roadquill1

Hello again dear friends and family!
We are now parked, once again after 8 years, in the Squaw Lake T.K.Jones campground. (Why can’t they change that name to Squall Lake??) We have just finished our 6th night here. We return to River’s Edge today to party on the 21st!

Last week on Monday March 11, we went to Organ Pipe National Monument planning on 5 nights there, but we were only able to book 3 in the non-generator camping sites. There were two other Escape 5.0s there and we chatted with both folks – Lynn and Gord from Port Townsend, and Michelle and Paul from Lake Tahoe. With more time, I am sure that we would have gotten to know them better.

Each night there were Ranger presentations at the outdoor amphitheatre. The first night was on “How to Create a ‘Monument’”, on the second night a young Navajo lady presented to us on her home in Canyon de Chelly National Monument. (pronounced, apparently, as Canyon de ‘Shay’) in northern Arizona. (By the way, a ‘Monument’ is created by the President alone, while a National Park is created by Congress.) The third night presentation was on some kind of soil covering, and since we know dirt, we didn’t go.

On the second morning we rode down to the visitors’ centre (I guess it is ‘Center’ here) to hear a presentation on a grasshopper rat. It is a fierce little rodent that can handle many dangerous enemies. Look it up!

On the third morning we joined a group doing a bird walk. No – it is not us holding our hands behind our backs, bending forward slightly and bobbing our heads as we walk!! Well, we might have walked that way, but we actually went out on a few trails to spot desert birds. We weren’t very successful. The only bird that was very clear and stood still for us was a killdeer – a shore bird…standing on the “shore” of the effleunt pond! (Well, we were hunting for birds, but…“That’s not a good kill – dear!”)

When we tried to renew our Registration, the internet was down, and even the Rangers couldn’t get us registered – so we left! Besides, Sandy had visions of hordes of Spring Breakers heading for the shores of Senator’s Wash for the weekend. That premonition was incorrect! We found lots of space at T.K. Jones campground and paid $75 for the whole year. Since the nightly fee is $15, our 6th night here was technically free. And, since the fee is good until the end of March 2025, we can stay for 2 weeks in March next year.

We have met a really nice fellow who was tenting next to us – Daniel Boone! He was from Singapore originally, but seems to enjoy himself tenting. He has an old Toyota, and plenty of technology – including a drone that he intends to use for fishing! He is really into fishing, but had not caught anything while he was here. (The drone will act like a casting rod, only putting his lure several hundred yards out in front of him.) We shared his campfire with him on a couple of nights.

We have had several bike rides, however, our attempt to cycle around Senator’s Wash panned out when we encountered the horrid road conditions from washouts and 4-wheel drives. And, although we got to the bottom of the second ravine, the loose gravel was not to be ridden on by bikes with road tires! So we headed back, walking our bikes through the worst of the road stuff. We also got a decent hike in over the hills.

On Monday, with no wind, and the potential for a beautifully warm day, we decided to try out our new Advanced Elements inflatable kayaks. With some advice from some fellow campers – we were able to get them almost fully inflated and into the water, and to paddle through the beautiful channels through reeds upstream to the next lake to the north of us. We are thrilled with their performance and ease of inflating and packing.

Much love and best wishes to you all!

Tony and Sandy

P.S. Today we return to Yuma for 2 nights before heading towards home.