Making A Splash San Pedro - ST David

          I would like to thank everyone that is making my local train engine bone yard Exploring post so popular!  That post alone has 1200+ views the short time it has been up for reading.  Making it my most read blog posting by far---ever!  Please feel free to help share all the posts on this page --like crazy, until I stop slacking and promote this page much more to greater Tucson and beyond.  I have so many new posts and pictures to put up on this very page----so please keep checking back for updates.   For more Exploring and personal pictures please check out my longest running blog page  ---I update it much more often too----at    www.wyomingjack.blogspot.com

      So today is a rare day off work and I thought I would post at least once today.  Which is becoming even more rare than days off of work for me.  ;)   My puppy, Shadow and I are hanging out at the homestead trying to beat the heat, and thinking about all of the chores I should be doing.  I am also trying to monitor the huge forest  fire that is creeping very close to our area---- with the high winds the last few days --it is spreading super fast and hard to contain I am sure.  Stay safe out there ---my readers!   More on this --when I know more.  I have some amazing shots that other people have takin' ---but I try to keep only my pictures on this page.  I am debating trying to sneak well behind the fire line ---and get some after shots later this evening.  I also feel I could get some great sunset pictures in, because of all the smoke and such altering the sky for the better come sun set time.  Of course this will become a post if I decide I have the balls to venture out later.      Today I post about a recent Exploring trip where I had a rare Saturday off and our youngest and puppy went along with me.  

   The river is just a trickle right now---but still water!  And walking and playing in it was very relaxing all day long.  Some places were actually kind of deep.  And we found out that Shadow loves splashing and frolicking the water-to no end.  We followed a run off just to the left of the monastery  on this day after parking at the monastery itself.  You can avoid going through barbed wire fences and such if you just hike through the beautiful grounds--heck there is even a trail right down to the water--but we have done this before.  Besides with sad word of the grounds closing soon, you will have to find new ways to Explore this area.  Look!  We found one for you right here!  ;)   Always here to help.    I have several Exploring posts on this very page from the amazing monastery also that you should feel free to check out. 

Watch out for low branches!

Lots of creatures to Explore

Like these tadpoles  

and lots of minnows were darting about. 

We even found a few frogs

     The water path was mostly shallow and thin but it roams across the country side so much, we soon found it easier to just walk in the cool water instead of trying to jump over time and time again.   

      As I said Shadow loved the water and would not stray far from it.  At one point -when we were not watching she found a huge cow pie to roll around in.  And we soon found a deeper section of river and dunked/washed her clean.  

     I might have got to many water pictures, but again any time we find water in Arizona, I get lots of pictures and very excited.  We lived in Washington for many years, and it is hard to get a good picture without water in the pictures.   While roaming some extra wide areas it was kind of amazing to think how all of the area would be under water when the stream was really going.  

Caterpillar cacoons every where!

Several miles in to the hike I ventured up the dirt banks to see what I could see.

I found several very nice homes surrounded by this perfectly maintained set of soccer fields. 

With amazingly green grass galore. 

Complete with goal posts and all.

Strange for being in the middle of no where. 

Just to the right of the soccer fields. 

Literally feet away.

We easily went at least three miles on this day.

You can just spot the fake flowers at the top of this dirt ridge.

The property owners up there also had several fake flamingos on display

A dirt road soon passed through the water bed 

and we followed it out to eventually find civilization.

I have already pictured this tree a ton  but think it is beyond kool!

I will have to look up the name of this road but we found it an quick and easy route back.  But it landed us across from the cemetery in ST David. 

Close to our house but not real close to were the car was parked.  

I sent our son across the street and home with the puppy and than hoofed it back to our vehicle using my Lambre-feeties    as my wife likes to call walking feet. 

Sunset from the homestead.

One worn out puppy!

But that was short lived.  

That night it was time for a calming bon fire.

    Next I hope to locate my pictures past from Bisbee.    The big B here shown above an amazing coffee shop down town.  I have climbed to the top of the B   and in doing so realized it is hot in Arizona---always, and that I am out of shape.   

     Until than     as always

     HAPPY TRAILS!!!

Late Afternoon Exploring & Few More Trains

                                       I find very few dirt roads non appealing.

       First off I would like to thank everyone that viewed my last post!   And there were a lot of you.  That makes me smile.  ;)  That Exploring *About the train engines* Arizona blog page alone already has over 700 views and it has not been up more than a week yet.  I have been working on getting off my butt -and Exploring, taking pictures, and promoting this page---usually in that order.   But all those views makes me wish to post more!   Today I had a rare Tuesday off work---even more rare since we were just closed down for four days over Easter, and than I worked Monday and, Bam got another day off work.  Today was going to be about running errands with my beautiful wife, but she was feeling sickly.  I don't sit around the house well, and around one in the afternoon I grabbed my camera and jumped in our vehicle.  After I got all those pictures of the train engines last week, I quickly returned to I-10 and zoomed back towards home.  But while nearing the highway on ramp, I noticed the road I was on continued into the distance and was paved.    This afternoon that is were I returned.  To Explore where that road would take me.  Again thank you for being a reader!   And please share -- share  -- share this link if you like what you see here!    Also my long time personal blog page has lots to offer from Exploring, to more of my personal pictures, to gallons of coffee love.  And I usually update it more often than this blog page.   Check it out:  www.wyomingjack.blogspot.com

   Off I-10 just past the Marsh Station exit, there are a few blog posts on this very page that start around Marsh Station.   Heading towards Benson or Texas, the next exit is Empirita Road.   At the above sign   if you venture right   it soon dead ends or you end up back on the interstate.  Today took us to the left.  And  it starts as a well maintained oil/asphalt road.  Just past the large boarder patrol tower it turns dirt road, but is still nicely maintained.  With few washboards    at least on this day.  

Another long set of train engines.  

I actually missed the exit today   

and ventured just up the road to the Marsh Station exit to loop back around. 

Here even the desert plants tell you what way to go. 

Just past the above pictured road sign. 

View from my parking spot today.

   I actually strayed away from the private property on this fine day.    Although I was very curious what this ranch might look like.      Just to the left of this was a main dirt road, less restricted, but rough enough looking I did not want to drive any further.  Plus I needed to Explore.  

Cheater cattle guard walkway cover.

For weenies.  

In case your not fully sure what a cattle guard is for.

       Speaking of cattle, I soon got bored of the main road and ventured on some well worn cattle trails through the brush.   At one point these went through river run offs, and on the way back I may have lost my way for a little while.  ;)   I knew were my vehicle was and were I wanted to be, but the cow trails were running out and I have issues walking through open desert --especially when tall weeds are abound.  Mainly that I deathly afraid of snakes.  In all my Exploring of Arizona --both times we have lived here I have seen surprisingly few snakes.  And I am just fine with that.   I also wish I had pictures from all of our Exploring when we lived in the beautiful state before.  But since I try to keep this page very up to date, and that was years ago, we will just have to Explore all these areas again!  At the point of being lost, I was also fearing I was nearing the ranch property and true ranchers like there privacy and shoot with great accuracy.  Just sayin'

I thought this was a very kool old tree!

I am always surprised this time of year how green the desert really is. 

View of part of the ranch    from very far away.
I just have a good zoom on my camera. 

    This is all I have to share today.  I got a late start on my Exploring today, and it was rather warm out.  I really did not notice this until I was lost.  I hope you enjoyed!

       Next Exploring blog post we make a splash down by the San Pedro River.  Which was just a trickle of water.  But still water in the desert.  It amazes me how much area this river curves and wanders around on it's way to the Gulf of Mexico.  

As always

HAPPY TRAILS!!