Saturday, March 24

“We need to find a new place for us to walk.”

I pop Reggie and Roger into the Perfect Tow Vehicle and we take off down the highway.

Cochise County, southern Arizona

“This looks good.”  

No sign saying it’s private property.  If I’m told to close the gate, I take it I can open the gate.

Today in southern Arizona the sky is overcast and the wind pretty strong.  The forecast is for 20-30 mph winds with gusts up to 40 mph.

During the time the crew and I have been camped in this area, the mornings start out calm.  It isn’t until noontime or so that the wind moves in with much power.  It’s mid-morning.

I get out and close the gate before continuing in the PTV.

The roadway soon becomes a rockway.  We creep along, rocking and bumping over ruts and rocks.  A strong breeze flows through the PTV.  The boys are getting excited.

They love this.  They know they’re gonna’ get out soon.

Hmm . . . .Must be livestock on this land.  Looks like water tanks up ahead.

Ooh, looks like more than water tanks . . .

“Hi, there, big fella!”

Reggie and Roger are peering out the passenger side window.  I keep us moving before they notice the big, black bovine on my side.

Up the road a way, we come to a flat, gravel area with an old fire ring that hasn’t been used in a long while.

If the road weren’t in such bad shape, this would make a decent camp.  Very exposed to wind though, coming across this wide valley.  

And there’s that bull to contend with.

I park the PTV, trot around to the crew’s door, hook them on their leashes, let them down, and we set off.

We should’ve come here sooner.  Oh, well, we’ll walk up to the base of those hills or until the wind becomes too much. 

There’s a special feeling being alone in this vast, open area.  Reggie and Roger have a great time sniffing the different smells on plants and rocks.

We’re about halfway to the hills (the distance is much further than the above photo indicates) when we hear the reports of gunshots ahead.

Apparently a person is putting in some Saturday practice.  It would’ve been better to try this hike on a weekday.  I can hear Granny saying, “No, today is not the day for that.”

The boys are agreeable about turning back.

As we walk along I look for scenes to photograph.  It’s fun to zoom in on a faraway object like the one below.

Mostly we’re surrounded by bending grass, bare mesquite, a few, widely scattered palo verde (below) and cactus and yucca plants.  On this somewhat dark day, I don’t have the wonderful, golden light that adds glow to photos of grass.

I turn the camera to include the clouds.

The wind, while warm, has become very strong.

With ears flipped back, Reggie and Roger hold their heads low to the ground.  We make our way to the PTV.

I struggle opening the door against the force of the wind.

“Well, that was fun!”  I announce, as the boys get a drink out of the dish in front of the bench seat.  “Short, but fun.”

Once the crew members are at their stations, I turn the PTV around and we rumble-bumble, tip-and-sway over the rocky road on our way to the gate.

This time the passenger window is on the same side as the bull.

Roger and Reggie do their best to sound fierce and intimidating.  Judging by the position of their ears (I don’t think it’s entirely the wind) and the way they duck away from the window a few times, I think they’re the ones intimidated.

“I don’t blame you.  You’re no match for that guy.  Always smart to know one’s limitations, I say.”

I park the PTV, open the gate, drive us through, park again, and close the gate.

Well, we didn’t make it to the hills, but that’s okay.  All in all, this was a good little outing.  

The two pups dozing peacefully beside me on the ride home attest to that!

rvsue

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Reggie knows to point downwind on a day such as this!

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