I could before they changed their mind.

Changing hats as soon as I got home, I became the gardener.  It was finally warm enough outside to mow the jungle before we got eaten by 20 foot boa constrictors or coyotes hiding in the grass.  

I made such a mess, I headed to the garage for the blower to clean off the patio.  Oh how I love these battery operated gizzies.  True to gardener form however (at least MY gardeners), I couldn't find the battery.  Well rats!!  I'm pretty sure I remember putting it in the Jeep for the little tire compressor I carry.  Surely there's one around here!!  NOPE!!  I guess I'll have to go buy another one!!  There was no blowing on this day.

Time to change hats again to construction handyman mode.  I have a piece of laminate near the stove that is lifting up, getting worse by the week.  After two tries, I found this construction caulking for laminate, wood and anything else that needs to be stuck down.  

I have no clue if this is what I need or if it will work, but I'm giving it a shot.  Someone forgot to tell me how to open the caulking tube.  I was getting nowhere fast when like any good construction guy, I finally decided to read the directions.  You have to cut the tip off.  I'm surprised it didn't explode before I figured that out.

Naturally I used WAY too much goop.  The white line is actually a magazine I placed on the counter with a huge heavy adobe brick on top to weigh it down, along with the yellow container of every kitchen tool known to man, for that extra little kick of three pounds.

I used up half a roll of paper towels cleaning up all the goo that squeezed out.  No one ever said I was good at this!!  In three days I'll remove the adobe and see if it holds.  

As to the tuxedo hat, I've been a member of the Elks Lodge for ten years.  They are always looking for fresh meat to hold offices.  As with any group, no one wants to do all the work.  While gone, I was elected to hold the Inner Guard seat, meaning once a month when they have their initiation ceremonies, I have to wear a tuxedo.  Thus the new purchase.  

The good news is we always have close to 20 new members every month.  Surely at some point I can put on the appropriate hat and convince someone ELSE to take my place.  

Donning my accounting hat yesterday, it seems IRS has extended the filing and payment date again this year.  Please don't take my word for it however, check it out for yourself just to make sure.  

The last hat of the day was a puppy play date hat .... my favorite!!

There's That Four Letter Word Again!!

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!  

I didn't miss it, I just forgot to defrost the corned beef.  I'm celebrating today instead!!

This is definitely one you don't want to hear when in Arizona trying to enjoy the sun and warm.  SNOW!! Yup ... there's that word again as it got down to 34 degrees, overcast and starting to rain.  The blue morning hour reflected just how cold it was going to get.

This storm moved in quickly and began dumping flakes of the white stuff.  So much for the days plan of mowing the lawn.  It's getting quite tall now, almost six inches in spots.  No matter, I'm NOT going out in the wind, cold and wet.  

Not much gathered on the ground since it was melting as soon as it landed.  I don't think these poor little cactus are ever going to grow if it doesn't get hotter.

At last the storm passed and it warmed all the way to up 50 degrees.  Woohoo!!  I decided rather than mowing the now very wet lawn, I would try for that elusive tuxedo I am required to have for the Elk's Lodge initiations.  I mean really, can you imagine the Queen of Levis and boots having to not only find, but actually WEAR a tuxedo?  Me either.

It was a lesson in futility.  JC Penneys in California has tuxedos.  Not so in Arizona.  How about Macy's?  Closed down permanently.  Dillards!!  There is a Dillards in Tucson.  Nope, closed down permanently.  Good heavens ... where do you go to buy clothes when all the stores have closed down?  Steinmart ... Beales ... all closed.  The only OPEN store I could find was Kohls.  They make throwaway clothes.  Wear them once and throw them away.

While driving around I finally spotted a Bridal Shop.  They should know, right?  Well, she says ... there's a Men's Wearhouse two doors down.  Oh great ... that's going to be rather awkward!

The very nice girl met me at the door and said yes they did have tuxedos and yes they could be altered to fit ... well you know ... the upper portion.  If you are flat chested, you have it made.  If not, good luck!!

Undaunted, I tried on about five.  Of course the $599 one fit the best, but there's no way I'm paying THAT!  Here's the good news ... the pants fit perfectly!!!  I can sew and I used to MAKE men's suits.  Most likely I can make any alterations myself.  If not, she pointed out a tailor just across the street who could help.

