Ah, the promise of a new day . . . .
Bill and Ann have invited the crew and me to explore the Sonoran desert with them and their crew!
Samantha (Sammy) the beagle allows Bridget, Spike and me to share the back seat of her pick-up truck. Julie the doxie rides up front. The crew is very excited to go on a new adventure!
Black Mountain watches over us as we bump along on the narrow, dirt road.
Our destination is Locomotive Rock.
Bill parks the pick-up and we all climb to the rock.
An expansive view of desert and mountains rewards our efforts.
On the way down the crew enjoys a brief respite.
Julie and Sammy take in the sights as well.
We explore some more.
Interesting shapes and subtle colors delight our eyes.
We continue south toward the border.
A little girl’s, pink backpack lies alongside the road. Occasionally we see empty gallon water jugs.
We pass crime scene tape.
Last month Border Patrol seized 1,922 pounds of marijuana (street value: $961,000) here. Two days later 1,617 more pounds (street value: $546,500) were confiscated in the desert near Ajo. Three Mexican nationals were arrested.
Border Patrol is a daily presence. One often meets their white vehicles on the road or sees plumes of dust streaming across the desert in the distance.
We discover a corral with an overturned water tank.
Bill takes us on twisty, rocky dirt roads, up and down and through washes. We spot several empty campsites.
On the canine front, while we’re walking Julie the doxie catches a mouse which Bill makes her release.
Back at the car, Ann gives Julie a treat as a substitute. Ann explains, “She was, after all, doing what dachshunds were bred for.” The other three have to get a treat, too.
All four canines are good hikers today. No one strays too far. Everyone gets along and is totally involved in the desert.
As the sun dips low in the sky, the mountains upstage the desert plain. Light drifts across caves, cliffs, and canyons.
Ann points out the window and exclaims, “Oh, look! We should hike that someday!”
A big, blocky red and white cow suddenly appears in front of the car, startling us. Further along, a coyote sprints across the road.
On the way back to our camps we talk about future travels.
We toss around the idea of driving the hundred miles or so south from here to Puerto Penasco.
Bill tells me, “Get your passport card and this time next year we’ll camp at the beach in Mexico!”
As soon as the crew and I are home, I saute strips of chicken breast and mash potatoes for a filling supper. We’re starving.
Bridget, Spike and I eat supper together.
Both are ready for bed sooner than usual. I tuck the covers around their tired, little bodies. “We sure had fun today, didn’t we, crew.”
rvsue
rvsue and her canine crew 