Deserts and Lakes

Surprise, AZ
Moochdocking


We have been out of touch for a couple months as we were so busy helping take care of family and getting warranty work done on the 5er (more on that in a later post), that I just could not catch up.  Now that it's May and we're back in California where we started, I'm working on it!

We were staying at Steve's Dad's place in Surprise, AZ, just NW of Phoenix for the month.  While we were there we needed to have the warranty work done on our rig before the 1 year mark (yes, it's almost a year!) and we took a couple of trips with some really good friends of ours.

It turned out to be a real eye opener as his dad and stepmom are both in the mid 80s and he has Alzheimers and other health issues and she is his round the clock caretaker.  Well she had gotten a very bad virus just as we got back from our first trip and I assumed that roll as Bunny could not get out of bed and was very ill.  I have added checking blood and giving insulin shots to my resume.  His dad takes mountains of pills and we had quite the struggle getting the correct ones doled out at the correct times.  That's 8 times a day.  And since he's also diabetic, he must eat at certain times.  This made for a very stressful and busy month.  Later in the month she caught the same bug and I once again took over.  I certainly don't mind and we were thankful to have been there when needed, but it sure became obvious some changes needed to be made so that some others could take over if needed.  We developed a type of back-up plan with lists of medications, when taken, etc.  Names of doctors, family and so on.

 

On our first mini-trip out we went in search of gold.  Yes, there is gold in them thar hills.  Did we hit the motherlode?  Well, let's say Steve won't be quitting his day job any time soon!  We enjoyed 4- wheeling around the numerous dirt roads with cactus everywhere and long abandoned cabins.

 

 

 

 

  

Doug & Dotty!!

 

Spring is here big time and besides the allergies that took us by surprise were the beautiful flowers.  Everywhere!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ocotillo starting to bloom.  One of my favorites. 

  

In 1863, the same year that Henry Wickenburg discovered the Vulture mine, Pauline Weaver, a famous western prospector and scout, led a group of people organized by Abraham Harlow Peeples from Yuma into central Arizona Territory.
One night they killed three antelope beside a creek under the rocky hilltop. When some of the party searched for gold by the creek, a man named Alvaro clambered to the top of the hill and found gold nuggets. The creek was named Antelope Creek, the canyon on the east side of the hill became Weaver Gulch, and  the top of the hill that contained the ore became Rich Hill.
Three cities surrounded Rich Hill: Stanton, Weaver and Octave. Weaver was a colorful city named after Pauline Weaver who found rich gold ore on Rich Hill.
When the gold ore was depleted, the popular community of Weaver became a dangerous place and made the town of Stanton appear to be a nice place. Weaver became a hide out for thugs, con-men, deadbeats and killers. Some of them were hired by Charles Stanton in his fight for power.
Weaver's post office was established May 26, 1899 and was discontinued April 19, 1900 because it was also moved to nearby Octave. After 30 years with non law the gangs were definitely haunted out and Weaver became ghost town.  -- (taken from the apcrp.org website)

More and more rattlesnakes enjoying the sun besides us.

 

Those that know me know I don't care diddly about snakes.  But heaven forbid a bee or wasp buzzes anywhere near me and I'll be gone faster than you can blink.  This wonderful weather brought swarms of bees to this area.  Two went by right over our heads that day.  Swarms, not two individual bees!  Very loud and scary!  I know that sound and I didn't wait around to see where they were.  I ran straight for the truck both times so of course I didn't get any pictures.  YUCK!

Another day we went to a beautiful little lake called Goldwater near Prescott and had a great time kayaking.

Spring blossoms.

 

It was much nicer to share our surroundings with the ducks instead of the bees.

 

We also drove up to Gerome and did some geocacheing.

What a great trip!