Pinzgauer Parading

What, pray tell, is a PINZGAUER? A pinzgauer is to military style all wheel drive vehicles what the Swiss army knife is to jackknives. It is Swiss. You can take it absolutely anywhere. It will do whatever you need it to do whenever you need to do it. We paraded around the desert with our Happy Tuesday gang and a host of others in three pinzgauers. We went cross country. We went off road. We went up hills. We went down hills. We climbed over rocks. We laughed. We cried. We screamed every so often just to keep it real. And, like on the Big Boy Ride, a story much earlier in the blog from the Yuma area, I think it may have been appropriate to check the under-drawers for the occasional skid mark. Because frankly my dear, we went some places that I didn't think those vehicles could go, should go, and after we went there I may have pondered whether or not I would get back to where the trip started- at least in the condition in which I set out. The scenery was sensational. The experience was not to be missed no matter what questions may have arisen while climbing or descending a rock wall on a trail that was basically less wide on occasion than the vehicle in which we were riding...or so it may have seemed to some at the time. But as you can tell since I am writing this little tale, we all made it back and no, I am not wearing a cast on any of my limbs.

The day long excursion is FREE to campers- one expedition per month during season. Each month explores a different trip and venue, This trip known as one of the most scenic and the most challenging was all it was cracked up to be and then some. Three vehicles, three drivers and we rode with Travis, the owner of our campground. Travis is a really nice guy and a damn fine driver, otherwise I just might be wearing that cast right about now. I say Travis is a good driver....and now I will follow that by telling you that his passion is for racing these incredible machines at BAJA. So if you think he is a timid driver, that would not be correct. And if you think he can't make you feel like you are about to roll over even though HE knows full well you will not- why then you would be correct about that. If you think there is a more invigorating ride, maybe a roller coaster, in some amusement park somewhere then by all means give that a go. otherwise you should plan a trip to Desert Gold RV in the winter season just for this experience if not for any other. I am so glad I went on the ride. Not as happy as I was to get back alive, but happy none-the-less!!!

This trip by name, should you decide to put it on your bucket list is: Vampire Mine. The mine was cool, but getting up there and back down the other side of the mountain- well that is just something you have to experience to believe. You will see in pictures one of the vehicles actually lay over on its side in a dry wash gulley and then right itself and continue on. And one of our drivers went down the steepest hill of the day- stopped in the middle and then backed up the hill in reverse before "coming back to earth." I was not in that vehicle. I will tell you I am glad of that so that I could take the pictures from the vehicle in front. While I did like taking the pictures for sure, that may or may not be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help me clean underwear!

 

     

 

 Slide Show of the Pinzgauer Parade:

Sheep Walking

News of the Week:  A Sunday ride on the ATVs to Sheep Canyon proved fruitful and made it clear why the canyon is named what it is. We traveled all the way into the canyon as far as we could go before spotting the sheep but there were two large groups of them at the base of the canyon wall and we sat up our lunch as watched in amazement as the sheep made their way right on up the sheer wall of the canyon and in and out of a series of canyon wall caves. It was most fascinating to take it all in while we ate, like a real live dinner theater.

 

 Then too, the ongoing moving of sheds from one site to another was in full swing again this week and this two story jobbie rolled down the street and moving in a couple slips down the road from us. Tight fit.

 

And here are the slide shows of all the activity:

Home, Home On The Range

Valentines Day is over. The Happy Tuesday Group staged its first ever (that I know of) game-fest after a game-day feast. Washer toss (like horseshoes only on a much smaller scale) and golf toss tournaments were set up after the assignment of teams. The competition was fierce. Well, as fierce as it could be when you are full from your "Happy Meal." And while the finals had to be rescheduled due to contestants preferring to go take naps than to play well into the dark night of the desert SW, I can tell you that Gayle and Greg were kicking butt just before things broke up for the day. We SHOULD brag it up now in case we get taken out behind the big tent when the games resume.

