San Pedro House & Lost Camera's

*Not my picture!*

But this page gives some great information and history on the area!

           Happy Halloween to all of my readers!  As you may or may not know, I keep my Halloween mask on all year long!  Scary for sure!  Last Halloween found my family and I in Bellingham, Washington having a great, if not chilly spooky time.  In Arizona standards it was rather chilly this morning here.  Although I doubt we will see the snow--that always seemed to come with the "holiday" while growing up in Wyoming.  We quickly learned to incorporate a coat into our costumes!  I hope everyone has a great and safe night tonight! 
            

           A few days back our new adopted dog, Buster and I ended up back in Sierra Vista, and after some light work it was time for a hike!   Have I mentioned how much I love working for myself lately?   Among all the perks--I am one heck of a great boss, if I do say so myself.  ;)   We ended up on the outskirts of town, at the San Pedro House.  I got some great pictures while Exploring, the trails--the changing leaves, yes this even happens in Arizona!  The huge cottonwoods in the area, the house, desert stuff, and of course our new pup.   Sadly I had a major brain fart when we were loading up, and left our camera on the bumper of our truck.   A little bit later at another spot, while trying to take more pictures, I realized my huge mistake and rushed back to the parking lot at the house.   The camera was no were to be found.  This was a crummy camera, but losing the pictures greatly saddens me.   Because of all of this----this blog post is going to be WAY different from most of mine.  Hopefully different in a good way!  At this point I am not going to include my pictures, that I do not have.  But am requesting pictures and thoughts from any Exploring trips you might have had here---or that this post persuaded you to visit maybe.  Each thought and picture sent in, will be noted as yours!  And than after we have a new camera, and maybe the leaves have changed just a little bit more, I will post again---with a picture filled entry.  Hopefully complete with my pictures and yours! 

          While in Serra Vista head to Fry Street.   Turn away from the base and follow the road out of town.  You pass the animal shelter and the swap meet area.  Just before you enter the construction area mess, get into the right hand lane.  You can usually by-pass all of the stopped cars and enter into the huge parking lot.   It is a dirt road though, and very ruff--so slow and steady if you value your cars shocks.   Looming over the house are two amazingly large cottonwood trees.   Your eyes are instantly drawn to them.  The leaves were just starting to turn on this day.  So in about a week, they should be amazing in full color.  The house is free to visit, but of course takes donations.   A full gift shop is also inside.   And the workers are very nice and full of knowledge.   A full restroom building is just outside the house.   And many covered picnic tables are nestled around the area. 
         

               To the right of the historic house is an great old log cabin.   And of course one of the huge trees.   You can wander all around it's huge base!  A small marked garden circles the house.   Several trails can be found leading off in all directions.   The ones to the left are supposed to lead to wet lands of such.  Each trail is expertly maintained and easy to walk.   They are also marked very well.   Something that can not be said many times on our Exploring.   Soon we were out in the open desert, and Butch was over whelmed by all of the new things to smell.   To soon the trail becomes an old road, and is very easy to navigate.  Several large downed trees made for a good backdrops in pictures, that sadly you can't see. 
        We later cooled off by the house.  Under the shade of the trees.  Butch was soon in "attack" mode, mesmerized by a leaf covered branch that kept moving in the breeze.  After loading up, and loosing the camera we took a detour on the way back to town, and checked out the animal viewing area just past the animal shelter.   Beside the animal shelter is a great and large painting-on the water tower by the way.   This viewing area was very disappointing.   The ponds were birds and such might gather was completely fenced off.  A large seating or viewing area was up on a small hill, but everything around was fenced off.  Even the fields.  With so much wildlife to be found here, this was definitely the lazy persons view point. 

======================================================================================

If you live in or near wonderful Benson PLEASE check out our new project

 We have 300+ books at our house and wish to start a take a book, leave a book project.

LOTS of amazing titles--changing daily.

We even have a list--were you can request certain books. 

Help us make this something great for all of our neighbors! 

