Big Bend NP part 2

 Big Bend NP - installment 2

I finally gave up trying to post from the road, and waited until I got home, then of course I got busy, but here we go.

Thursday 2/22/24

After hiking the Pine Canyon Trail, I headed about seven miles back out to pavement. Have I mentioned that everything in BBNP is a long drive, 45 mph is the speed limit on pavement and typically I’m driving 25 - 30 mph on the primitive roads, with some rough spots where I slow to 5 mph or less. The park consists of 1,200 square miles, the state of RI is 1,214 square miles.

Once I am back on the pavement, I head to park HQ at Panther Jct to top off water before driving 7 mies down Grapevine Hills Road, a primitive road, to the trailhead for Balanced Rock. It’s a flat 1.8 mile hike through the desert to reach the quarter mile scramble through some jumbled rocks to reach Balance Rock, so 4 miles round trip. I met an older couple from Holland, who had just left the end of the trail and were hiking down. As per my norm, I chatted them up and discovered that she had a total knee replacement four months ago. She was moving slow but doing it. You GO GIRL !!!

                                                                Balanced Rock

Thursday nite was spent at Paint Gap 2 primitive roadside campsite, uneventful, with an easy meal. 

                                                    Paint Gap 2 Campsite

Friday morning I relaxed and cooked myself a real breakfast before getting a very late start, then heading out to the pavement and the trailhead for Cattail Canyon Trail to Cattail Falls. This trail is no longer publicized by the Park Service. If you ask about it, the staff may say they are not sure which trail you are taking about, it’s not on the park map, which is fine by me until someday I forget how to find it. There are two hikes from the trailhead, one goes to Cattail Falls, the other to Oak Springs and then climbs to the window. Both of these springs are part of the fragile water infrastructure, which is my guess as to the lack of information. The park hasn’t closed access, but the parking lot is 1.5 miles from the original trailhead and there are no signs pointing to the trail. The benefit of this is that I only saw 8 people on the trail and none of them were at the pool of water while I was there. I had a very relaxing half hour lunch sitting on a rock, at the base of the falls, which was only a trickle. 

                                                The pool at the base of Cattail Falls

                                                            Cattail Falls

I have to admit, I’ve been slack hiking most days, only logging 4-6 miles a day, but given the driving distances between some of my favorite hikes, that’s okay, I’ve had relaxing mornings and am usually back in camp by 3 pm to get cleaned up before having a drink, relaxing, then cooking a nice dinner. It’s very peaceful in the primitive sites and I have already finished two of the three books I brought with me.

Saturday 2/24/24

It was 40 degrees when I woke Saturday morning. It was my last day in a primitive site, so I elected to just hang out, big breakfast, short walks on the primitive road, some reading. blogging and some logistic work for my Alaska trip this summer, more on that in a future blog. Cooked sautéed, lemon shrimp with garlic and olive oil angel hair pasta for dinner.

Tight Lines and Safe Travels

BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK 2024 PART 1

 Hi everyone,

It’s been a very long time since my last blog. I just have not felt like writing. It wasn’t writer’s block or lack of stuff to write about, I just didn’t feel like writing. Everything is good, a few bumps in the road but its all coming together, enough said.

I arrived in Big Bend National Park on Monday, Feb. 19, 2024. Perfect weather, full sun, 65 degrees, awesome. I entered the park thru the north entrance (Persimmon Gap, elev. 2970 feet) and decided to hike Dog Canyon, which is only a few miles south of the entrance. Dog Canyon is a level hike, roughly four miles round trip into a short narrow canyon. I’ve done this hike many times, but it’s always worth repeating, especially when you happen to be driving past it.

After saying good bye to Dog Canyon, I drove past Panther Jct and up the narrow winding road to the Chisos Basin Campground, elev. 5400 feet. I had reservations for two nights, site 16. I arrived about 2:30pm, set up camp and settled in. In keeping with tradition, dinner was a steak on the grill, fried rice and some wine. The views from the campsite are spectacular.

