Wolf Moon setting and walk through Tumco ghost mining town

Ogilby Road West of Yuma, Arizona

This morning when I woke up around 6 o'clock I could see the Wolf Moon setting to the West outside my bedroom window.  Looked so beautiful I went outside and shot some pictures of it.  They just don't do the real scene justice.  :((

Then I went back to bed till 7:30. Had a simple breakfast of cereal and my usual ten Ritz Crackers with chunky peanut butter and a slab of cheddar cheese on each.  Yummy!  Two cups of coffee and breakfast was done.

I got a note at my door this morning from Tom and Deb letting me know that Happy Hour would be at 5 o'clock.  They go by Mountain time so that means 4 o'clock for me.  I'm on Pacific time.  Gives me extra time to sleep :))

I had been looking at the online map for the best route to Borrego Springs and saw that the mining ghost town, Tumco was just north of me by about five miles on Ogilby Road.  Yuma and I decided this was our adventure for today.

Tumco is located at the base of the Cargo Muchacho Mountains where I'm staying, so before long we were at the entrance.

We couldn't drive into the mining area and it was a good half mile before we saw anything.  But as usual, the mountains around the area are beautiful; at least to me they are.  Others may think they are just big mounds of dirt and rocks.

Off in the distance, I could see four large rusted out water tanks and behind them to the left an open pit mine taking down the side of a mountain.

I guess that must have been a building at one time, but not much left.

 Almost immediately, Yuma and I left the designated trail and started following  trails into the mountains to see if there were any mines.

There's Tumco valley behind us.  At think the 1.5 mile hike has gone by and we haven't seen anything yet.

 I see something ahead.  Made of rusty metal anyway.

 Walked by a concrete dam built to hold water from pouring into the mine.  It was damp, but no water.

 It was a mine that went straight down and has been enclosed with a metal grate so dummies and animals won't fall in.

Desert octopus

Desert squid

 Finally, Yuma finds me a mining tunnel!  He checked for rattlers and calls out to me to come on up.

There it is.  Over there.  I've already walked more than I have all winter and my feet are starting to hurt, but can't quit now.

Darn!  It is gated in too!

 Looks like it goes aways back.

 Yuma already checked it out, so he waited for me at the entrance.  Doesn't he have fine lines!?

 Well now.  Down below I see walls.

That building is the only structure standing except for the water tanks.

 I see another hole!

 Nope!  Not a mine.  Just a hole through the soft part of the rocks made by water running down from the mountains.

 That Yuma spots something else and calls me over.

Looks to me like the remnants of an old short bridge over a wash.

 There it is folks.  All that's left of the ghost mining town of Tumco.

If you came here to see a ghost town, you'll be disappointed.  My feet are killing me and I have a good mile to go to get back to the Jeep.

I didn't walk back to the open mining pit, but I've seen one of those already the other day.  It wasn't a part of the 1.5 mile walk they marked out for visitors.  I enjoyed the views though.

We got back to the RV in no time and I put my feet in cold water for awhile, so I could walk again.  Then I edited my pictures up to this point to save time after Happy Hour.  Then I hooked up the Dish for Gold Rush tonight, so it would be ready also.  Finished with three minutes to spare before 5 'clock Yuma time.

Turned out to be a beautiful evening with clear blue skies and very little wind.  We made plans for the Green Bay/Seattle game Sunday evening.  Deb is making Tacos for dinner.  Can't wait!  Go Green Bay!

While we were waiting for the sun to set, our neighbor, Renee walked over and introduced herself.  She and her husband Roy have been full timing for over a year now.  Enjoyed the Happy Hour.

Made it home for Gold Rush and made dinner.

Sun setting in the West and

Wolf Moon rising in the East.

Another busy day.  See you later.