Check it out personally by dropping by our book cases on the car port of 759 Mcneil street

just behind the lower Circle K

 OR   check out the list of our books  right now

at:

April's give and take

It really is a huge list     help us help it grow  

April's give and take!!

Thank you

*

MY blog rundown
Some of my better pictures end up here: http://exploreb-ham.blogspot.com/
My newest page all about Arizona and what it has to offer everyone! http://exarizonagobensonbobcats.blogspot.com/
My longest running blog series. Full of random rambling, Exploring, jokes, rants, and of course coffee love! http://wyomingjack.blogspot.com/

 *

Please also do not forget to check out MY Facebook page!

Perfect for commenting directly to me.

Most of my thoughts, jokes, and pictures end up on this page before they become a blog

Please check it out and click on "like"

Exploring with Wyoming Jack/Bobble Head

*

Your ad could be here!

Very reasonably

MANY views

Contact Steven at the above Facebook link or

at pontos62or@yahoo.com   for more information ;)

Dragoon Mountain Exploring!

              Good morning all!   I have found taking the pictures for my sights and than writing about our Exploring, VERY calming.  We have three wonderful kiddos, who enjoy the six weeks of school, two weeks off of school schedule--WAY more than we do!  With all of the other day to day stressors, until about a month ago -my mother-in law lived with us.  Long story short, stress relievers are a must!   I surly hope that you enjoy my posts  even half as much as I enjoy working on them.   And that until I find an editor, you ignore my grammar and writing mistakes.   Just down the road from Benson is Dragoon.   I have posted about the area a few times now.  My favorite being about visiting the tourist trap, also known as The Thing.   The state rest area is also worth a stop, if nothing else to enjoy the amazing rock formations found through the whole area.  If you have not checked out the area, Dragoon Days are in early November.   I will have to look up the specific days and what happens, because we are new to the area and have never been.  But a good festival is always high on my to-do list. 

                                                                                    Sierra Vista

               The temps were perfect last Sunday for an Exploring trip.   And our two boys needed out of the house as much as I did.   I had planned on checking out some of the hill trails in Sierra Vista, but did not want to drive that far.  **On that note--I have not done any hikes or real sight seeing in Sierra Vista yet--any readers have any suggestions for us??**   Soon after jumping on the Internet, I found the Slavin Gulch Trail.  Many sights talked about the area, but few gave good details on getting to the actual trail head.  Please note:  Google maps is NOT a good method for finding this area!  Mainly because the dirt roads, do not have marked street names.  We only got lost once even with the less than grand directions. 
                 

So many trails---So little time!!

                 I have also noticed in my travels that hike books and web pages do not really tell you some key factors in any hike.   When we lived in beautiful Bellingham, Washington we used to love Exploring a spot of beach called Teddy Bear Cove.  I have some amazing pictures from this area, and it is beyond nice.   All of the hike books talk about this great beach.   But none of them mention a hugely key factor!   For whatever reason it is a big hangout, no pun intended, for guys to swim in the nude.   Mostly much older men, at that.  I found this out -one glorious day while Exploring with our youngest.   He was eight at the time.   Needles to say, every time I posted a blog about the cove, I included this info.  If nothing else to save someone else from suddenly going blind for a short period of time.   OR having to explain such things to there kiddos.  On that note--a few notes on this trip, nothing as Earth shattering, for sure!

                      Every guide I found noted that during the right season, this trail could be found in a car.  Obviously this is Arizona, and this whole area is in a flash flood zone, so even with our four wheel drive, I would not be around the area at all during Monsoon season.   But this road was amazingly ruff and I would not recommend taking any car down it.  In fact at one point, we decided it would be faster to walk, and did just that.   At one point you are in Forrest Service land, so as always should be the case, pack out what you pack in!   By the time we found the trail head, we had very little water left.   So as always in Arizona, take lots and lots of water.  There is an open water tank with running water, between the ranger station and the trail head, but we were unsure how clean that water was.   Much of the year, the water is also running down the canyon, so if nothing else you can cool off quickly!  It was beyond dry on our trip.  

                                                         An oasis  Not sure how clean the water is though.

