Yuma, Arizona
We rolled in before the New Year this time. Same old spot on Aunt Joann's lot in the Fortuna Foothills. Jo had the water and electricity on. Quirt & Marilyn were already on site and had the trash service going and a wireless LAN up and running. All we had to do was park, and Gari did it in one pass! That Gari can maneuver a big rig!
All set up on Aunt Joann's lot.
A gorgeous view of the Gila Mountain Range from the lot.
Flag Mountain, or Jester's Peak...One of these days we're going to climb that mountain, mountain, mountain... There's an American Flag right on that highest point.
Told you we were going to climb that mountain!
The weather is finally getting real nice here in Yuma and we enjoyed our first patio dinner party this week with Marilyn and Quirt. While it was 75 and 80 degrees on the east coast it was a little too cool here to eat outside. Now that it is in the teens and snowing on the east coast the weather is hitting the mid 70s here. Funny how El Nino works.
Our Yuma pal Bill from Colorado got us out on the Pickle Ball courts at the Yuma Armory. We even won a couple games! We used the strategy of hit 'em where they ain't!
Steve got his picture with the Pickle Ball Administrator at the Armory Linnéa
We went to a morning auction out in the county... and saw a few characters of the southwest. This is the auctioneer riding around in his Polaris with his rickety PA system strapped on top.
This bidder brought his bird to the show.
This fella was only one crowbar short of a full auction load in the back of his truck! He's got everything you need, we just can't find it. By the way how's your fuel mileage?
Next stop Baker Tanks outside Wellton, AZ for a picnic. We stopped at Johnny & Lynn's Ranch first and checked out their gate art and oasis.
Closer up on the hat rack.
Barry and Jerry test thier balance and luck over the oasis... Today both were good!
Here's the gang way up at the top of the wash.
Some interesting markings in the rock... they look man-made to me.
This hole looks natural... very interesting how the smaller stones collected in the deformation.
A quartzy seam runs across the conglomerate ground.
Gari examines the conglomerate wall of the slip canyon tank.
Looking down stream.
Steve taking pictures with Phyliss and Barb.
Jerry stoking the fire.
Photographer catches Steve coming out of the praire dog latrine at right. He nonchalantly flashes the hang loose sign.
Barry roasting the weiners
There's the entire gang at the picnic shelter..... almost ready to eat.
Lori lines up a portrait of Barry & Phyliss sitting in a Tank.
A view south through the shelter.
Barry proclaims the excellence of the moment.
Pursuing Jester's Peak; also known as Flag Mountain. Sure, everyone's happy at the start, let's check back after the next 3 miles straight up the mountain...
Off we go...
A rock ring found around an Ironwood seedling... the ring tips the staff shadow.
The trail begins as a narrow rocky road.
We spotted a Saguaro pair among Ironwood Trees in the wash.
And a lone Saguaro seen farther up the hill.
The BLM Trail Head to Jester's Peak. You can see the small trail to the right, that's the way.
Marilyn and Quirt ahead on the trail.
Gari, Marilyn and Quirt look back over the ground covered... Steve's shadow joins the group
Marilyn shouts joy from the mountain top!
Gari captures a photo of the mountains behind mountains in the windy pass.
Gari scrambles up a steep section of the trail.
Hero Shot.
There appears to be a rock stack on that remote peak...
Zooming in, indeed it is a Zen offering left by a previous soul.
Gari carries on leaving the rock stack behind.
Very near the top, we caught up to a mountain goat herd from Minnesota ahead ;-)
Almost to the top, I can see the flag!
