The Red Ryder’s Fate
A long walk in the middle of nowhere turned up one more sign of humanity.
Originally posted 4/28/2013
Yesterday’s cross-country hike was pleasing, although I did spend a lot more time watching where I was going than I did taking in the scenery. Between the cacti and the rattlesnakes in this area, you have to watch just ahead, make some noise while you walk, and remind yourself to look up every now and then to take in the view. I’m getting the hang of it, I think. Suburbanite Gone Wild. I have no idea how far fellow camper Mike and I went, but I had to rest up a couple of times afterward, during the day.
Though there are surrounding hills and ridges, this area had what I’d have to call meadows. I’ve just never seen any quite like these before.
Mike had come across a smaller rattlesnake crossing the road while riding his bike the other day. Fortunately, he’d left his dog at home in the van. Many dogs eventually learn not to engage absolutely everything they come across, but Mike’s is not yet known to be one of them. On this day’s walk through the bush, Mike was fervently hoping to come across a large rattler. I was fervently hoping not, and had my way.
Being in the desert, I found it special that some areas were covered with some kind of grass.
Naturally, Mike was barely warmed up at our return to camp and hopped on his bike to go exploring to see where our dirt road went once it crossed over to the other side of Route 89. Got a flat tire and took quite a while to return. My bike’s front tire, the one that I replaced the tube once and then again with a self-sealing type, has a puncture too. So today’s action plan is to mooch a ride with Mike to go to Ace Hardware in Chino Valley, 15+ miles south, and spring yet again for a tube, plus a decent patch kit if they have one. I checked the rim and then the tire over carefully, feeling for anything like a cactus needle stub that could wear through the tube, but found nothing. Must be gremlins.
Having stayed in bare-earth Quartzite AZ for so long, this seems surreal to me now, and worth taking a photo of.
My camper’s entry door is facing directly away from this area, so I consider this to be the back yard.
Several types of small wildflowers actually abound out here in the Spring.
This type of cactus is all over the place.
…And so are these.
On the walk back, we came across this path. These are numerous, but as of this year, off-bounds to motorized vehicles. You have to get a special marked map and stick to it. Makes a great walking or biking path, though!
This is the connecting loop road that in theory makes it possible to motor (and camp) right around this section without having to turn around and retrace. Due to washouts, I doubt my trailer would make this without grounding. I’m told it gets much worse farther on, and hope to explore it once my bike is fixed.
Strolling Amok 