Thursday, December 3, 2020

Day 6 - I have finally arrived at my destination

 This morning I didn't hurry.  Don't have to leave till noon so I did a few things around the White Lion and had three cups of coffee and my Ritz crackers.  Took Yuma for several walks and then we headed out at 11 o'clock for our final destination for awhile.  Ajo, Arizona.  It is only about 3 hours west of Tucson.

The first thing I did was to stop at the first service station and fill both the White Lion and the Jeep.  The Jeep was on empty.  They have a wind advisory for today, but luckily the wind is coming from the east so I have a tail wind.  Should be no problem.

I took Valencia Road across the southern part of Tucson and it dead ended into Ajo Highway also known as highway 86.  110 miles to Ajo.  This highway goes right trough the Tohono O'Odham Nation Reservation.  This highway is two lane and is rough in a few places but overall not bad but I stayed around 55 mph.

Here are some pictures I took along the way.  The first one is of the Casino Del Sol where I used to stay for free, but now they have an RV park and charge $40 to stay.

My first checkpoint looking for illegals trying to pass through.  They didn't check me because they are only concerned with those going east.

Ajo Highway heading straight for the Kitt Peak National Observatory.

You can see it at the very top.  A great place to visit but if you're in a large RV, be sure to leave it at the bottom and take your towed.  It is a steep climb to the top.


The edge of the road just drops off so be careful and not slip off or you may in for a ride.


Finally, to my destination just south of Ajo.  Darby Well Road.

I was able to find a place on the side road I have stayed at a number of times.  I know some of you will be very familiar with it.  I am right at the base of Black Mountain.

Just as I was writing this there was a big boom that shook the whole motorhome and scared both Yuma and me.  A military training jet broke the sound barrier.  There is a lot of training going on around this area.

Darby Well Road heading for Black Mountain.

Behind the White Lion is some of the tailing from the huge open pit mine right in Ajo.  I'll visit that again while I'm here.

Views around my area.





Drove 148 miles today, shortest day thank goodness.  Got here at 2:30 so we drove three and a half hours.  Not bad.  According to Google Maps I have driven 1,784 miles in the last six days.  The actual miles were more I'm sure.  Glad it is over.  


See you later.

20 comments:

  1. Glad you and Yuma made it - safe and sound. I think you've earned a day off or three! Wish we were down there too, but stuck in Canada for this winter it seems. Enjoy the A-10's flying over. Better visit Locomotive rock for us too!

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    1. Thanks Ivan. This has been a bad year for Canadians to travel but next year will be better. I'm looking forward to doing nothing but set up camp for the next few days.

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  2. So glad you and Yuma are safely in Ajo! I hope there aren't too many sonic booms. Yuma will hate that. Black Mountain looks beautiful. Just make sure you stay away from the sand! Have a great night!

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    1. Thanks Dolly. I do hope there aren't too many booms or Yuma will be a nervous wreck. I'm in a nice solid spot:) I hope to rest good tonight.

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  3. We had a feeling that was your destination. Glad to read you and Yuma made it safely and found a good solid parking spot to settle into. We keep trying to park on Darby Road but every time we have been there all the decent spots are full. Enjoy your time there.

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    1. Nice and warm here that's why I like it. I think if you come this year you won't have any trouble finding a place.

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  4. You are settled safely in a warm spot, we can breathe a sigh of relief. We can also sit here stuck in Canada and feel pangs of jealousy. I sure hope next winter is different.
    Enjoy and hopefully the jets take it easy on you both.

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    1. I'll be thinking of you two. I had been looking forward to meeting up with everyone this winter. Being a loner isn't as good as I thought before I met your gang of Canadians.

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  5. Perfect spot to stay, but keep an eye on Yuma. Would sure hate for those booms to scare him into running!! Time to rest up and enjoy the scenery.

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    1. Yuma comes to me when he's scared so no problem there. It is nice to finally settle down.

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  6. Welcome home to AZ! What a beautiful spot you picked! Enjoy the next few days of setting up and just enjoying the warmth!

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    1. Thanks Shirley. Glad to slow down. Yuma sure is glad.

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  7. I had a feeling you were maybe headed for Darby Well road and Ajo. One of our all time favorite areas. I think one of the last times we saw you we had ourselves a wee hike up on top of the 'Cowplops' at the other end of Darby Well Road:))

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    1. My memory is fading but I still remember the good times. Thankful you led me here. Great place to spend several weeks.

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  8. We have tried to get to Ajo twice and it's never worked out so it's still on the bucket list. But I enjoyed the drive thru the reservation. One of my Dome Valley great uncles married a full blooded Tohono O'Odham woman so I have some cousins that are really into that culture. One is learning the language. So even though that tribe is not in my blood line I feel a relationship with it. We are experiencing some really beautiful weather this year. Enjoy!

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  9. It is always a nice drive from Tucson to Ajo. Drive slow and enjoy the view. So glad to be in the nice warm and sunny weather finally. 😎. Great to be settling in.

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  10. Glad you are now settled in until it's time to explore another area.
    Being around Military Bases brings a lot of unexpected surprises.
    Be Safe and Enjoy!

    It's about time.

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    1. Certainly glad to finally move from drive to park. Looking forward to a little down time while getting things set up.

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  11. Nice, bet it feels almost like home. I know that place and hope to be there sometime this winter.

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    1. Sure is ice to be settling in. Will be watching for you and I'm sure we will meet up sometime this winter.

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