                                                            Site 16 Chisos Basin Campground

Tuesday morning I got an early start, drove a very short distance to the Lost Mine Trailhead, popped the camper open and had breakfast. The parking lot is very small and there were only a half dozen spots available when I arrived at 7:45am, by 8:30, the lot was full. 

                                                            View from Lost Mine summit

Lost Mine Trail is 4.8 miles round trip with 1100 ft elevation gain. The trail is very popular and well maintained. It terminates at a small summit, with 200 - 300 foot drop offs on two sides. There were a few people there when I arrived, but after ten minutes or so they left. I had the summit to myself for 15 - 20 minutes, which was nice because in 2020 I had scattered some of Nancy’s ashes there and I was alone with my thoughts.

I was back at my truck by 11:30 and drove back past the Chisos campground to the Chisos Basin Visitor center, which is quite the tourist meca. There is a store, motel, cabins, and a lodge with a restaurant & bar. I popped the camper top, got cleaned up and had lunch in the bar, then headed back to the peace and serenity of the campground.

Wednesday morning I drove to the Hot Springs Historic site for a short walk and a long soak. It was close to lunch by the time I changed into dry clothes, so I headed to the Historic River Crossing to Boquillas, Mexico. Pre-911, we used to just pay a Mexican National to ferry us across the Rio Grande, which is also the International Border, for $1 round trip. Now there is a border crossing station manned by a Park Ranger open Wednesday thru Sunday, 9am to 4pm, with a video chat device to a remove customs agent. The Park Ranger is there to make sure you have a passport before you head into Mexico and then to scan your passport into the device upon your return. The remote customs agent asks you the basic questions before clearing you to re-enter the USA. Lunch in Boquillas was great, four goat tacos, bean tostatas, beer and a bottle of water for $13. It’s approximately 3/4 mile each way to Boquillas, after crossing the Rio Grande River. It’s now $5 for a round trip boat ride or you can wade. The only place one can legally enter the USA by wading across the Rio Grande. But I figure the Mexican Nationals can use the $5 more than me so I took the boat then I walked into town.  However, there are other options to get to town, such as pickup trucks, horses and mules, if you don’t want to walk.

                                                            Post 9/11 US Border Station

                                                                     Lunch in Mexico

After re-entering the USA, I headed to the first of my two reserved primitive road campsites, Pine Canyon 2 for one night, which set me up nicely to hike into Pine Canyon on Thursday. Pine Canyon Trail is a 4.4 mile round trip with 1100 ft elevation gain, which ends at a 200 ft pour off below the Lost Mine Trail.

Big Bend National Park is still a remote location, but it has grown up. There is now cell phone coverage in many locations in the park, wifi is available at all the visitor centers, all campsites including the primitive road sites are only available by reservation. There are numerous tour companies leading groups down the Rio Grande in canoes, as well as driving people around in vans to see the park. The Park is not without its growing pains. According to the Park’s literature, the park’s landfill will be full sometime in 2025 and the park is not quite sure what they will do. On a positive note, someone must be controlling prices in the park, I paid $3.69 a gallon for unleaded at Panther Jct and $3.50 for a pint of Blue Bell Ice Cream.

The primitive roadside campsites have steel bear / Havalina proof boxes, camp fires and generators are prohibited, trash is carry out, but they do not require any toilet system such as they do on the river. I find this a poor choice by the Park Service. I also have a per peeve, why do people think is okay to spit tooth paste on the ground in the campsite. Really, can’t you bring a large mouth water bottle, or better yet a bottle large enough to capture all your grey water, then walk a 100 yards or so and dump it away from the campsite?

Sunset Pine Canyon Primitive campsite

I had planned more photos, but the wifi at Rio Grande Village is really slow, I'll have to find a better connection and send them as a part 1 addendum.  

