My Journey
- Thread starter YukonMontanaTannerTrapper
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tgil
Well-known member
No wonder she does it so well!
I don't know what the correct word is for what I'm wanting to convey. I googled "kindred spirits" and that isn't exactly it, but similar?
I feel so connected to you, through reading your posts. We have many of the same "likes" yet are so different too, i.e. I love to fish and hunt. Both are great escapes for me.
Anyhow, I find myself referring to you and/or your experiences, almost daily, in some way or form. I'm sure most people think I'm nuts when I say "this guy I follow on the Expedition Forum", when it would be much easier to just say "a friend of mine". I feel we are friends, though we've never met.
I look forward to "seeing you" (reading your posts) just as I would physically seeing some of my closest friends.
I suppose I live vicariously through you?
At any rate, keep on keeping on. I think about you and your sidekicks daily, and wish (pray for) the best!
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YukonMontanaTannerTrapper
Explorer
January 10, 2020.....we continued driving east out of Phoenix, Arizona and spent a few nights camped in the desert just west of the Maricopa Mountains. It was here that I met a federal agent and had a most interesting conversation. We were talking about drug smuggling and illegal immigrants and I happened to mention that I had camped near Table Top Mountain a few weeks prior and he says "yea I know we saw you". Well, I hadn't seen him (or them) and when I asked how he replied "from the air.....we were watching you". He went on to tell me that my current location and my Table Top Mountain location were both located on prime smuggling routes. He said that the cartel had spotters in the mountains and while we talked he said that the spotters were talking about us (he could hear them on his radio). He had so many fascinating stories I think we could have talked all day and into the night.....
I made a few long hikes there in that desert.....never felt threatened or anything like that.....never saw anything unusual or suspicious.....
We reconnected with Interstate 8 and continued our drive west. We passed through Gila Bend, Arizona and made our next stop at Painted Rocks, about an eleven mile drive north of the interstate, and just south of the Gila River. Many times I've passed this exit and never chose to check it out.....
The campground (which I did not occupy) is directly adjacent to the Painted Rocks.....
I've read and heard mix reviews about this place. It's literally a huge pile of rocks in the desert.....and it is beyond me what the attraction was to come here and "paint" these rocks.....
Now when it comes to the Wild West I'm pretty much an Indian guy.....I mean as a little kid I was always pulling for the Indians when I watched a cowboy and Indian battle on TV. But honestly, here, I seemed to like the "Cowboy" art (somewhere I'd read that this is what it is called) better than the "Indian" art.....
You may wonder why I finally visited this place after passing by so many times.....well, it was the nearby Gila River that I was really after.....I wanted Yukon to grab a cool dip. It turned out that the river was just too far away from the parking area.....her lame shoulder and leg just couldn't get it done.....we continued west.....
I made a few long hikes there in that desert.....never felt threatened or anything like that.....never saw anything unusual or suspicious.....
We reconnected with Interstate 8 and continued our drive west. We passed through Gila Bend, Arizona and made our next stop at Painted Rocks, about an eleven mile drive north of the interstate, and just south of the Gila River. Many times I've passed this exit and never chose to check it out.....
The campground (which I did not occupy) is directly adjacent to the Painted Rocks.....
I've read and heard mix reviews about this place. It's literally a huge pile of rocks in the desert.....and it is beyond me what the attraction was to come here and "paint" these rocks.....
Now when it comes to the Wild West I'm pretty much an Indian guy.....I mean as a little kid I was always pulling for the Indians when I watched a cowboy and Indian battle on TV. But honestly, here, I seemed to like the "Cowboy" art (somewhere I'd read that this is what it is called) better than the "Indian" art.....
You may wonder why I finally visited this place after passing by so many times.....well, it was the nearby Gila River that I was really after.....I wanted Yukon to grab a cool dip. It turned out that the river was just too far away from the parking area.....her lame shoulder and leg just couldn't get it done.....we continued west.....
Ace Brown
Retired Ol’ Fart
I’ve stopped there several times. The last time I stopped short of the CG and found a good boondock site. Not sure whose land I was was squatting on but no one ran me off.
There is the Oatman massacre site nearby but that would be by Jeep only.
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There is the Oatman massacre site nearby but that would be by Jeep only.
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Arjan
Fossil Overlander
Interesting meeting you had with Border Control.... I work with them a lot here in Europe and much more is seen, registered and analyzed than one cares to consider.
Ancient art is found in the weirdest of places to us - but made sense a long time ago to the people making it. Out in the Sahara we saw some beautiful "drawings" and nothing around for a long, long time. Same in the Alps where you can do tracks where Hannibal and Roman soldiers stood in the very same spot you are, 2,000 years later..
Swimming is good.