                         When you enter the big city of Dragoon-just past the rail road tracks, you will drive by a very old store.   Take an immediate right at the store.  You are on a dirt road, which is deceivingly well maintained to start.   Soon you pass through a gate, and the road keeps getting rougher and rougher from there.  About 20 minutes from the gate you will pass into Forest Service land.   Follow the sign to the left, pointing to the springs.  We gave up and parked just past this sign, leaving a mile to the trail head.   At some point we encountered a huge wasp nest and decided it was time to head back to the truck.    The rock formations alone were worth the trip.  Further up the trail, you pass old mine relics.  The loop I read about is supposed to be 2.5 miles.  So a nice trek into the landscape.   We did not make it far enough to give a very accurate report on conditions and such.   But it was far enough to wear out the kids.   I would say it looked like a moderate hike though.   We started in the river bed and of course, like all good hikes, the trail mostly went upward for a long ways.  

Break time in some hard to find shade.

Please share this new page if you enjoy what you see. 

And as always

**HAPPY TRAILS!!**

=================================================================================

If you live in or near wonderful Benson PLEASE check out our new project

 We have 300+ books at our house and wish to start a take a book, leave a book project.

LOTS of amazing titles--changing daily.

We even have a list--were you can request certain books. 

Help us make this something great for all of our neighbors! 

Check it out personally by dropping by our book cases on the car port of 759 Mcneil street

just behind the lower Circle K

 OR   check out the list of our books  right now

at:

April's give and take

It really is a huge list     help us help it grow  

April's give and take!!

Thank you

*

MY blog rundown
Some of my better pictures end up here: http://exploreb-ham.blogspot.com/
My newest page all about Arizona and what it has to offer everyone! http://exarizonagobensonbobcats.blogspot.com/
My longest running blog series. Full of random rambling, Exploring, jokes, rants, and of course coffee love! http://wyomingjack.blogspot.com/

 *

Please also do not forget to check out MY Facebook page!

Perfect for commenting directly to me.

Most of my thoughts, jokes, and pictures end up on this page before they become a blog

Please check it out and click on "like"

Exploring with Wyoming Jack/Bobble Head

*

Your ad could be here!

Very reasonably

MANY views

Contact Steven at the above Facebook link or

at pontos62or@yahoo.com   for more information ;)

Hike Rank 101

            Now that we are finally starting to get out of the house and enjoy some actual hikes, I feel I need to re post this.   It has been in my other blog series a few times.   And is my own rating scale for hikes.   I have been very lacks on going on any kind of hike lately.  Partially because of how hot it has been outside, my recent surgery, and just plane laziness.   I have been on many a crazy but fun filled hike in my past.   And I realize three things here.  1.)   I do not like trails---people have already been were they lead, and they become easily boring for me.   With cross country travel soon taking over.   *Not as much so in Arizona, because of my huge fear of snakes. *  2.) I have read many hike books, and entries online--and two things are usually not clear.   How to get to the actual trail.  And how tough the trail actually is.    And 3.)  I am used to trails in Washington and Oregon.   Trails in Arizona are a whole new ball game. 

         This is my own way to rank hikes.  With my own flair, if you wish.  If the ideas or wording tick you off, even better!  My hike postings will go by this ranking system.   And will include practical information on that area.  Like how rough the roads getting into the hike, how hard it is to find the trails, etc.  


Following is my ranking scale for how difficult a hike is.
   I can not draw anything, even my cows are stick figures.   So the badge or picture for each you will have to imagine from my descriptions below.  

 Rank 1-4  = Extra Easy             Fresco Kid would rank it two thumbs down.    He will be forever known as a friend that hated anything close to a hike.  And is quoted as saying-- "Why go way up their, it will look the same as down here, just with being able to see the tops of trees!"      
Picture---  A large Sprawl Mart parking lot

   Rank 5-8 = Easy       Porkchop Approved! *Largish friend of ours that went on a lot of hikes, but was known to disappear, and than be found on the trail rolled up in the fetal position*    One thumb down    
 Picture--- Large fat man holding a hoagie, licking lips, twinkle in his eyes.

