A Little Further Down The Trail--Sunny California Part I

       Hello readers!   This blog page is usually all about Exploring amazing Arizona through pictures and travels.  But a few weeks ago I was lucky enough to visit a good friend in California and of course have some pictures and thoughts on it all.   For more Exploring and amazing pictures of mine Please also check out MY second blog series  all about the amazing views Washington state has to offer at:  
http://exploreb-ham.blogspot.com/
And of course MY first blog series   full of travels, coffee love, and random rambling  at:
www.wyomingjack.blogspot.com
   And feel free to share anything you find on any of these sights!  Especially this one. 

   So about two years ago a good friend of ours came to visit April and I while we were living in Bellingham, Washington.  We had just gotten married, and had hit a really bad spot in our relationship.  One that was mostly a lot of arguing and throwing things.  Our friend decided it was best to not stay with us, and got a motel room during the visit.  For almost two years, I had not heard anything from him.  Last I knew he was living in San Diego and working at Home Depot.  But that town has a lot of Home Depot stores!   I had never been to San Diego and was going to use some of our tax refund to pop down that way and attempt to find my friend.  Just before we booked a ticket, I found he was living near Palm Spring.  Amazingly close to us, but getting ready to move back to the rainy state of Washington.  I quickly planned a visit.  Originally we were going to take a mini road trip to San Diego but his plans changed and we drove eight long hours to Oroville for a friend emergency. 
    

 

I had never been on Amtrak before and found an amazing price for a round trip ticket.

Through it all it is MUCH better than the dreaded Greyhound bus and much more

relaxing than driving.  But the hours are strange.  We left Benson, Arizona at around 6 PM, not allowing for much sight seeing.  Unfortunately the train sits almost an hour in nearby Tucson.

The Benson, Arizona stop is very small.  Just a speck stop in the desert with some signs and a few covered benches.

 

 

The family full of Wendy's Frosties waiting for me to board the train.

 

 

It was kind of hard to navigate around the train.  But you were more than free to roam around.

The above entire section was full of huge windows for watching the passing desert.  I got in more than enough people watching the first night.  I was attempting to use my laptop while a whole group of drunk-gay riders had an ever increasingly soap opera like night.  Since I could not access any WI-FI, I have to say the drama filled night was kind of entertaining. 

At one point I thought I could stay up the whole night, we were supposed to get to Palm Springs around two AM.  But when we crossed the time change boarder-I realized I really should attempt to get some sleep.

I also must add that both directions I witnessed problems with seating. 

People do not have assigned seating --but the conductors tend to place others in your seats if you are roaming around during boarding.  It happened to me on the way to California and to someone else on the way home. 

Last I must quickly note how expensive the adult beverages were.  I have been on a few

touristy train rides, but no long journey.  And wanted to be able to say that I have had a beer on a train.  If you are planning on drinking or being tipsy by your location--bring cash or hope they do not check your luggage!   The mini bottles of wine were $12 I believe and each bottle of beer was defiantly not cheap.

But I had my one and can say that I have had a brew on a train!

 

 

 

 

My friends humble home.

 

 

The next day we Explored Palm Springs.

At one point we passed Bob Hopes huge, mushroom shaped home.

It is for sale for $40 million if you happen to have any spare cash lying around your home.

We  soon ended up climbing nearly 9000 feet on this very scenic adventure.  Well worth the money for sure!

My worse complaint was that the new camera we had bought, was not working, and all of these pictures are from my cell phone. 

 

Just out of the parking lot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ticket buying time.

 

 

 

 

 

Going up!

The lift rotates as it climbs giving an always amazing view.

 

 

 

 

We really were at the top of the World.

But with my crummy camera you could not even see the large city, far below.

Hundreds of miles of hikes await. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Than we took some time to Explore and eat around Palm Springs.

Found a few casinos along the way. 
Several even offered free gambling cash to sign up with one of there cards.
I actually left one casino $50 ahead off of there free game play.

 

 

We had a late lunch downtown in a 50's style joint.

Good food but I must say for such a touristy trap area the service was lousy.  It didn't seem like the servers were even trying for customer service or a tip.  I don't believe either was accomplished.  Than as it was starting to cool down, at least in desert terms we roamed through the stores. 

 

 

Just before giving up on Exploring we found this huge complex.

Part church, part living area, part motel it seems this was very cool and empty.

It looked like a fire had touched many of the buildings.

This area took up a full city block and had six swimming pools.

Along with multiple buildings.

 

 

 

 

 

Next post I keep on my Exploring shirt and shoes

As we continue to roam California.

And the rains hit. 

 

 

 

 

Some Tucson Exploring

      Welcome back readers!   This post comes from Northern California were I am busy Exploring and getting new pictures for future posts to this very page.   MANY new posts, Exploring, and pictures in the works.   Please check out MY first page for lots more Exploring and mayhem at :  www.wyomingjack.blogspot.com

      The California posts will appear soon--under a little further down the road headings, today we again roam around beautiful Arizona.  Last week I enjoyed some of the sights in Tucson and of course the full on sunshine.   On Tuesday my wife and I dropped the kids of at school, and than snuck off for Tucson for some shopping and casino time.  We ended up at the Desert Diamond Casino.   If you get a member card there, Tuesday is the day to do so.  Not only do they give you free money to gamble on, but you can enjoy the large buffet for free.   And it only takes one coupon on Tuesdays, because it is "buy" one get one free day.   So on Friday I returned to Tucson to take a hike and use my free food coupon at the casino. 

 My first stop was at the large Flying J truck stop right across from the even larger Triple T truck stop, both on the outskirts of Tucson.  Both offer lots of food and shopping choices including great coffee and more importantly they offer a restroom.   I was trying out a new camera on this trip, and needed to stretch my legs, so ventured around the area to snap a few shots. 

