Ajo, a Misnomer?

Let's clear the air, there is no garlic grown in Ajo, the Spanish word for garlic, unless the name refers to the desert lily which is an onion-like plant that grows in the surrounding hills!  The Spanish may have named the town using this familiar word in place of the similar-sounding O'odham word for paint (o'oho).  The Tohono O'odham people obtained red paint pigments from this area.  That said, you also need to not judge this book by its cover, as in driving by on Highway 85 and letting first impressions rule your stay.  Like a lot of small town America, Ajo has its share of for sale signs and closed businesses.  However, once immersed in the local scene and scenery, we are totally enamored with Ajo!

Our slice of the Sonoran Desert pie lies on the western edge of Pima County, about 125 miles from Tucson, and we intend to devour our fair share.  Parked here on BLM land we have access to hundreds of square miles of jeep roads, forests of giant, gesturing Saguaro and Organ Pipe cacti, soaring peaks and rock formations, sunsets and starry night skies.

This may be true!

Our site sits amid a forest of Saguaro with the tailings of the old Cornelia Copper mine in the background.  On a morning hike to Black Mountain our surroundings are pictured:

The multiple personalities of Saguaro.

A group hug!

So...let's buckle up, grab the maps, GPS, and lots of water...we're off to tour the neighborhood.

Locomotive Rock is an impressive outcrop that graces our horizon.

As is Ajo Peak...Can anyone else see the Indian Head on the left?

Darby Wells Cemetery is located on Mica Mine Rd. just off the Scenic Loop  drive.

A lot of the these photos are taken along the Scenic Loop, a 10.9 mile drive from town over a well maintained gravel road.

The Brittlebrush are blooming!

Organ Pipe cacti are plentiful!

Palo Verde tree

I am in search of the "model" for my painting, done by a friend in 2006, of an old, twisted Palo Verde tree somewhere here on Darby Wells Road.

These brightly lit Cholla are deadly.  They break off and jump at the slightest movement.

I call these mud hills Elephants' Knees...Any idea what their geological name is?

Greenway cross on "A" Mountain

From rock art in Anza Borrego to can art here in Ajo along the Scenic loop!

Wild poppies are popping up, indicating our wildflower season is commencing!

The Stillhowlyn Folks

Night skies

Ahhhhh-HO!

 As in Ajo, AZ!  We've buzzed through here many times over the last several years, usually on our way to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Puerto Penasco, or just taking the backroad to Tucson.  We've actually stayed over a night or two...in an RV park.  But friends and fellow bloggers keep mentioning Darby Wells Road and the Scenic Loop and the excellent boondocking, night skies, hiking and jeep drives,....why has it taken us so long to experience this beautiful spot in the Sonoran Desert?  Especially since boondocking is our thing, and we've been compound bound in Yuma..but no one's complaining.

We drove through town and south to Darby Wells Road, then pulled off, unhooked the jeep, to go look around. There were several pull off tracks but at mile 1.6 we found our spot!

That's the lady with camera in the Sonoran Desert!

A garden of stately, gesturing Saguaro!

This impressive hill captures our southeast view!

Gumby is happy!

Yuma...

Whodathunk we'd get a site at the Escapees KOFA Park here in Yuma, and after just 3 days of boondocking in their overflow area!  And a nice site it is:

I need to rake the gravel!

The weekly rental is $90 plus tax and electric usage; $13+ per night...not bad at all for full hook-ups .  After 5 weeks of boondocking in the Anza Borrego Desert there are a few benefits to having unlimited water and electricity like....ironing, baking, long showers - maybe every day, equalizing our batteries, and not having to remember to turn off the inverter after watching TV at night.

We have enjoyed the network of SKP Co-op parks for 16 years, supporting the needs of the full-time RVer.  These parks depend on leaseholder's volunteering for committees which make the rules and regulations for the efficient running of...well, things.  Like proper protocol and behavior while doing laundry.  I always forget to read all the signs posted in the various nooks and crannies.  There was the time in Benson when I left the door open on a nice day neglecting to read the sign warning of snakes entering through said open door...in the middle of winter.  A few days ago I inadvertently put the lid down on the washing machine after using and was chided for not reading the sign.  I quickly recovered my witty sense of the ridiculous humor and replied, " I was always taught to put the lid down"...sorry!  I've been out of touch too long!

What with trips across the border to Algodones, visits with local friends and family, we have been so busy, and that's a word that doesn't normally describe our rather free lance lifestyle.  By family, I mean my deceased ex-husband's family whom I have known since I was 15.  Sadly my sister-in-law passed away from a heart attack just days before her 70th birthday.  (The symptoms were headache, vomiting, and heaviness in her arms.)  A wonderful "celebration of life" was held at brother Jim's a week ago, well attended by so many that knew and loved Sharon.  The folks are 90 and 94 and sharp as tacks.  Anyone that can maneuver a car in and out of this crazy Yuma winter traffic with quick reflexes, like dad did on our Friday lunch outing, and discusses current world events as well as "before your time" kind of stuff, has my confidence vote.

RIP Sharon Kaye

Super Bowl Sunday was spent with the Panys.  We supplied the surf and turf, i.e...salmon and tri-tips, while Beth and Chris did all the work, cooking/preparing munchies and side dishes and barbecuing the aforementioned.  And all the clean-up!  We know how to play this game, as did the victorious New York Giants...Yay Eli!  Now I really like Tom Brady but he's won so many times!

