Daily observations of my simple life.

Off To The Mountains:

It's a socked in grey rainy day. I got home last night from a trip to the high desert at the backside of the Hualapais. I took my little motorhome.

Before I bought my home here, my daughter and I were traveling through Arizona on her big rig. I went with her for a month's ride and went through 32 states, border to border and coast to coast. When we came through Kingman Az, I thought, "I like this area". As we headed out I 40 I saw a sign by a land promoter stating $395. an acre. Once back in California I decided to take a trip back to Arizona in my motorhome to check out this sign. I was looking for retirement property where I could park my motorhome and live if necessary. I took the tour with the realtor but found that the land where I liked the most, at the base of the Hualapais was much more expensive and in 40 acre parcels. The realtor kept taking me down in the real desert where the land was $395 an acre.

I had discovered Arizona and now made a number of trips over exploring around. Finally one day driving in the high desert where I liked it so much I saw a for sale sign. Back in California I called the number and made the deal over the phone for a small parcel of 1 1/4 acre. It was $65. down and $65 a month. I now own it. I would go there and camp and there wasn't a soul around just the beautiful mountains, the open high desert with octillo's, joshua's, ironwood, mesquetes and other desert flora. The sound of the cactus wren rang out and the view was just unbelievable. I camped through amazing monsoons, pouring down rain, lightning all across the sky for miles and bone shaking thunder claps. I camped in summer heat and winter cold, shivering in front of a great fire with snow at my back on the mountains. I walked and explored but I was all alone, except when I would take my grandson.

It's been discovered, I have neighbors. You have to be a certain sort to like this kind of living. Older folks with limited incomes, snowbirds seeking to escape Montana's or Minnesota's cold winters. Motorhomes, dot here and there down my dirt road. Now, I'm visited by neighbors when I camp, some I've met before and some I haven't. There's no power, no water, so all is improvised or hauled in. Some have solar panels, some generators, some do without.

I enjoyed sitting in front of my little fire, drinking a glass of wine, looking out at the mountains, silohueted by cactus and joshua's. I hiked out in several directions to scout what's going on. I learned from the neighbors just up the road about all the new comers. The desert put on quit a show. Floating clouds, lights and shadows, changing colors, rainbows, brilliant sunsets.

On yesterday's hike I discovered that the little pack rats cover their homes with sticks first , then dirt, then cholla balls. The cholla throws little sticker balls out away from themselves to reseed. These are really nasty and my dog had quit a time with them. These little creatures the pack rat, wisely place the cholla balls all over their homes so foxes and coyotes can't dig into their homes. Very smart. The most interesting one was topped with an upside down octillo, root straight up and the branches spread out like an octipus, tent like. How that little creature accomplished that I can't even guess. It couldn't have been happen stance, it was too precise.

I noticed many octillo down, probably due to the storms we've had this year. Now I'm going to take my tools up and build a small enclosure for an outdoor shower from the octillo stems. They make live fences if you plant them side by side.

I love spending time in the wilderness but I miss my horse and burro. If only I could take them with me. It was good to get back home  to pat them and feed them carrots.

Posted by: cactusandquail at 17:35 | link | comments (2)

Comments:

#1  26 January 2005 - 18:57

 

It sounds so beautiful, I want a little parcel. I have met the chollas up close and personal, sandals are not a good idea in the desert. Give Sage a hug, we are waiting for pictures.

rustymadgal

#2  27 January 2005 - 17:03

 

I wear sandals, but I also watch where I step. My dear dog, Manna (gift from God/Bread for the soul) has a hard time. I am always stopping to pull stickers out of her paws.
Pictures: My little neighbor girl put the batteries in wrong and now I can't get them out to put them in right. Shzzz. My scanner isn't working properly either. Guess my grandson is going to have to give me an hour of his time and fix things.
I will e mail you privately on some ideas on getting a parcel.

cactusandquail

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