But never a bunch to slack off, a Sunday at the shooting range was scheduled next. Me and my friends and my now rootin tootin shootin wife traveled to the open range at Bouse for some fun in the sun and the dirt. Those that owned guns brought them out for target practice. For Marilyn, it was her first time even to be around guns let alone to learn about them and fire them, so some instruction was in order, and Don and Linda who pretty much sponsored the activity were first and foremost in  that regard, as were others who gave info and guidance on their respective firearms. In short order, I watched with amazement as Marilyn progressed from total newbie to gung ho Annie get your gun and is-it-my-turn-again shooting enthusiast. And she did well, what with all the expert help of our group of friends many of whom shoot regularly and are pretty much sharp shooters truth be told. We all shot at coins on a tire, some metal flip targets, some clay pigeons, some paper ring targets and a few other interesting contraptions made by Don. It was a hoot, which I guess makes it a rootin tootin shootin hoot of a day. After we picked up at the range, we headed back to camp for "snacks." I use the term "snacks" loosely. More like heavy Hors D'oeuvres. Actually, more like dinner. Whatever. All of the gang are great and creative cooks so any "bite" is a good bite with this crew. Marilyn engaged Donnie in a conversation of re-loading while they had their snacks. Go figure!

 

 
Now I am certain you would think after all this FUN that we would be tired and need another nap. Nah! I was only kidding about that. Nope. Instead we staged, again through the graciousness of Johnson Down On The Farm Enterprises, a pig race the likes of which have never before been seen in these here parts of the country. We placed our bets, we rolled our dice, and our little pigs raced around the track just as fast as their little legs could carry them. The hooting and hollering from each race attracted more and more passers by to see what all the commotion was about. Why pig racing of course. What were you thinking? It was the morning volleyball tournament down by the pool? No. No. No. It is senior citizens with guns and racing  pigs, and what could be more fun than that, I ask you????

 
We have actually been so darn busy having fun of late that I am just happy to come home and watch the cheese wheel we made age!

Rootin Tootin Hootin Gun Shootin, Pig Racin Slide Show:


PS Yes. There is a post script to this posted script! Marilyn and Jude would like all of our readers to know that each of them "plugged" their coin targets from a distance approximating 100 yards or so. (More like "or so" but whatever!!!!)

February Lately

Aye aye aye, it's February already in the winter hideaway. Two cases of bronchitis again this year coupled with some cold and yes rainy weather has made it a tad unpleasant all too often so far this winter but we're hanging in there and truth be told all the sleeping and lollygagging around has felt pretty good. We have become much better at our production of mozzarella cheese and I dare say that it is fairly tasty now. And this morning our very first Farmhouse Cheddar Wheel came out of the cheese press I purchased through Amazon.com a while back and that looks almost respectable- although now the drying and turning and aging and waxing processes will require another two months before the taste trials begin. I am delighted that we selected this as our "activity lessons for the winter" as it has been the perfect weather for staying inside and working on this kind of skill set. A little Romanza music in the background and a little stirring of the curds and whey and life is good.

The salad patch has been excellent this year- no pests of any kind to report and the first harvesting of radishes has been completed and the replantings are up a growing strong.

We had intended to go to Bouse to see the muzzle loading festival that a couple of our friends are active in, but we were under the weather and didn't make it, so it was nice that they rode by the coach on a float one day advertising the activity. Not much else happening- rain again today , so another sleepy time day in the old wild or not-so-wild- west.

 
Below, this is just a snapshot off the weather channel website showing the "blue hole" or "rain shadow" of the Olympic mountains around the area of Port Townsend to Sequim to Port Angeles, Washington. What you are seeing is the relatively dry and clear skies over an area that is otherwise extremely wet to the point that the Hoh rainforest borders the shadow. We have been researching properties in Washington and carefully considering options. Nothing urgent or pressing (other than cheese) to report at this time! But this is an amazingly fascinating phenomenon and I pull this map up every day to see how often the "rule" actually works. I like the irony of naming an area a "shadow" when in fact it is the only place sometimes where the sun IS shining....

