Saturday, March 7, 2015
Everyday, I look over the bow of my motorhome and see those black mountains in the distance to the south. I often see ATVs racing down the road across the canal from me to the east heading towards those mountains.
Today, I am going to see what is so interesting over there. I can see small roads running along the crests of the mountains.
We drive the three miles north on our dusty, washboard road up to Imperial Road (hwy 24), make a right over the bridge and then another right and we are now on the other side of the canal heading south. This road is smaller and lined with bushes and small trees. Those mountains are dead ahead.
After six miles of driving, we are now 200 feet from camp, but the canal separates us.
We reach the first hill and up we go without a thought.
As I come over the top and see what is before me, yesterday’s memories of driving on hill crests came back to me in flash.
Luckily, there was a fairly flat spot on the top of the hill I am on, so I pull over as far as I can, in case an ATV comes along later. Yuma and I get out and walk. And it was not a hill too soon. The trail on the very next hill was at a 45 to 50 degree angle and there was no way I was going to drive my jeep around that. I would slide right down into the ravine.
On foot, the pressure was off and Yuma and I enjoyed the views all around as we headed towards the top.
The photos don’t show depth very well, but you can see from the trees and the saguaro cactus below that the ravines are deep.
The views of the mountains and ravines were beautiful in a stark way.
The top of that hill is our destination. As you can see there is no shade anywhere and it is beginning to get quite hot. Calling for 87 this afternoon and it is 11:30 am now.
Before we reached the jeep, Yuma and I posed for a photo overlooking our home for this week, Mittry Lake.
Just east of the road following the canal is the Yuma Proving Ground. I’m guessing this tank didn’t make it.
We were home by 1:30 pm and all we did for the rest of the day was rest and stay out of the sun. I really do like relaxing outside under the awning in this weather.
See you later.
There is a lot desolate country around you. It looked there weren't many other jeeps around.
ReplyDeleteI was the only one out there this morning. Just when I was coming back 5 ATVs passed me heading to the mountains.
DeleteWatch out for snakes with all that warm weather. Becki
ReplyDeleteYou're right Becki. I need to keep that in mind as we take our walks from now on.
DeleteOh, my! Those are some steep slopes! Yes, enjoy the weather. What a change from last weekend, eh?
ReplyDeleteCheryl Ann
I think the warm, dry weather is with us now, Cheryl Ann. As warm as it is going to be this coming week, I will probably slow down and do more resting.
DeleteRattlesnakes are definitely out but if you hike earlier in the morning when it's still cool the snakes will probably not be active yet.
ReplyDeleteI will have to watch for them. Unfortunately, I move slow in the morning. My routine gets me out around 11 am now that the time has changed, so it will be getting warm by then.
DeleteQuite a detour to get 200 yards...glad to know that the area has those interesting things to explore.
ReplyDeleteLots of things to see and do around here. Unfortunately, it is getting too hot. May have to move north.
ReplyDelete