Nothing. Nothing, Arizona that is!
We found something in Nothing. In fact we found many things there. This is the short list; an interesting story, unspoiled ruggedly beautiful high desert, and fascinating granite boulders. It was actually the big rocks that we wanted to go and see up close. We had noticed the magnificient rocks while traveling south on AZ 93 a year ago. All of a sudden boulders were everywhere, on both sides of the road, then just as quickly as they appeared, they were gone again without a trace. What I remembered about these boulders, is that it appeared as if a giant had carefully stacked and balanced these rocks on top of each other.
So we returned during this stay in the Phoenix area to see these wonders up close. Nothing it turns out is also nowhere, or at least in the middle of that.
Nothing welcome sign.
We didn't see another soul at Nothing, so we say the population that day was two, not four. Gari and Steve.
Everything in downtown Nothing. The building is the old All Mart. Whatever you need, they're out of it. It was said the town sign, which we did not see, read, "Town of Nothing Arizona. Founded 1977. Elevation 3269ft. The staunch citizens of Nothing are full of Hope, Faith, and Believe in the work ethic. Thru-the-years-these dedicated people had faith in Nothing, hoped for Nothing, worked at Nothing, for Nothing."
Nothing once contained a gas station and small convenience store. Nothing was abandoned by May 2005, An attempted revival of Nothing occurred at some time after August 2008 when Nothing was purchased by Mike Jensen. By April 2009, Jensen had opened a pizza business, run from a portable oven, with hopes of reopening the mini-mart and creating accommodations for RVs.
As of April 2011, it appeared that nothing had come of Mike's plans, and Nothing had again been abandoned. Fresh boards reappeared on the windows at that time. Although the December 2015 day we were there one of the boards on the back of the building read, Owner Buddy Kenworth". Congratulations Buddy.
A clue as to the location of Nothing, AZ. Photo taken along AZ 93. Trivia note: Wikieup is considered the Rattlesnake Capitol of AZ. I did hear one rattle in a pile of rocks that I will point out later. I did not stay around long enough to invesitgate, in fact I was pleased by how fast I can still move!
Now for the magnificient rocks and rocky outcroppings!
The flora of this high desert local is also splendid as evidenced by this healthy Ocotillo Cactus in the foreground below.
These are some large rocks, we will try to insert scale into some of the pictures with plants and ourselves.
Stacked up just so...
A balancing rock way behind Gari.
Another interesting rock pile up.
Steve in front of a double rock stack.
Saguaro way behind.
Joshua Tree with Saguaro in front of rocks.
Prickly Pear and Barrel Cactus ahead of a rock stack.
Lone Ocotillo Cactus bucking the Jet Stream overhead.
Gari navigating the back country.
Lots going on here.
The Snoopy Rock.
Joshua Tree and Ocotillo Cacutus preceding rock.
Looks like a dragon's head popping up among the Saguaro... I must have serpents on my mind!
I never expected to see a seat from the Island Roxy way out here!
We couldn't get as close as we would have liked to these piles, so a long shot will have to do.
That is a huge Saguaro, must be 30 feet tall.
The high rock angles seem to match the clouds overhead
Gari is intent on capturing the beauty of the moment.
Ahaa! That's how these rocks got all stacked up!
Steve hopping down from his rock stacking hoax.
Looking east.
Southerly view. This is the rock pile where I heard the snake rattle.
Steve on top, shadow down below.
Snake Rattle, time to go! Looking back.
A safe distance now.
On the road home. The rocks suddenly disappeared, Joshua Trees took over and here is a final southerly specimen trimming the mountain view.
Giant road art at the first roundabout coming into Wickenburg, AZ
Funny, I already want to retun to Nothing.