That's Stripey on the wall!

We've been doing a lot of eating actually.  Full-time RVer/friend, Al, is also here so we had dinner with him a few nights ago.  Sushi in Yuma is not an oxymoron and we had some of the best from, of all places, the fresh sushi bar at the new Fry's Supermarket.

Sushi in Yuma...Yes!

Last night we fixed dinner in exchange for a mini-concert provided by our master oboist friend, Steve. We met Steve years ago in...where else but the Anza Borrego Desert.  He has since bought a home here in Yuma and we had been looking forward to Howard's signature rack of lamb and some fine entertainment.  Steve performed Mozart's Oboe Concerto beautifully, accompanied by the most amazing surround-sound back-up.  After dinner he treated us to a showing of the Oscar nominated movie, The Tree of Life, starring Sean Penn and Brad Pitt.  Absolutely mesmerizing cinematography!

Steve performed Mozart's Oboe Concerto..beautifully

I've added a new link to the "Links I Like" feature on the left-hand column of this blog. The addition of RV Service Reviews was prompted by our recent visit to Yuma Diesel Service for routine maintenance on our Cummins diesel engine.  The service was professional, knowledgeable and thorough, with very reasonable rates.  We would highly recommend.

More maintenance related projects have consumed much of this last week, at least for Howard.  A simple drain cleaning resulted in a broken pipe that turned into an all day plumbing repair.  This involved Howard, just south of 200 lbs., curled up in a semi-fetal position in our cramped bathroom, working inside of a cabinet that required his elbow to bend at the opposite right angle to which it is accustomed.  Then there is the ongoing project of maintaining and repairing the diesel hydronic heater.  He has gone thru every test, changed every filter and fuse, bled the line, so it comes down to the PC board which is $500 to replace.  However, he has found that if he "taps" on the relays, the heater works fine for awhile.  Next we will attempt to replace the relays.   All Greek to me but the engineer seems to know what he's doing.

Yes, there was another trip to Algodones this last week so that I could enjoy a shrimp taco and Margarita.  Friends, Beth and Chris, joined in the fun.  We sleuthed the alleyways and found hidden away in the recesses a treasure trove of Zapotecan rugs from Oaxaca.  We had purchased one over 10 years ago while in Oaxaca and sadly it had begun to wear.  Here is my beautiful new replacement:

New Zapotec rug

It is time to (1) go on a diet, (2) move on.....

South of the Border...A day in Los Algodones

We pulled into Yuma, the snowbird capital, and knew the pickins would be slim.  Having checked out the Indian reservation parking and the casino, though free to cheap, we would be right in the path of wind-blown sand from the many surrounding dunes.  We decided to take our chances on getting a boondocking site at the Escapees KOFA park, $5 per night and crammed in like sardines, until we found out the prognosis from the dentist on Thurs.  This is a mighty leap from our acreage in Anza Borrego!

With passports in hand we crossed the border at Andrade, CA, on highway 186 off I-8, into the town of Los Algodones, a community of medical and dental professionals catering to snowbirds and seniors, and self-described to be as safe as Disneyland!  We don't need convincing, we love this town.

A typical street corner

We arrived early for my noon appointment as I wanted to check in with the office of Dr. Alma Luna to be sure I was scheduled since all our communications had been by email.  There are hundreds of very reputable dentists but I chose Dr. Luna on the recommendation of a friend who had been going to her for many years, plus the good reviews found in the Mexico Premiere Blog's article on Dental Care Across the Border.

With about an hour and a half to kill, we wondered into BEST Optical for a quote on replacing the lenses in my old glasses with my new prescription from Kaiser with progressive, transitional and the new polycarbonate, ready in about 3 hours, a total of $230.  Kaiser's charge was $345 with at least a week to prepare and then mail.  We also picked up a hundred tab supply of Howard's blood pressure meds for $3.68 and a new leather watch band.

Howard writes a check to BEST Optical

So on to my appointment with Dr. Luna whose office and examining rooms were spotless and the newest in equipment and technology evident.  The digital x-rays showed up instantly on the computer screen she worked from showing a broken old filling, a small cavity, and the location of the nerve. Thankfully, a rather large filling did the job for now with a root canal and crown postponed indefinitely.  $100 cash please, and thank you very much!  I did question the cost of root canal and porcelain crown and was told approximately $600 depending on how many roots were involved.  She refers patients to a specialist, Dr. Hernandez, for the root canal.  He uses his famous "tooth-cam" for a more precise view of the nerve's path on the computer.

Colorful location in Mextlan Plaza

It is now way past lunch time and Howard is ready for some fish tacos and a cold Corona.  I, on the other hand, am numb and drooling so eating for me is out of the question.  We chose Restaurante El Paraiso for the outdoor plaza location plus the great music.  The fact that it was very crowded surely meant that the food was good...and it was, according to Howard.

Lunch at El Paraiso

Delicious fish tacos

So by 3 p.m. we queued up at the long line to get through US Customs and 20 minutes later were on our way back to Yuma.  What a great town and marvelous experience with lots of $$$$ saved!  We'll be back next week just for the lunch experience!