To make it even better, she found THIS $200 one that fit better than all the rest.  That works for me!  When she checked me out, the price came to only $150.  I didn't say a word.  They threw in a nice bag to keep it in and suggested a cedar hangar to keep the moths away.  WHAT?  Yes, it is very lightweight, but made of wool and polyester.  They don't guarantee you won't get moth holes.  

Honestly, I think that was the easiest purchase of clothing I've ever made.  I was in and out the door in 30 minutes.  As to the required white tux shirt, there was no luck there due to the same "upper" requirements.  I'll have to try Amazon.

Here's one of the meals from the last box of Hello Fresh.  I think someone got their wires crossed.  This was supposed to be Spanish sausage and pasta.  Turns out they included no sausage, just a big piece of barramundi.  What the heck is barramundi???  Some kind of fish?

Yeah that fishy fish didn't exactly go with the spicy tomato pasta, but I ate it anyway.  Waste not, want not.

I have only one of their meals left to cook, then I'm on my own.  I'm hoping to use up most of what's in my freezer because there's no way even a quarter of it will fit in the tiny RV freezer for the trip to the other residence.

In the meantime, we are praying for warmer weather!!!

Pronghorn and Broken Bones

I was heading out Highway 83 to Empire Ranch in Sonoita Arizona.  It's one of my favorite places to spend some time for two reasons.  First, there's boon docking out there where RV friends Doug, along with Deb and Tom are hanging out for the next few days.  Second, it's the site of a huge cattle ranch from the days of Apaches and Cowboys.  I probably lived here in some other life.

The weather wasn't looking all that great as I turned into the property after having pulled over to let all those wide loads by.  It's no wonder the Indians fought for this land so hard.  It's just spectacular out here!

My first sight was a couple of cows making a beeline for the ranch house just over the hill.  Looks like one just became a momma and was now trying to catch up to the herd, although I never saw any others.  In no time they disappeared over the ridge.

About that time I looked up and saw these guys.  WOW!!  I've only seen one lone pronghorn here in the past.  There were FIVE!!  How lucky could I be!  I was snapping away with my camera when I spotted a truck coming towards me.  I flagged him to slow down ... I didn't want my photography "subjects" to disappear over the hill too.

He was looking for parts and pieces of a motorcycle rack that fell off on the road.  It happens I spotted it when I came in the gate.  He wasn't impressed with the antelope, but at least he drove off slowly.

He who has the biggest horns, rules the roost.  There were four males and only two females.  Reluctantly I drove on off down the road.

It's rather interesting to note that pronghorn antelope won't look at you.   Of course they all knew I was there, but were focused in some other direction the entire time.  Probably to facilitate their escape should I get too close.

I wandered on down the road to where I was stopped by a frantic guy in a Jeep.  An elderly gentlemen had just fallen off his bicycle while riding in the gravel down by the creek.  Uh oh ... that's not good.  I drove on down to find two ladies next to someone laying on the ground.

He seemed to be okay, but in a lot of pain.  It appeared he had broken his hip in a bad fall.  Folks ... bicycles are great for us old people if you are on paved roads.  Riding in gravel is just asking for trouble, which unfortunately found him.  We made him as comfortable as possible while he waited for the ambulance.  

At last I met up with the group.  Notice we all have coats on.  It was rather chilly and breezy, the sign of things to come.  Yuma of course had to have lots of pets and love.  He's such a sweet natured puppy!!

He would have jumped right in my truck if I let him!!  Suddenly a bird showed his face about a mile away and off he went like a shot!!  Of course he didn't even come close to the bird as it flew away, but he sure had fun trying.  He's looking for more belly rubs here!!

I think we solved all the world's problems after finally giving in to the cold and wind and heading inside.  I learned an awful lot about dry camping.  I have to say it's SO much easier in a big rig with an inverter.  Everything just WORKS without having to think about it!!  

At last it was getting late and the wind was really starting to howl!!  

Wasn't I surprised as I drove back out, the pronghorn antelope were STILL beside the road.  I think I got maybe another 100 pictures!!

Not really, but I took as many as they would let me because you never know if you will ever see them again.

This one finally turned his head to look at me, probably to say goodbye.

The storm came in and rain spattered my windshield as I drove out the gate back to civilization.  What I wouldn't give to live out there!!!

I'm back at the Lost Horse Ranch still looking for a generator.  I did order one, but it seems to be pretty elusive ... not even having been shipped in six days!!  SO frustrating!!!  In the meantime, maybe some chocolate cake slathered in chocolate frosting will make me feel better!!!