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.  

Demo Derby Fun

         Two weekends ago we all piled in the pickup and went across town to the horse arena, showcasing the first demolition derby this year.  I have not been to a demo derby for a long time and they are always great entertainment.  This was a good night out for sure.  Although it defiantly had that small town feel.   But at only $5.00 a ticket, it was well worth the price to see the kids faces light up each time cars connected with each other.  Followed by a large cheer by the large crowd!   Several great food vendors lined the area.  And the announcer quickly rallied up the spectators.  Of course randomly listing and thanking the numerous great sponsors.  We were not aware that one could bring there own adult beverages.   Many viewers brought large coolers, something we to keep in mind for the next show.  If you would like to join in on the fun --next round please visit there great web sight at:  bensondemolitionderby.com 
        While we are plugging sights   for some great personal Exploring and my pictures PLEASE check out my 2nd blog page :  http://exploreb-ham.blogspot.com/    it really is a great page   if I do say so myself.  




      

       The national anthem and a prayer started of the events.   I like how the lighting accented the above picture.   The lights mostly got in the way of my picture taking that night.   And than it was heat one----the beginners.  This night it was only two cars.  But a great heat because it was brother against sister.  I must pause here to quickly mention what became the most entertaining part of the evening for my wife and I.   The man in the above picture was one of the demo officials.  Anyway he looks, acts, and even sounds much like my wife's ex husband.  So much so that at one point she even texted her ex to make sure he was not in Arizona.  His name is Tom, so the above look alike soon became known as "Not Tom" to us.  At one point I even yelled out "Tom!" to see if the man would look around.   I imagine all this is not as entertaining to my readers, but we were very amused.   And we were sober.   I am easily entertained!  If you are this person--I apologize.  But thank you for the memories, "Not Tom."



In this picture it almost looks like the cars each other to hard and blew up!

 Our youngest is to the left---enjoying the show. 

Before the show   Trophies lined up for all the best.

Nice sized rink allowed for multiple cars in some heats.

I believe the pickup heat was the best  although there were only two participants.

One of the tow trucks clearing the rink between heats.

Sadly there were only four heats.

But this is a small town.

Hopefully with more word of mouth the event will double next time.

Trucks ready to smash each other!

It was a great night. 

And I hope you really consider going to the next derby.

They even had a special round for the kiddos.

With Power Wheel vehicles to smash.

Everyone was a winner in that round.

The end of the night was a little lame though.

The announcer came on saying everyone could stay for the grand finale.

Next thing we knew, few spectators were left, and even the announcer had left.

Needless to say there was not grand finale. 

But most of the drivers had cleared out, so there was no bottle neck  while leaving.

Another satisfied viewer of the derby!!

Next Exploring blog post  will be part I of my

glossary of Exploring.

Links from all of my sights of the places we have traveled in the last three years.

With pictures of course.

A way for me to organize.

And for the reader to enjoy easily.

Also since this is Butterfield weekend in Benson----

A full picture filled blog post on that will appear very soon!