More as it happens

Moho update 11.27.22

I have always said that I was lucky, not at cards or gambling, but lucky at other stuff. My luck continues. I finished moving everything out of the motorhome on Friday. Saturday, I decided to not do anything related to the motorhome and have some fun. A friend asked if I wanted to go out to the “range” and shoot some targets. As we were driving out in the desert, I mentioned that I was probably meeting with the RV wholesaler on Monday and was hoping to get a little more from him than he was offering. Les asked how much I was hoping to get and I told him. 

We “killed” a few paper targets and then went home. Les is one of the few Co-op tour guides that tour people around the park to show our many amenities. It is one of the reasons we have such a long waiting list to lease a lot here. During the tour, the couple, Brian and Carol, mentioned they were looking for a Class A motorhome, Les said my friend is selling his and proceeds to call me. He brought Brian and Carol over and they looked at the motorhome, I told them the price. They took my phone number and said they would discuss it and call me later in the afternoon.

Later that afternoon, while Deb and I were in the grocery store, my phone rings and Brian tells me they want it and how much of a deposit would I need to seal the deal. They wanted to grab a bite to eat, and I had a surprise birthday party to attend at 4pm, so they said they would call after they ate. Around 4:30pm, Brian called and said they would be at my place in ten minutes. I left the party, met them in the Moho, they gave me a check and we discussed when they would pay the balance and take delivery. Yay!!!!!!

I have a free storage space here at the Co-op, so either today or tomorrow I’ll move the Moho into it and free up my lot.

The universe and Nancy have been taking care of me. I am very grateful for everything. Life is good.

They left and I headed back to the party. the birthday girl was late, so I missed the surprise part when Linda entered the clubhouse, but there was a large turnout for her. The party broke up around 5:30 and I headed home to grab dinner before the dance at 7pm. The band was a rock band from Tucson, they have played in the clubhouse before and Deb and I have heard them a few times in Tucson. Danced until 9 and after we helped stack the chairs on the tables, the party broke up around 9:15.

All in all it was a great day. I also want to wish a HAPPY BIRTHDAY to one of my best friends,  Lauren back in NH. Miss you and Ken.

I hope all is well with everyone out there. Just in case I don’t post before Christmas, MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY HOLIDAYS. May whatever your faith is, bring you and yours much joy this season.

Hugs

Tight lines and safe travels 

 Hi everyone,

Summer’s over and activities in the Co-op are beginning to pickup, many friends and lease holders are back from their summer escapes. I wasn’t here last October and therefore didn’t experience the wonderful fall weather. Sunny days with temperatures in the mid-70s and clear evening with the lows in the low 30s. Yesterday was my one year anniversary arriving at the Co-op. Looking back, I arrived only knowing two people. I can say that has changed, and I have been fortunate to get to know a very large number of people, many of whom I consider friends. 

On Monday, November 14, I purchased a used 40 ft, destination trailer from a friend in the Co-Op. It’s a 2010 Cedar Creek 40CFL made by Forest River, with a front Living Room, so I have a view of the mountains from my dining room table. This has been my loose plan off and on, once I decided that I no longer wanted to travel in a 40 ft motorhome and preferred traveling in my truck camper. The trailer came with a 28 x 10 ft metal awning and custom entry steps. 

The above two photos are the cottage setup on Maxine's lot

  Kitchen area

Living Room

Bedroom

I hired a company to remove the awning and they will re-install it on my lot after Thanksgiving. I spent Tuesday airing up the four tires and removing all the jack stands, then Wednesday morning, I drove my motorhome into dry camp and with the help of Paul and Steve, we hooked the trailer to Steve's one ton pickup and towed the trailer around the corner from Maxine’s lot to mine. One hour later, we had the trailer in position, leveled and stabilized. There was barely enough room to park the motorhome on my lot, but I was able to squeeze it in. I’ll spend the next week to ten days moving 11 years worth of stuff from the motorhome to the trailer. I had already emptied the motorhome basement and stored all that stuff in the Casita basement. 