Ancient art is found in the weirdest of places to us - but made sense a long time ago to the people making it. Out in the Sahara we saw some beautiful "drawings" and nothing around for a long, long time. Same in the Alps where you can do tracks where Hannibal and Roman soldiers stood in the very same spot you are, 2,000 years later..
Swimming is good.
McCarthy
Is it riding season yet?
Awww Christ Jerry... Yukon’s situation has brought me to tears... my oldest pup is 11, (retriever) and while he’s full of piss and vinegar and going along at a pace like he’s 11 months *knock on wood*... I know it won’t last forever... heartbreaking to read about Yukon.
YukonMontanaTannerTrapper
Explorer
JD.....thanks.....
tgil.....maybe try Googling "crazy" and see if that fits although my preference would certainly be "kindred spirit".....
Arjan.....it seems like swimming is the one thing that alleviates her pain. She becomes young again.....
Ace.....we camped in the desert not too far from the campground. It always boggles my mind when I see people cramped into groups with their generators humming away. Just not for me.....
McCarthy.....it is pure hell and that is actually an understatement. I mean to pick the day your best friend will die is agonizing. I struggle to know if I'm holding on for me or if I'm holding on for her.....
As we approached the on ramp to Interstate 8.....I made a quick stop at this solar farm that I've passed so many times.....
There was no surprise when the guard at the gate wouldn't let us in.....
.....but she was pleasant and she told me that there were four square acres (or was it miles ?) of solar panels and that the panels produce enough clean energy to supply 70,000 homes. I can't help but wonder why we still support the use of coal.....
Lunch was had at another roadside exit as we continued driving west....now I don't typically post pictures of our lunch spots but this one was kind of hysterical I think.....
Fortunately I carry my own toilet so we weren't problem guests.....
Once again I have to mention how I've driven this stretch of highway so many times in the past.....to the north of the interstate I've always had an interest in this one particular mountain peak (pinnacle). We decided to camp nearby and scope it out for a possible climb the following day.....
tgil.....maybe try Googling "crazy" and see if that fits although my preference would certainly be "kindred spirit".....
Arjan.....it seems like swimming is the one thing that alleviates her pain. She becomes young again.....
Ace.....we camped in the desert not too far from the campground. It always boggles my mind when I see people cramped into groups with their generators humming away. Just not for me.....
McCarthy.....it is pure hell and that is actually an understatement. I mean to pick the day your best friend will die is agonizing. I struggle to know if I'm holding on for me or if I'm holding on for her.....
As we approached the on ramp to Interstate 8.....I made a quick stop at this solar farm that I've passed so many times.....
There was no surprise when the guard at the gate wouldn't let us in.....
.....but she was pleasant and she told me that there were four square acres (or was it miles ?) of solar panels and that the panels produce enough clean energy to supply 70,000 homes. I can't help but wonder why we still support the use of coal.....
Lunch was had at another roadside exit as we continued driving west....now I don't typically post pictures of our lunch spots but this one was kind of hysterical I think.....
Fortunately I carry my own toilet so we weren't problem guests.....
Once again I have to mention how I've driven this stretch of highway so many times in the past.....to the north of the interstate I've always had an interest in this one particular mountain peak (pinnacle). We decided to camp nearby and scope it out for a possible climb the following day.....
YukonMontanaTannerTrapper
Explorer
The following morning we left the dogs in the camper.....I thought the climb might be much too steep for Tanner and of course Yukon is unable to participate due to her failing health. The pinnacle didn't appear to be such a long hike from our campsite.....it was.....
But the hike was great and I'd guess that after a few miles of hiking we reached the base of the mountain range.....
We blindly chose a route up the mountain.....most of our chosen route was on loose rock.....almost like gravel. The crux of the climb was this steep, slick section maybe one hundred feet high and much steeper than the picture would make you think.....
Once past that section we moved up fairly rapidly.....
Then we reached a saddle in the mountains and realized that our pinnacle was hours away.....there were several more ravines with steep inclines before reaching the base of the pinnacle.....
So we bagged it for the day.....it was getting late then and we had 2 dogs anxiously awaiting our return.....we have plans to return and hang out in these mountains.....
The following day we returned to the canal in Yuma, Arizona.....it was Yukons time.....
But the hike was great and I'd guess that after a few miles of hiking we reached the base of the mountain range.....
We blindly chose a route up the mountain.....most of our chosen route was on loose rock.....almost like gravel. The crux of the climb was this steep, slick section maybe one hundred feet high and much steeper than the picture would make you think.....
Once past that section we moved up fairly rapidly.....
Then we reached a saddle in the mountains and realized that our pinnacle was hours away.....there were several more ravines with steep inclines before reaching the base of the pinnacle.....