This was still in the parking lot

and it is much harder than it looks to capture a bee in mid flight.

It amazes me how these magnificent plants are so varied.

These are rare in Tucson, simply because they are not spray painted by vandals and taggers.

Before finding a large lunch I decided it was time to Explore.

A local park was my stopping place. 

Just across this great bridge was a paved wonderland of trails to Explore.  

But trails are boring

Mostly because someone has already been were they go

and because they can easily become very crowded. 

So I soon was roaming around the open desert. 

I came across a set of rail road tracks. 

And have found that many of the best sights involve walking on tracks. 

Plus there is not much better than walking on rail road tracks

accented by a bright and sunny day.

The only thing that can make it better, is to do all this with a buddy.

I soon found I was behind the air museum.

Very close to the huge plane bone yard, but slightly less secure.

Many a time I have jumped a fence or three, even on this trip to California.

But not on this day in Tucson.

The warnings backed by the air force and the army keep me on the correct side of the fence. 

So does the massive razor wire.

Some day I wish to Explore the museum more, but thought it would be  a much better trip when I had the kiddos with me. 

I was soon much closer to the fence line.

So much history in one small space. 

Butch asks "Were are you Exploring today ??"

Next post Explores this area just past the caves on the way to Sierra Vista.  

Two Local Mini Hikes & Search For Water Part I

           Good morning to everyone!  As always I hope that you enjoy this Exploring page even half as much as I enjoy posting and taking the pictures for this page.  This is my third such page, and I would like to hope that with my newest page things are getting close to perfect.  For the most part this blog is about amazing Arizona and will soon take us across the entire state and back.  I hope that you share the link with anyone that lives in the sun filled state, has a special place in there heart for Arizona, or to your family and friends that are not seeing as much sunshine!  Although I try to keep this page very local -sometimes I venture further down the road.  Next week I will be in Palm Springs, so of course several picture filled posts will follow.  Our new home is Benson, Arizona so many of the adventures focus around this part of Arizona at the moment.  For tons of more adventures  and maybe some random rambling please check out my first blog page  at: www.wyomingjack.blogspot.com

I just read an amazing article about how important it is to take your kids on hikes.

From teaching them new skills, to just getting them away from it all.

And most of the time I take one or all of our kids along with me.

On this day though it was just Butch and I.

Sometimes we just need to be alone with our thoughts

sweating out the negatives and enjoying the quiet the desert has to offer.

Like these plants I have been searching for areas of water in the last week of Exploring.

Not an easy task when in the desert in February.

But the next few posts will show I have found some areas in and around Benson!

Most of the places we seem to roam will be filled with gushing water during the mighty monsoon season.

Down by the runoff I found this small rock stack.

I used to find them all of the time while roaming around the bay in Bellingham, Washington.

An area so pretty I also have a picture filled blog page just from the area!

Maybe after coming from an area with so much water--to living here

is the main reason I am looking for an desert oasis.

Maybe I am just bored.

Rock stacking-Expert level.

Clouds kept rolling in and than on by on this day.

This downed barbed wire fence is not protecting much anymore.

 Although we saw many signs that water was lurking just below the sandy surface, we found no standing water once again.  These pictures are once again from the area in Benson just down from the motels, Jack In The Box, and on the way to the city dump.  I have reported on this area several times before and had found no water so we moved on. 

What path will you choose?

In your hikes and in every day life. 

The easy path that is well traveled

or the path that few have ventured. 

Before we venture to the next Exploring location--I must vent a little bit. 

Every time I take a hike through the desert, I find piles of garbage every time I venture out.  Many times when still basically in city limits.  

I realize the above picture is of abandoned palm trees and not really garbage, but it was dumped in the middle of the desert.  

This is the desert NOT your personal/free dump sight.  

My kids are instantly drawn to the garbage to look for something neat or to break. 

And of course our dogs are equally as drawn. 

This takes away from any great adventure -every time. 

If you pack it in--pack it out. 

Please stop!

 OK  I will jump off of my soap box now and continue on with the Exploring.

We jumped in the pickup and headed further down the road.
Still searching for water. 

This time we headed towards St David.

Parking just before the rail road tracks and quickly headed across the highway- down beside the bridge. 

Butch and I had found water. 

Nor much and not the cleanest

but Butch was instantly running back and forth threw the liquid. 

Since we were again greeted by a very sunny day, we ventured on.

This mostly hidden tree fort looks strong still, but also appears to not have been used for a very long time.  

Soon we found a solar powered electric fence.  After stopping Butch from marking the fence- we decided it was time to head back.  

But first I must share this quick story about my buddy I am going to visit next week.

Years ago he and some friends decided to tube a mighty river in the heart of Washington state. 

My buddy got separated from his group and at some point decided to leave the cooling water and walk.  He came to this huge field and noticed many cows just standing in the middle of the field with what appeared to be a string supported by fence posts all around the cows. 

The pasture was in the way of getting to his truck -so he proceeded forward. 

As he again started walking, he pondered why the stupid cows would stay in an area only protected by a thin string. 

He was still processing this, as he approached the string and grabbed it with both hands.

This completed the circuit and shocked the crap out of my buddy.

It seems he really is a city slicker, and was not simply grabbing a cow restraing string, but the wire for an electric fence!

This was just on the other side of the electric fence.   

I am not sure what it is, but it really seemed to need to be protected. 

And I was not about to get shocked to attempt to learn what this was for.  

One last shot of the actual flowing water, before heading back to the truck.

This was Butch as soon as we returned home.