Once the motorhome is empty, I’ll place it in storage and sell it. I have contacted 4 wholesaler, three of which will not buy it because it's more than 10 years old. I have one wholesaler who is interested and has made an offer. I have weighed the benefits and losses of a private sale vs a wholesale sale. This is my fourth motorhome. Each time Nancy & I traded motorhomes, we traded the old one to the dealer, at the wholesale price. If I wholesale the motorhome now, I would be doing a similar thing, but I got a much better deal from Maxine than a dealer, plus Arizona does not collect sales tax on a private sale. After considering everything over that last two weeks, I will wholesale the motorhome and be done with it.

I need to add how I fell into to deal. We have a 4 pm BYOB happy hour at the Co-op’s outdoor pavilion six days a week. It’s open to everyone and I usually attend. It’s a time to relax, chat with friends, but also a time when announcements are made, both Co-op issues and personal issues. Maxine stood up and announced that after ‘dating” Bruce for the last couple of years, they were going to move in together and she would be selling her trailer and giving up her lease lot. I immediately raised my hand and told her I was interested. Happy Hour ended at 5pm, we walked down to her lot, I looked at the trailer, asked her what she wanted for it, agreed to her price and we hugged to closed the deal. The next day I gave her a deposit.

There have been a few sad moments when I think that this is the first time moving into a new home without Nancy. I think she would have liked it. I know she would have liked Maxine. It’s one more step in this whole process of losing her and moving on in life.

So, my future plans will be to split my time between the cottage at the Co-op, the park model at CORA and traveling in the truck camper. Not sure how much time I will spend in each, but it will be whatever I want it to be. 

Hugs

Tight lines and safe travels

Summer 2022 travel summary- Sept 4, 2022

 Hi everyone,

Yes, I’m still alive. I’ve taken some crap from friends for not posting. Sorry, but I haven’t been traveling much, and although I originally started this as a blog for the transition from being a full-time couple to a full-time solo, I chickened out with putting personal stuff online. 

So read between the lines and you’ll figure it out, its all good.

First, getting a lease lot at Saguaro SKP Co-Op was the best thing that has happened to me in a long time. As I’ve mentioned, it’s been a great way to make new friends and have lots of fun. I’ve been taking private dance lessons with a partner, and doing lots of dancing. Dances at the Co-op have slowed, but the RV park next door has dances as well as some bars in town and in Tucson. 

On April 30, I left Benson on my way to CORA and stopped in to visit one of my climbing partners, Victoria, in Albuquerque, NM. We got caught up, had a great time visiting, met her brother and heard all about her friend, and then I headed to CORA. 

I spent the month of May at CORA, with a short one week visit, by plane, to visit family in Beaver Falls, PA. It was a great visit. I got some quality time with my sister, niece, her husband, and most important, my grand niece Nadia, and grand nephew Nichols. 

After returning to CORA on 5/25/22, I packed Enzo and headed back to Benson,  again visiting Victoria in Albuquerque. I used this trip to haul stuff from CORA to Benson. Victoria had a spare bedroom, so I had Enzo packed to the roof, which I couldn’t have done if I was camping. 

I spent the month of June in Benson, and then drove Enzo back to CORA, stopping in El Morro National Monument for an over night of free camping. 

                                                       El Morro campsite

My good friend and AGS co-worker, Bill Soss came to visit me at CORA and we had a great time. Afterwards, I did quite a bit of fishing, hiking with Harvey and Gif while at CORA, then mid July I flew from Colorado Springs to Tucson and then spent three weeks back at the Co-Op. It was cheaper than driving, specially since I still had some SW Airline credits. 

                              Me, Gif and Harvey hiking near Buena Vista, CO

August 8, I flew back to Colorado Springs, jumped in Enzo and drove to CORA. While at CORA I did some more fishing, hiking, and after winterizing the Park model, I headed south to Navajo Dam on August 17th, to fish the San Juan River. The state of NM built a new campground next to the Crusher Hole day use area, Crusher Hole Campground, go figure. $10 a night, pit toilet, trash, and covered picnic tables. 

