Some days can really wear out a crew.
The crew . . . worn out from a full day.
This morning the crew and I take a ride back to Wikieup, ten miles north of Burro Creek Campground.
I need to buy some milk for cereal and coffee, and there’s a package from Mick waiting for me at the post office. Mick, you may remember, is my engineer friend from Tennessee (whom I’ve never met in person). He researched and found the best buys for the equipment for my solar set-up, as well as “masterminding” the project, and designing, fabricating, and mailing the tilt mechanism for the panel. Mick saw on this blog that I could use a good walking stick, so he’s mailed one he rarely uses. Pretty neat, huh? (More about that in another post.)
I stop at the Wikieup post office and find it’s closed for lunch.
Next the crew and I pull into Hidden Oasis for lunch.
I’m happy to see several cars and trucks parked out front. Brenda greets me with a cheery hello and tells me business has picked up since I was last there. David sits down at my table while I eat my sub sandwich. He draws me a map to Kaiser Hot Springs in a canyon between Wikieup and Burro creek.
“It’s just past mile marker 134 heading south. You drive about a mile or so until the road gets too rough at the mouth of the canyon. If you hike back into the canyon you’ll come to the river. There are hot springs back there, coming out of a rock. Brenda and I go there and camp in our tent. It’s beautiful. “
Brenda’s busy waiting on customers.
“Would you like some apple pie?” she asks. “I made it this morning.” A man at the counter is enjoying a slice with his coffee.
“Sure, I’ll have a slice! That sub filled me up, so make it “to go.” The man compliments me on my hat, telling me he has one just like it. Brenda hands me my pie, I thank David for the map, and return to the crew waiting in the PTV. What nice people in this town.
I park in a lot across from the Trading Post.
This is the same road we boondocked on and I know the signal is good. I post a blog entry I’ve prepared while the crew waits patiently on their bench seat. That done, I park the PTV at the Trading Post and run in for some milk.
The wind is fierce and I almost lose my hat!
I know I’m going to be burned buying milk at a small town store located in a gift shop, but there’s no regular grocery store in Wikieup. A gallon of whole milk is $4.99. I want a half-gallon with only 2% fat. Oh well, at least I’ll have milk, even if I get fatter and it goes bad before I finish it.
The post office is open!
The postlady hands me my package and a form to fill out, allowing me to get general delivery for thirty days. I fill it out, even though I don’t know if I’ll use it. There’s a bookshelf of paperbacks, free for the taking. I pick out two. I wish I had the two paperbacks back at the BLT to replace these with. I’ll have to pay it forward the next chance that comes along.
Back at the campground . . .
“Hello, Casita person!” I stick my head out the door and see a couple returning from a hike by the river. It’s Connie and Barry from Ohio who are here at Burro Creek for one night. We tour each other’s 17’ Liberty Deluxe, and we agree, of course, that it’s the best model trailer Casita makes.
Connie and Barry show me how they widened the twin beds, replacing cushions with real mattresses. Barry refinished and installed a table top from Lowe’s, creating a warm, inviting, and functional focal point for their living space.
Next to our Casitas is a 1950 Silver Streak Clipper.
Connie, Barry and I meet the owners, Jim and Patti from Washington state. Jim tells us the Silver Streak was painted green when they purchased it. Jim brought it back to its original finish. He gutted the inside and remodeled with a marine theme, including the kind of wood finishes you’d expect on a fine sailboat.
He shows us photos of the Silver Streak hitched to his yellow, 1935 Auburn Boattail Speedster. Quite a sight! I’m even more impressed when Jim tells us the Silver Streak weighs only 1,500 pounds.
Later that evening . . .
I drive up out of the canyon and park in a wide, gravel area off the road. I want to write some emails and read blog comments. After about ten minutes the crew gets restless, so I walk them up the road. As we’re walking along, I’m enjoying the wildflowers and the mountain views.
I notice a familiar post stuck in a mound of dirt.
Wait a minute . . . That’s a BLM 14-day limit sign . . . I could camp up here! And have internet! And it’s free! I look over the area. It’s flat and the BLT could face the mountains. There’s hardly any traffic on this road. Hmmm . . . I’ve got to think about this. Ah, the possibilities when you’re self-contained!
Another slideshow . . .
I’ve included photos taken when Bridget, Spike, and I hiked the road that crosses the river and winds up the hill behind Burro Creek Campground.
rvsue
Note: If you’d like to learn more about Kaiser Hot Springs, click on this link: http://www.rei.com/guidepost/detail/arizona/hot-springs/kaiser-hot-springs/32032
rvsue and her canine crew 