Castle Dome

Castle Dome is a wonderfully preserved mining town 9 miles off Hwy 95 about 40 miles north of Yuma.

Driving to Castle Dome.

There was quite a bit of silver that was mined out of the Castle Dome area.

                                             The blacksmith shop...Just for my brother Joe.

                                  Got to watch out for any gunslinger that has been drinking.

Castle Dome cemetery.
                                                                          

                                                              

Desert wildlife

I stopped for a minute to take a picture and heard a scary noise in the brush but could not see anything. Then as I looked harder out came this jackass that I found very unlike the one's that hang around Oatman or Red Rock. This guy was almost as big as a horse and ran like one too. Very fit wild animal.

Chuckawalla Valley Prison complex

On the road to "rock hounding" we came across the Chuckawalla Prison complex which besides being one of the most remote in California, housed two Prisons, Chuckawalla and Ironwood Prisons. Talked to a very nice gate guard who explain no picture taking while... he was looking, wink, wink.

If you did escape there is nothing for miles...

Rock hounding

When out on a 11 mile dirt road to Hauser's geode Bed.

You'd think our road led us to the moon as stark as this landscape is.

We were looking for geodes but found only rocks, lots of rocks.....

Blythe Army Air Field

Although it was built in 1942 for the Army, the Army never occupied the base. The Air Force took over immediately and made it a training ground for bombers. B-17's and B-24's were a common bomber flying around Blythe back in the day. It's was turned over to the city after the war for a local airport.

Not sure what the array is on the tower but assume is was radio communications.

This huge hanger is showing its age.

There was a gate in front of the steel staircase leading to the roof but it wasn't locked so I could see over most of the airfield. Silly Benji followed me up and scared the crap out of me because had he falling down the steps it would of been a hefty vet bill.

Why I didn't know we were staying in a "ghost town" for a month?:-)

Another beautiful evening in Ehrenberg, Az.

Ehrenberg-Parker Hwy

I guess it depends on if you are "coming or going"...as to whether you are at the beginning
 of your journey or at the end of it?

The cotton fields of Ehrenberg.

Donna and I noticed a cotton harvester rolling down the small county road we were on, so of course we followed. Nearer to the fields were no trespassing signs but one of the farm managers told us to come on thru and take all the photos we'd like. He also fielded (get it, fielded..ha ha) some questions for us.

This harvester makes only one run down the row before it's full.

The packer in the previous photo packs the cotton into these huge bales...up to 25,000lbs each

All that from this little flower.
                                     

  Below is an addition to the cycle of cotton farming. After the cotton is pulled, then a brush tractor tries to pick all the cotton that the stripper misses. This tractor and apparatus chops the cotton plant down to about 2 inches before it is tilled into the ground. The state requires the roots to be plowed up by January 31^st otherwise it promotes a fungus that can get into the soil.

After all is said and done the fields look like this and will be replanted with cotton starting in March.

Ehrenberg, Az a hot town

Can you imagine in a town of maybe 1000 there would be a hangout for Donna?

I guess we have to stay another month!:-)

Ehrenberg Pioneer Cemetery

First day of exploring the area. Right out of the box (across the street from rv park) is a Pioneer Cemetery. Donna and I both like going thru old cemeteries (out of curiosity but at the same time don't want to see any newer one any time soon).

Most of the mounds were from the 1870's and "unknown" but the last burial was 1988!

Ehrenberg, Az

Left Moabi on Jan. 1st and arrived same day at Rivers Breeze on the Colorado River for the month near Blythe, Ca

Very large spots for an rv park.

New Years Eve

Spent New Years Eve with friends in our campground with a huge fire.

What a beautiful sunset for the last day of 2011

Exploring Moabi

Walking around the Moabi Park you see some sun shades from the 40's when the Army used
the area for tank practice.

Donna enjoying a walk with Benji and Missy.

Christmas on the Colorado River

Other than a good steak dinner not much of a celebration here at the campfire.

Our Christmas present, flag with a 22 ft pole.

Brother Joe had this bumper sticker made for us, we might have mentioned

 a couple times in Zion that we are on a fixed income (haha)  

Christmas at brother Joe's

Drove down to L.A. to meet the whole family (minus my sister in Denver) for early Christmas and to welcome Joe's son and bride to-be, home for the holidays. Great get together with food, drink and kidding with each other.

Myself with sister Jeanne.

Sister Chris, Jack and Scamper.

The "always" serious Joe and wife Cindy.

Moabi Regional Park, Ca

Moabi park is right across the river (Colorado) from Topock, Az. At Topock there are three

large gas pipelines that cross the river and are accompanied by compression plants along the way. These plants compress and filter the gases that come from as far as Texas and deliver the (either liquid or vapor gas) gas to Los Angeles, San Fransisco and on up to the state of Washington.

Grapevine Canyon Petroglyphs

Toured some spectacular petroglyphs (the largest amount in one area we have ever seen) in Grapevine Canyon just 6 miles form Laughling, Nv and a three mile dirt road but only 1/4 mile hike to see petroglyphs. What is amazing is that people have not defaced the area...yeah, people!

As you might assume, it was a cold breezy day for a hike to the petroglyphs.

Moabi Regional Park, Ca-- Brother Jack visit

My brother Jack came to visit for two nights of campfires and wine...loved it! In between we did make it to Oatman, Az for some horse play...I mean donkey, and the Kingman museum

.

Oatman, Az

The donkey's at Oatman, and there are lots of them, can be a little over whelming.

Moabi Regional Park, Ca

Camping on the Moabi Peninsula

Moabi Regional Park, Ca

Well, we are staying here on the Colorado River for the month of December. Can't beat the price
of $260 a month which includes full hookups...hard to beat. The peninsula, where you camp right on the river, just dirt but it is level for the most part and some tree's but not enough to bother satellite TV. Lots of visits to Havasu and Oatman, AZ

Zion National Park

Spent 9 days at Watchman Campground over Thanksgiving. Wonderful campground
with 50 amp but no sewer or water connections. Had a great time with the family.

                            Zion views are amazing!

                   The Gang, Donna,Teri, Jopie, Dalye, Joe, Becca, Andrew, Chris & Tom hiking
                  The Narrows (Jack & Randy back at lodge resting up for Thanksgiving dinner).

                    The Girls, Donna, Becca, Chris, Teri & Dalye took a drive to Bryce Canyon Ntl' Park
                     Had a great time, lots of laughing!!

                       Bryce Canyon Ntl' Park--WOW awesome, beautiful!!

                              Thanksgiving, good company & good food!!!