Changing the Adventure

 Hello Family & Friends,

When we started this journey, we brought along two motorcycles to ride the roads of America.  Well, after spending the best riding time in the Midwest (and a couple fun rides in CO and up the mountain to Yarnell in AZ), we decided to sell the motorcycles.  With Darrel's hip issues (which are getting better) and the increase in fast moving traffic, we just weren't riding them as much.  So the reason for this paragraph was to explain what we've been doing the last couple of weeks:

SELLING MOTORCYCLES and MOTORCYCLE GEAR!!!!

Darrel's cycle -- went to a really nice guy from Tucson

Susan's cycle -- went to a really nice young man (first grown up cycle) from Scottsdale.

I don't like to sell and I really don't have the patience for it.  It takes time to take pictures, list on Craigslist, take calls from interested people and lookie loos --- but we were fortunate to get rid of them in less than a week of posting.  The Triumph was really funny because the dad called and left a message in a British speaking voice -- I am like really? who is having fun with me now!!!  But it was legit, he was a British citizen.  His son was buying it and he was so appreciative of the cycle's condition, the extra parts we threw in, and some Triumph clothing and gloves.  What a delightful experience.

So those were gone and then we moved on to the gear, we had pared it down some when we went on the road, with 6 jackets, 4 helmets, 2 sets of boots, gloves, and intercom system, and motorcycle chokes/stands.  

We have sold 2 jackets, 1 helmet, 2 gloves, the intercom system and the stands.  The rest may be more difficult as they are geared for colder weather.  It just takes some time and accommodating schedules for buyers and us.  You want to be available but you also have a life!!!  So it is a balancing act.  We are hopeful the rest will go soon.

So the adventure has changed to UTV riding which is safer as we stay off the roads and stick to the trails.  We find it more peaceful and you can get away from people if you choose carefully when you are riding and where you go.

Before I go, there is one more thing we did get done -- changing the "running horse" on the shed.  I had been looking for an actual running horse and the neighbor up the street had an extra one she was storing and gave it to me.  How sweet. -- So Darrel climbed a ladder and changed out the horses.  

Here's the new one:

So we are spring cleaning, waiting for the garage sale (supposedly next Saturday?), the community cleanup which lets you take things to the dump for free to finish up our spring cleaning activities.

Hope all is doing well with everyone and that Spring is on the way.

Sending blessings from Arizona,

Susan and Darrel

PS  Bob has my camera to take pictures of a project at his house, replacing some septic tank lines and fixing some drainage.  I may have limited picture taking opportunities for a week or so.

In Search of Metates!

 Hello Family and Friends,

In case the title of this post befuddles you, it is phonetically pronounced ....   

[muh-tah-teez; Spanish me-tah-tes] -- I just call them grinding stones.  We headed out with Sue and Ernie to look for Metates.  We headed towards Congress and then toward Indian Rock -- where there are Metates.

We had really beautiful scenery with high cliffs and lots of up and down trails!

This one Darrel called the bathing hole -- he thinks they used this big hole to capture rain water for bathing purposes???

Sue is checking out the markings of a traveler leaving a date stamps on the rock.

Here's the Metates!

And more

a close shot

Some one decided to stack rocks and you will see these from time to time where people have stopped to visit and leave a marker for future visitors.

We had a much warmer day and less wind which helps with the desert dust.  We traveled back towards Congress to finish our day.  It was a great trip and I now can look for more Metates as we travel the rock formations.

Sending blessings from the Road,

Susan & Darrel

Happy Reading -- until the next time!

Black Canyon Petroglyphs and Date Creek Fort

 Hello Family & Friends,

We journeyed once again in the UTVs to Black Canyon to see the Petroglyphs and stop by Date Creek Fort on the ride home.  It was a windy day but we had nice sunshine.  Packed our lunch for this trip and headed out from the back gate, which is nice that we don't have to trailer the UTV.

We journeyed quite a ways into the canyon, and as you traveled off the open pasture area, you found yourself in this canyon with lots of rocky crags.  You had to look for the petroglyphs along both sides of the canyon.

The picture on the right shows rocks with deposits of either shells or quartz embedded in it.

To the left is the petroglyphs

Lots of them high and low, you had to look very carefully to see them as some are getting faint from weather wear.

Darrel is poking around in the crag, looking closer at them.

The one of the right was an entire wall of rock, made you think it was like a calendar with all the markings.

We came back out of the canyon and lunched at our parking spot -- the wind was whippy that day -- I loved seeing the while clouds popping up over the horizon.

Onwards to Date Creek Fort -- we had been there once with Bob but it was a colder, windier day so we didn't linger.  It was nice to poke around a little.

Here I am sitting on the remaining foundation of one building on the fort site.

We headed back along the railroad tracks and through Congress to head home.  It was an enjoyable day but you can see we were bundled up!

Sending blessings from the Road,

Susan and Darrel

PS -- Keep on reading, post 3 is about the Metate (or grinding stones/holes)

First Part of February

 Hello Family & Friends,

It is with a sad heart that I write that sister-in-law, Johnette Pendergast (Johnny), passed away on February 1st.  We thank you for your prayers and love you sent in her final days at home with family.  We miss her and keep good memories of last year when she and Mike visited us in Arizona. We know that she is playing with the Angels....

So our February started a little shaky and with sad hearts .... we have gotten busy again with a few trips to a place called Hole in the Wall Waterfall.  It was a brisk day, but plenty of sunshine.  We were headed to a place for lunch near Alamo Lake -- more of the restaurant later --- we traveled quite a ways to a place call the hole in the wall -- and when we have water in Arizona there is an amazing waterfall -- and actually a pond area -- here's a few pics of the site:

Here's the hole in the wall and we climbed up to get to the waterfall -- such beautiful scenery as you can see from the pictures below.

Darrel worries about these rocks falling down, and maybe I should too!  Look at the rubble below the rock in the left picture.  I just don't think about it too much!

Here's where the waterfall would be if we had water to fall --- I guess it is an amazing site to see!

Here's the pond area on the left -- mostly a sand pit!  Darrel is picking his way back down the rocks, carefully!

Susan in front of the hole in the wall

We journeyed on to lunch spot called Wayside Oasis RV Park and Bar & Grill -- absolutely wonderful food -- I had a delicious hamburger and Darrel had the open face roast beef special.  Our group was larger about 16 people -- we traveled back along the primitive road.

We really enjoyed the ride and seeing the Hole in the Wall -- so many places to explore and marvels to see.

Sending blessings from the road,

Susan & Darrel

PS  Stay tuned for a couple more posts -- I am catching up as Darrel is in PT for his hip and I have Internet in Wickenburg!