                                       Crusher Campsite, Navajo Dam, NM

                               BOR area of San Juan river, just below the dam

I had planned to stay 5 nights and fish 4 days. It was much hotter than I anticipated, plus the mosquitos were incredibly active. They were so bad that unless you were standing in the river, you had a cloud of the little bastards all over you. I arrived on Wednesday, around 5pm, scouted some fishing areas, but didn’t fish. 

Thursday, I put in a herculean effort fishing the BOR area twice, as well as the pump house area. Absolutely zero. Saw lots of fish, most in the 20 inch range,  but evidently I sucked. Walking out around 4pm, I ran into a guide and three of his clients, I chatted up the clients and they asked if I would take a photo of all of them, which I did. I also took the opportunity to chat up the guide and get some fishing beta. Later, after saying farewell to his clients and as I was about to drive away, he walked over and handed me the “hot” fly for the pump house area. An emerger nymph jig with a metallic pink bead head.

That night, after being eaten alive and forced inside Enzo, while it was still early, even though it was over 80 degrees, I decided that I would fish in the morning and then head south working my way back to Benson. I packed up Enzo and arrived at the pump house day use area about 9:15 am. I did exactly what the guide suggested and caught 31 fish in 2 1/2 hours, two of which I think were Golden Trout, the rest were Rainbows up to 14 inches. I thought about staying another night, until I left the river and walked onto shore. Although I had applied a heavy layer of Deep Woods Off, I was immediately engulfed in mosquitos. Needless to say, I headed south.

It was a pretty drive thru the various terrains of Northern NM, the Navajo Nation, and El Marpais National Monument before I finally arrived in the rain at the Cosmos Campground, 333 miles later. This is a free campground and the first Designated Dark Sky location in the US. The rain stopped long enough for me to get setup and then it poured. Evidently this was a large rain maker over the SW. The campground is located high on a mesa, but driving here thru a couple of canyons, I saw evidence of recent flooding.

                                              Cosmic Campground, NM

Saturday, I drove three hours to Benson unpack most of my stuff, settled in and went dancing that night. The park model at CORA has been winterized and put to bed for the winter. I have some projects to do in Benson. Enzo appears to have a small leak in the roof, the moho is due for a wash and wax, and I’m going to get a few of Nancy’s paintings matted, framed and then hung in my casita. 

Labor Day weekend at Saguaro Co-op will be highlighted with a gala birthday party for a friend at Founders Park on Sunday and a cook out on Monday at Founders Park. 

Life has been very good to me, more than I could ever imagine. I’m happy, healthy and looking forward to continuing my new journey.

Tight lines and safe travels.

 

Finally got moved to my new lot at the Saguaro Co-op 3.7.22

On Monday, I fired up the Moho, drove over to the Co-op’s propane fill station and topped off the Moho’s propane tank before moving to my new lot at the Saguaro Co-op. Lot 40 is 3 sites from the southern border of the park, faces East with a great view of the mountains. The lot has a 280 sq ft (20’ x 14’) casita with a 3/4 bath, closet, kitchen area with cabinets, large counter and a double stainless sink. The casita is raised 4 feet off the ground, on a concrete slab with storage space below. A small outside access portion is full height, so I’ll use that area for tools etc, it's also the access to the storage crawl space. The front of the casita has a raised 8’ x 20’ deck.

I’m in the process of buying some furniture. So far I have purchased a used leather sleeper sofa and recliner, from a friend. So I now have guest accommodations. I plan to order a couple of bar height deck chairs and a small corresponding table for the deck. Eventually, I hope to find a small kitchen table and chairs. Every Saturday the co-op opens the yard sale storage trailers and if I get lucky I’ll find something there. Co-op members donate furniture and then the Cactus Wrens sell it as a source of funds for bands and events in the Co-op.