Yuma Daytrip

Our "Happy Tuesday" group took a field trip to Yuma to explore two venues: the Imperial Date Farm which is technically partially in Arizona and partially in California, and the Old Yuma Territorial Prison. Two fantastic stops with a luncheon at Lute's Casino (which used to be a casino but no longer is).

 At the date farm, the trees were in their dormant phase but we got a good look at them and a tour of the processing plant. At the prison, we enjoyed the personal stories (maybe enjoyed is not the right word) of a great many of the former inmates. Some very colorful characters inhabited this place for a time and it was certainly not an easy time at all. Think about 6 prisoners in a small, unheated, uncooled stone cell not really big enough for six people with only one small bucket to be used as a toilet. It was hard to look at the cells and imagine just how bad that must have been. No white collar cells at this prison.

 

Slide Show Date Farm and Territorial Prison:

Christmas Time 2012

Some construction projects at our annual site, some good food in the tent with our friends, some wildlife around camp, and a few specially conceived Christmas present for "them that deserved em." It was another good season of the year in Arizona. Nationwide we go into the new year with the same political crap of the old year, and facing the prospects that even if a "deal" is agreed to, we just may wind up worse off than if one isn't reached. We have to swallow hard to keep a positive attitude, but there are some things more important than all that, I guess, and we just have to try to zero in on those aspects of our lives.

For us personally, it was a marvelous year. For our coach, it was a piss poor year, which forced us to deal with our own budget at the same time we fretted about the country's. Still, nothing exists in a vacuum, so we try our level best to keep an eye on everything. And enjoy life all the while. Sometimes that is easier than other times.

 Linda starts the pot of beans for Christmas dinner in the tent.

Barlow is gifted a block of wood for under the gas pedal of his Ranger to keep him from speeding (anything over 10 mph) in the park.

 We bubble wrapped Franny to keep her from bruising herself any further. Now there's a Christmas present you won't see very often.

 "Ma and Pa"- a sculpture we made to hang in our garden with a couple cow bells from my parent's house.

 Marilyn stains one of the two new plant benches we built

 And the hummers partied on.....

To end the year, just a few pics and couple slide shows of life here in the winter.....





Happy New Year to you and yours! See you in the new year!

Welcoming The Baby Cheeses

Don't think for one second I am trying to be sacrilegious at Christmas time or any time. But when I posted on Facebook a few days ago that I had received the cheese making supplies I had ordered from Amazon.com to launch my "I want to learn how to make cheese" mission, my rather witty kid Derek commented that I was getting ready to "welcome the baby cheeses" for Christmas. Have to admit I laughed out loud at that as did a few others. Clever to say the least!

And so a few days later we located a source for some traditionally pasteurized milk, brought it back to the coach and made our first attempt at some cheese- choosing mozzarella as our first try. Halleluiah. It worked. Now I missed photographing a few steps along the whey (I mean way) because cheese making happens fast- by the minute, by the temperature, by the chemical recipe, and there were a few steps like stretching and salting that we just couldn't film and do properly so the photos had to pay the price. Next time.

So our first results were very promising. Cheese looked like and tasted like mozzarella cheese. Could have been seasoned a bit better- but all in all, not that bad! Definitely NOT a deal breaker or something to make us quit right here right now. Not sure what recipe we try next, but that is part of the fun of something new.

Desert Rain

It's the desert! Enough with the rain already!

I think this is day three in a row with rain, and while it's wonderful to see it rain in the desert, I'm thinking about an hour or so is good enough. We've already had way more rain in the last couple days than we had for a 6 month stretch last winter. Not complaining though, just anticipating the return of warm sunny days with gusto.

So here are a few images you won't get to see very often this time of year in the desert.....or so I hope.