   Rank 9-12  = No Bigguns!!      Picture--- Bigger dude looking up the trail.  Wiping forehead just from thinking about the hike.

   Rank 13-15.5 =  4 X4 Zone     Mostly off trail and uphill    Picture--  Trail straight up with a huge X through it.

   Extra supplies needed.     Long trail    easy to get lost area            Picture---  Hungry Man box

   Rank 16-19 = Y?      Lost trail for hours   found again  than realizes been following a deer trail all day
  Picture---   ???

  Rank 20-22 = Like Wow      Billy Goat Gump approved.  This boy can run up a trail backwards while you are panting.      Picture--- A billy goat placing flag at top of a mountain.  On back legs, shinning gold teeth showing.

  Rank 23-25 = Xtra Crazy    Mark and I approved       Picture--- Stick figure falling off a major cliff--spread eagle.   A falling pack and gear falling just behind the hiker.

   Rank 26-27 = Wha!?    Special Warnings    Not approved by or for anyone

   Rank 28-30 = Forget it!  Should give up before you try.     Picture---Two hikers standing before a trail that goes straight up.

   Rank 31-33 = F  It!                No Comment    Picture--- Person in hospital bed-leg and arm in cast with only middle finger showing.  Bandaged head.

   Watch Feet----   Snakes/slugs/poo and or other obstacles on the trail.      Picture---A large boot print in the dirt  huge squisehed Banana Slug in the middle.



Our truck is 80 miles that way, yo!
Kingman AZ

 

Sneaker waves are bad!



<>

<Bellingham WA

I have been on many a great hike.  And trails seem to become boring very soon after finding one.  Mostly because following a trail usually means some one else has been were the trail leads.  Because of this I have been on some crazy cross country hikes, that usually result in being lost for hours and seem to be mostly up hill.   If any of these hikes had been filmed-I probably would be very rich right now.  And 9 times out of 8, I manage to accomplish the entire trail with near perfect balance, until in the parking lot were the vehicle is parked.  That could be anything from a pickup to an ambulance.  Falling down in a flat parking lot is amusing but brings us to another topic all together.....    Unfortunately for many city dwellers the entire planet is not yet paved for your walking enjoyment.   This thought wave started years ago, in the outside plant area of an Oregon Wall-Mart.   Were thinking is optional for customers and workers alike ~Always!   A lady was looking at the trees for sale, and apparently fell down on a loose decorative pebble that strayed into the parking lot.  No one  saw the accident, but she wanted to seem very hurt because Wall Mart's pockets are thick.   She limped inside with our manager, to fill out paperwork.   And we, as bored workers, paid by the hour went to examine the accident area.   One of my co -workers tried to re-in act and overact the scene.  Resulting in him flopping around on the ground, holding his leg while I started to outline his twitching body in a chalk outline on the ground.  We looked up to see the manager with the downed shopper, coming our way to take the rock in as evidence and jumped off the ground. 

Bellingham, WA



Bellingham, WA




Sedona, AZ

 




Kingman, AZ



========================================================================================================

If you live in or near wonderful Benson PLEASE check out our new project

 We have 300+ books at our house and wish to start a take a book, leave a book project.

LOTS of amazing titles--changing daily.

We even have a list--were you can request certain books. 

Help us make this something great for all of our neighbors! 

Check it out personally by dropping by our book cases on the car port of 759 Mcneil street

just behind the lower Circle K

 OR   check out the list of our books  right now

at:

April's give and take

It really is a huge list     help us help it grow  

April's give and take!!

Thank you

*

MY blog rundown
Some of my better pictures end up here: http://exploreb-ham.blogspot.com/
My newest page all about Arizona and what it has to offer everyone! http://exarizonagobensonbobcats.blogspot.com/
My longest running blog series. Full of random rambling, Exploring, jokes, rants, and of course coffee love! http://wyomingjack.blogspot.com/

 *

Please also do not forget to check out MY Facebook page!

Perfect for commenting directly to me.

Most of my thoughts, jokes, and pictures end up on this page before they become a blog

Please check it out and click on "like"

Exploring with Wyoming Jack/Bobble Head

*

Your ad could be here!