I’ve decided to keep the Moho for now. I have a great view from it and since I’m planning to head north April 30th, I really don’t have much time and don’t want to make any snap decisions. The current plan is to leave it on the lot for the month of May, run up to CORA in the truck and hand at CORA for a few weeks, then make a trip back to Benson loaded with some items for the casita, before returning to CORA. I'll probably move the moho off my lot and into the Co-op storage area to earn some rental credit on my lot for the summer.

I’ve been making plans for Alaska, and if I decide to do the trip I’ll take off from CORA the first week in June. I’m waiting to see how things shake out with gas prices, fuel availability, the border and Covid. I’m very fortunate to have the park model at CORA, so if I don’t do the Alaska trip I have a great place to hang out for the summer and I can also do some other trip, such as the Pacific Northwest, which I have never visited.

Tuesday, March 8th was my road anniversary. It was 24 years ago that Nancy & I left NH for the adventure of a lifetime, another milestone. I continue to stay busy at the Co-op with all the events, occasion trips to the hot spring at Hot Well Dunes and hike in the desert as well as some of the state parks and National monuments nearby.

I have a reservation at Pichaco Peak State Park for March 20th, and plan to hike to the peak to mark Nancy's two year anniversary on the summit. There are two trails to the top, so I'll do the one that I didn't do on Christmas.

That's it for now, I hope this post finds you all happy and healthy.

Tight lines and safe travels

Joshua Tree - Part 2 Feb 2022

 Joshua Tree - Part 2

Random Pics from my Thursday hike to Contact Mine

                                           abandoned mining equipment at the mine

                                                The trailhead with 5G coverage

                                                           The trail to the mine

                                                              Contact Mine
I have hiked to a number of mines in Joshua Tree and I am always stumped as I look around and try to understand what made someone dig a hole here as opposed to twenty feet away or 100 yards away. I'm sure there was some rock formation that indicated gold was present, but these places are in the middle of nowhere and of course there wasn't a trail or road. I imagine a guy walking with a couple of burros hour after hour, day after day, looking for some indication that gold might be present and then after finding it, he had to build a road to haul all this equipment to the mine. 

After posting part 1 of Joshua Tree N.P. , a backpacker approached and asked if I could give him a ride anywhere near the west entrance. His car was park at a campground where he began his hike four days ago. Hie car and campground was well past the west entrance but I agreed to take him to the West entrance which was still quite a good distance away. He was a grad student studying architecture in N Y City taking time off to do a nine month road trip, backpacking and skiing at various places. His next stop was Yosemite N P. 

After dropping him near the West entrance, I did a short and uneventful hike, then headed back to camp. My friends Phil and Mary were spending the night at the Twenty Nine Palms Elks Club in their Moho and were coming to my campsite to visit. We had a great time and per our usual routine, drink copious wine. 

             Skull Rock, one of the many unique rock formations at Joshua Tree

Friday morning at 7am, I was on the road heading home. I altered my route home to avoid Phoenix and have a cup of coffee with Marilyn in Yuma. The visit with Marilyn broke the drive in half. The drive to Yuma was interesting and wound through there desert on a two lane road connecting I-10 to I-8. After leaving Yuma, Enzo battled a very strong headwind all the way to Benson. Most times the truck would not shift out of 5th gear. I have a 6 speed transmission, so my gas milage averaged 10 mpg, rather than was usual 14-16 mpg.  I arrived home at 5pm. I wanted to get back to the Co-op to attend a “Celebration of Life” event for a friend’s husband who passed in October of last year. 

That pretty much sums up my quick trip to Joshua Tree. Enzo preformed well, I was nice a warm with the furnace. The new DC to DC charger that I recently added, seems to have solved the low alternator output to the house batteries. 

I don’t have any overnight trips planned in the future. It looks like the lot with the casita will get inspected after February 15, so hopefully I change lots and get settled in before the end of February. Then I will spend some time living in the Moho on the new lot and decide whether or not to sell it.

Tight Lines and safe travels.