So we bagged it for the day.....it was getting late then and we had 2 dogs anxiously awaiting our return.....we have plans to return and hang out in these mountains.....
The following day we returned to the canal in Yuma, Arizona.....it was Yukons time.....
YukonMontanaTannerTrapper
Explorer
McCarthy.....thanks.....
In Yuma, Arizona we stocked up with supplies and then immediately continued west into the incredibly wonderful desert sand dunes of southern California.....
There's just something about these dunes that are almost medicinal as they somehow seem to help in dealing with the stresses of everyday life.....and more specifically, Yukons diagnosis of cancer.....
We have a vast area to ourselves and here I'm able to let the dogs roam freely. Most evenings are spent sitting around a campfire.....
We've had some phenomenal sunsets.....
.....and honestly this is probably the best place for us at this moment in time.....
.....we have big decisions to make.....one day at a time.....
In Yuma, Arizona we stocked up with supplies and then immediately continued west into the incredibly wonderful desert sand dunes of southern California.....
There's just something about these dunes that are almost medicinal as they somehow seem to help in dealing with the stresses of everyday life.....and more specifically, Yukons diagnosis of cancer.....
We have a vast area to ourselves and here I'm able to let the dogs roam freely. Most evenings are spent sitting around a campfire.....
We've had some phenomenal sunsets.....
.....and honestly this is probably the best place for us at this moment in time.....
.....we have big decisions to make.....one day at a time.....
YukonMontanaTannerTrapper
Explorer
Tanner and I spend a lot of time in the dunes.....it's difficult to even put in words how special this place actually is.....
Tanner loves it here just as much as I.....
I'll be sharing more of our adventures in the dunes in the upcoming days.....
.....it's amazing the stories that are within the story.....I'm never bored.....
Tanner loves it here just as much as I.....
I'll be sharing more of our adventures in the dunes in the upcoming days.....
.....it's amazing the stories that are within the story.....I'm never bored.....
Mekcanix
Camper
I have been in the situation with a diagnosis of Cancer in my Pup Lucky, We tried to make her happy and comfortable and it seemed to be working and one day I was stroking her head and she yelped, then turned and whined and cried. I knew then that I waited to long, God I am tearing up just typing this. From everything I have read from your keyboard to my screen honestly I am sure you are so in tune with Yukon, that as hard as it is you will know. My heart goes out to you and I do admire everything I see you doing and how you are dealing with a tough situation. I hope to continue reading of your amazing journey for many more years.
Honestly its the first thing I do when I get to work is check for your updates and I always smile
Thank you
Honestly its the first thing I do when I get to work is check for your updates and I always smile
Thank you
YukonMontanaTannerTrapper
Explorer
mekcanix.....my guess is that like you, I too have probably waited too long. She has her moments of glory and those are what I hold onto. Her moments of glory are my excuses for holding on for too long.....it's simply my selfishness. Tonight as I type this shes awake and has been uncomfortable for the past hour. We've just been outside walking together in the desert under the near dark sky filled with glistening stars.....
I appreciate very much your comment about my blog.....there's always a concern.....do I post too often ? Do I post too many dog pictures ? Would people rather see me at a waterfall standing on one leg with my arms in the air portraying life on the road as endless pleasure ? It's not.....
Arjan.....courage I lack.....
Ace.....I think that I know of the area that you're speaking of as I think I too have stayed in that general area.....although quite briefly. We are camped on BLM land (free) at the eastern most fringes of the sand dunes and just a few miles north of the border wall. As you can see in the pictures of our campsite, it is not actually in the dunes but we are about two miles north of the northernmost fringes. You know how much I love to walk and I generally walk 3 to 4 times per day to the dunes, and then I wander around like a drunken fool. I've only seen one ATV here and that was operated by Border Control.....this area is off limits to all off road vehicles.....it's amazing.....
Random pictures of our stay in the desert as I watch over Yukon tonight.....
I appreciate very much your comment about my blog.....there's always a concern.....do I post too often ? Do I post too many dog pictures ? Would people rather see me at a waterfall standing on one leg with my arms in the air portraying life on the road as endless pleasure ? It's not.....
Arjan.....courage I lack.....
Ace.....I think that I know of the area that you're speaking of as I think I too have stayed in that general area.....although quite briefly. We are camped on BLM land (free) at the eastern most fringes of the sand dunes and just a few miles north of the border wall. As you can see in the pictures of our campsite, it is not actually in the dunes but we are about two miles north of the northernmost fringes. You know how much I love to walk and I generally walk 3 to 4 times per day to the dunes, and then I wander around like a drunken fool. I've only seen one ATV here and that was operated by Border Control.....this area is off limits to all off road vehicles.....it's amazing.....
Random pictures of our stay in the desert as I watch over Yukon tonight.....