 

Bouse Like House; Not Boose Like Moose

It's Bouse, like "house." It's a thriving metropolis a few miles away from Brenda. OK, it's a large city near Brenda. No? OK, a huge town near Brenda. Oh heck, it's a tiny little village but it really is only a short ride across the desert by atv from Brenda- about 18 miles, and we made the ride a couple days ago to take in the Bouse Christmas Bazaar. And it was- bizarre so to speak, but well worth the ride which included a side trip following Dandy Don back in to the hills and a canyon we call "Sheep Canyon." It's a beautiful piece of real estate and while many others have reported sheep sightings in the canyon, I personally had never found one back in there. But on this day, they were pretty much everywhere. A single ram as we headed back in, then an old boys club with four more rams and then a group of four ewes. We had plenty of time so we took plenty of time to just watch what these fine animals were doing. Many were eating- browsing on creosote bush, Palo Verde scrub brush and small mesquite trees. Nearly all of them seemed intent on doing some head rubbing against the saguaro cactus, and we couldn't be sure whether they were just scratching an itch or whether they were removing spines so they could take a bite out of the water storing capabilities of this mighty cactus. Our visit to Bouse included a visit to the assay office and an old pit mine where we mined a few old metal relic pieces to bring back for the "desert junk" garden I'm starting.

 

Back In The Saddle Again

Many thousands of miles have we rolled since last I posted to Gundyville. During that time we drove back east to Pennsylvania to visit my mother and do a few chores "at home" then we moved back down to Florida for the annual physical and financial checkups and now we are back in Arizona at our winter headquarters. As we had driven this route and done these very things quite a few times it felt too much like old news to be trying to keep up with posts, not to mention that that is one powerful lot of driving and a bit tiring and grueling to boot. This was the 13th time we have crossed the country in the last seven years!

But like I said, we are back in the saddle again. Had an all day quad ride into the desert to see a bunch of old mines and helped Lynn locate some geocaches on that first ride. It was pretty much an all day affair and we were rewarded with aching bones and muscles but with smiling faces. It is good to be back. Nearly all the gang is back and raring to go. Our Happy Tuesday tent is re-established and it would seem that no one lost any cooking skills over the summer- the treats have been really fine as in the past.

Here at our site in F-1, the gardens are pruned and looking super. The vegetable garden is planted and everything is up and running. Flowers are in hanging baskets, new hummingbird feeders are drawing lots of hummers (and not so many bees as last year) and we have stared a few new projects here and there at our place and around the park as well. Marilyn is in the Christmas decorating spirit- our tree - all 20 inches of it- is up and we have shatter proof balls on the mostly dead but making a comeback mesquite tree on the back wash.

A couple days ago a small group of us (I think there were 9 of us) got up at 5:30 and headed out on a full moon into sunrise desert ride that was totally awesome. Started out in only moon light (very dark to be riding) and set up a camp to make breakfast just as the sun came up behind a hill picked specially for the occasion. The black silhouettes of the saguaro cactus and mountains against the brilliant red sky at sunrise was all we had hoped for. There are only two good reasons to get up early when you don't have to: night riding like this in the desert is one and fishing is the other.

A couple of still shots for you today, a slide show, and a video clip if it will cooperate. And let me just explain that I will try to have this winter's posts be a bit more micro and or macro depending on what is going on. I plan to do considerably less of the story telling, unless of course a really good one comes along, and more of an up close and personal look at the things we see and do while we are playing in the desert. Hopefully that will mean more pictures, fewer words, but we'll have to see how things shape up.

Just one more small explanation for what you will see in the pics. We did not make breakfast like the cowboys used to do. No cast iron skillets, no steak on the fire coals, no kettle of coffee on an open fire. Nope. This was a ride hard and cook fast operation. To that end we all filled a quart sized zip lock bag with a couple raw scrambled eggs and whatever else we wanted to have in our "omelet"- mine for example had some slices of smoked turkey sausage and some cooked up bacon nibbles. Some folks added a few slices of mushroom. When we "made camp" we lit a propane tank hooked up to a single burner stove, heated a big kettle of water and then all threw our baggie omelets in the boiling water. By the time we had our sunrise photos well in hand, we had breakfast in a bag all ready- just dump onto a paper plate and eat. I'm not gonna tell you they were the most beautiful omelets I have ever seen, but they sure were tasty and doing the dishes was a total no-brainer. It's for sure we are gonna do this again!