Very reasonably

MANY views

Contact Steven at the above Facebook link or

at pontos62or@yahoo.com   for more information ;)

Helldorado Days In Tombstone--What Do You Want On Your Tombstone?

          "The Town To Tough To Die!"

             Tombstone is right down the road for us, and always a great place to visit and snap pictures.   There was a ton of activities across the state over the weekend, and I hope that everyone got to Explore at least one great event!  If you would like to share any of your pictures from this weekend, or anytime or just vent about any of my thoughts---Please go to MY Facebook page.   All credit for any pictures shared, will be given to you of course!   And maybe your pictures will prompt a new Exploring trip for us.   We are still very new to the area and looking for great hikes and Exploring.    Check out the page at:  Exploring with Wyoming Jack/Bobble Head
             

       This is a very new blog page, and I already have several posts from Tombstone.  Including of course shots of my favorite building so far in the whole area--the old court house.  When I heard about the celebration, our daughter and I were soon in the truck ready for some fun.  We both had cameras in hand ready to see the sights.   I have never seen the old west town so busy.   But there was still plenty of space to look around and enjoy without running into others. 

                    People in full costume filled the streets and events and shows were plentiful and free.  

Lined up on the main drag--to watch a great show!

This rope and whip pro was equally amazing and entertaining!



Here he pull a young cow-poke out of the audience to assist him.

Another live show featuring the town drunk. 

And of course lots of shooting!

The ladies of the evening take advantage of his drunkin' state and steal his clothes.

Leaving him in his skivvies  when he wakes up--ready for a gun fight.

By the gallows.

One man band.

Another very happy performer.

Still not sure what he was performing but he is full of spirit. 

Great location to catch some shade. 

And listen to gunshots from the OK Corral.

                                  History filled stage ride lets you ride through town in style and comfort.

                                                                                   Time for a break.

Classic cars and style. 

Near the old court house was an antique tractor show.   You could also make your own ropes in this area. 

                                                                            Perfect themed lawn

        Motorcycles were all over the area.   Many from Benson and the bikers rodeo held at the great Arena Bar. 

This trip was the first time we had extra time to check out the famous Boot Hill Cemetery.  Another free part of the visit.   Tombstone is always amazing, but it can soon eat away at your pocket book.  I have many postings about cemetery's -but this time of year, they are extra fun places to Explore.  Tombstone is said to be a very ghost filled town any time of the year.  But Boot Hill is by far the most spirit filled place around, maybe in the whole state. 

Night tours can allow you to experience the super natural.

You can do this any time of year, but I would imagine the tours are very busy during October.

If you guessed Tombstone ---from the pictures in my last post---Congrats!!

Next post is in the works

Any guesses were we are Exploring??

=====================================================================================

If you live in or near wonderful Benson PLEASE check out our new project

 We have 300+ books at our house and wish to start a take a book, leave a book project.

LOTS of amazing titles--changing daily.

We even have a list--were you can request certain books. 

Help us make this something great for all of our neighbors! 

Check it out personally by dropping by our book cases on the car port of 759 Mcneil street

just behind the lower Circle K

 OR   check out the list of our books  right now

at:

April's give and take

It really is a huge list     help us help it grow  

April's give and take!!

Thank you

*

MY blog rundown
Some of my better pictures end up here: http://exploreb-ham.blogspot.com/
My newest page all about Arizona and what it has to offer everyone! http://exarizonagobensonbobcats.blogspot.com/
My longest running blog series. Full of random rambling, Exploring, jokes, rants, and of course coffee love! http://wyomingjack.blogspot.com/

 *

Please also do not forget to check out MY Facebook page!

Perfect for commenting directly to me.

Most of my thoughts, jokes, and pictures end up on this page before they become a blog

Please check it out and click on "like"

Exploring with Wyoming Jack/Bobble Head

*

Your ad could be here!

Very reasonably

MANY views

Contact Steven at the above Facebook link or

at pontos62or@yahoo.com   for more information ;)