Do You See Any Rattlesnakes?

Friday, November 15, 2013

Yesterday we decided it was time to get off our lazy duffs and explore a bit. We've been in slow down mode since we hit Lake Havasu City and our chance to boondock. After a busy and expensive summer in Atlantic Canada, we need to conserve a bit to keep this lifestyle going. A week of free camping and no fuel costs fills the bill. Besides, camping in the quiet of the Southwestern desert is something we have found out that we really love.


After breakfast we took off up Craggy Wash to explore. The information we found on the internet said that the road we are camped along goes on up the wash about three miles into the jagged volcanic peaks and lava flows. We are camped near the 1.5 milepost, so we wanted to hike up to mile 3. Along the way we passed a few other boondockers, who nodded a hello. Most people camped here want the solitude and unless they make a point to speak to you, it is polite to just move on.

Walking up the wash, this is as much "road" as you get

We passed two elderly men with white hair and beards sitting at an outside table playing a game with lots of dice rolling. They nodded. Most campsites seemed devoid of life. Yesterday was in the 80's and with the intense sun, most campers were inside in the shade of their rigs. There are not many people up the wash now. In January and February it is supposed to be quite crowded.

We checked out the volcanic rocks, the Palo Verde trees, the holes everywhere, (hmm...who lives there?), saw a few lizards and avoided spotting any rattlesnakes. We shaded ourselves next to the large rocks, (Greg shades and examines), found ourselves some Cholla and Ocotillo cacti and decided to turn around past the three mile mark and come back. Don't know how far the road went. Don't care...it was getting too hot and time for lunch!

Kathleen cooling off lizard-style by leaning on cool rocks.
The romantically fuzzy focus is caused by sunscreen smeared on the lens.

Holes of various sizes were everywhere, left by gas bubbles in the thick, silica-rich lava,
many contained nest materials

Cacti appeared several hundred feet in elevation above our camp

Ocotillo

Cholla

The hot walk finally forced our hands and we decided to use up some precious water on a shower! Our shower is basically used as a closet. The former owner built removable shelves in it, so it has to be disassembled to use it for its intended purpose. Lots of complaining later, (by me!), we were reasonably clean, but I still need a better strategy for hair washing. Greg's strategy was to have me cut his hair so short that a little soap and a little rinse takes care of it. I'm not going that route, but I understand the women who do!

Storage closet

Shower

Another beautiful sunset, (I know, I know, but we never tire of them), no one else in sight, (the tenter left), an almost full moon, a good meal, and good company (thanks, hon!), a little TV (can't give up all the creature conveniences), and we settled in for a good night's sleep in the desert.

Early sunset behind our personal volcanic ridge

Dramatic Sky to the North

Moon rise

Clouds for artistic effect

Today we spent some time roughly planning out the next few months of travel. Tomorrow, after another visit to Crazy Horse RV Park to take care of the “plumbing”, we will leave Lake Havasu City for a few nights of boondocking in Quartzite, AZ. The scene of our first ever boondocking experience!