Empire Ranch, Sonoita, Arizona

Yesterday Mary and I drove the motorhome  from Lake Patagonia about 40 miles to the Empire Ranch near Sonoita, Arizona. The ranch house was once headquarters for a cattle ranch that was more that 1,000,000 acres. It’s really out in the toolies about 50 miles southeast of Tucson, Arizona and on the high desert grasslands at about elevation 4, 500 feet.

Here’s a Google Earth image…

As always you may left click upon an image to see an enlarged view and then click once again to see an even larger view…

Here’s a Wikipedia informational link about the ranch…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_Ranch

Here’s another really good link about the history of the ranch…
http://www.empireranchfoundation.org/RanchInfo.htm

Today the ranch is about 45,000 acres and under the protection of the Bureau of Land Management. Here’s their link…
http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/blm_special_areas/ncarea/lascienegas.html

Many Western movies have been filmed on the Empire Ranch. Click this link to see the list…
http://www.empireranchfoundation.org/PDFdocs/WesternsFilmedAroundEmpireRanch.pdf

Here are some photos that I took…

As always you may left click upon an image to see an enlarged view and then click once again to see an even larger view...

To see the other 40 photos that I took, click this link…
https://picasaweb.google.com/110455945462646142273/EmpireRanchSonoitaArizona

After the about 1.5 hour visit to the ranch, we drove about another 35 miles to Sierra Vista, Arizona where we are parked at VFW Post 9972.

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2012
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust

Lake Patagonia, Arizona – Day 2

Yesterday was our second and last day at Lake Patagonia…an Arizona State Park.

Here’s the official government link…
http://azstateparks.com/Parks/PALA/index.html

In the morning we took a nice two-hour walk along a birding/hiking trail.

Hare are some photos that I took…

As always you may left click upon an image to see an enlarged view and then click once again to see an even larger view..

Here’s a Google Earth view of the park showing the full length of the 2.5 mile long lake and our site location…

We’ll be departing for the Empire Ranch later this morning. It’s kind of out in the toolies. May not be any Internet signal out there.

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2012
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust

JEWEL IN THE DESERT

Before leaving Nogales yesterday morning, we stopped at a truck stop for a lube and oil change on the motor home. Jim measured the pit before pulling in to make sure the Bronco on the back could be pulled over the pit. The width of the Bronco was fine.

But, as we tried to pull out, the Bronco’s oil pan would not pass one piece of equipment in the pit and had to be removed anyway. It was a good try, anyway.

I’d heard everyone talk of Patagonia Lake as a beautiful State Park. It was a cold, windy gray day. The mesquite trees don’t have their leaves yet and the scenery looks like the aftermath of a forest fire. Beautiful was not the adjective I’d have chosen for this area. It has a reputation as a birding paradise and there were plenty of crows hanging around.

We took a walk to look the park over.  The lake has a designated swimming area cordoned off. Every campsite  and a generous group picnic area is roofed over from the sizzling Arizona summer sun.  Water is scarce here. I began to get a feel for what this lake must mean to people who live in the surrounding areas.

The campgrounds weren’t full but there were a number of rigs and two tent campers, but not a boat on the lake. We spotted a single fisherman casting his line.

In shallow spots, cat tails grew in abundance and rock lined the opposite shore.

We came to a steep wooden walk-over bridge. Delightful. It was meant to allow sailboats under it.

From the top of the bridge, you can see the lake has a lot of character. On the opposite bank is a point with a telescope mount to view the area mountains or boaters below.

Huge layered boulders provide a great place to catch some sun or dive into the water below, although a sign says “No Diving”.

I circled around and discovered this nice marina with rental paddle-boats, kayaks, canoes and fishing boats. Not available just then because the visitors center is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays during the “off” season.

Then I saw this sign and got a new respect for the “beauty” of  Patagonia Lake. No jet-skis, personal watercraft or water exhausted boats, jet-boats at anytime on this lake nor ski boats on weekends or holidays. Oh, what a treat to enjoy a weekend away on this lake without the motors and noise intruding.  Beauty isn’t always beheld by the eyes alone. This lake is a lovely jewel in the desert.

Then I met Eileen and Bob, both avid birders and volunteers at this park every year. Another couple work here as volunteers for six months staying in their 5th wheel and then spend the other six months on their boat. Eileen told me there was a bass tournament with 70 boats in the water over the weekend. They  assist with these events.  Eileen and Bob  take people on bird walks every Wednesday, too late for us. They told me where to go to see birds and showed me a picture of an elegant trogon. They had seen the elegant trogon nearly every day on their own walks.

I looked up the trogon and found wonderful information on-line including the sound they make at this site:

http://www.hummingbirdworld.com/bsa/trogons.htm
So, today we walk and hope to see Arizona’s most famous and sought after bird.

I took 25 pictures if you’d like to see more:
https://picasaweb.google.com/106530979158681190260/2012227PatagoniaLake

Lake Patagonia, Arizona – Day 1

After a motorhome oil change and lube at the truck stop in Nogales, Arizona we drove about 20 miles to Lake Patagonia…an Arizona State Park.

Here’s the official government link…
http://azstateparks.com/Parks/PALA/index.html

In the afternoon we took about a 45 minute walk despite the fact that it was a very windy day. I’m sure glad I didn’t have to drive in that wind!

Hare are some photos that I took…

As always you may left click upon an image to see an enlarged view and then click once again to see an even larger view..

Here’s a Google Earth view of the park showing our site location.  As the sites approach the lake they get steeper in grade. In order to have a relatively level site we needed to be away from the lake a little. In addition, since we’ll only be here for two nights, I wanted a pull-thru site where I would not have to unhook the Bronco..

We’ll be staying another full day and depart tomorrow.

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2012
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust

Our View Of Nogales, Arizona and Nogales, Sonora, Mexico…

We depart Nogales, Arizona this morning. We spent an enjoyable three nights here parked at the VFW Post #2066.

The VFW Post itself is an unusual building. Located on a small hill, perhaps 200 feet higher than the main drag of Grand Avenue also known at Interstate Highway Business Route 19. The area is all of a rolling-hills mode. It affords a nice view of the surrounding areas…

As always you may left click upon an image to see an enlarged view and then click once again to see an even larger view...

Being up higher and back away from the Grand Avenue traffic has also made it a very quiet stay. Also on this hill is a cell phone tower, so we’ve had a great cell phone and Internet signal while here. Mary and I have speculated that most likely the unusual building was originally a restaurant. This is the view from our dining room window…

The VFW Post was kind enough to provide us with an electrical hookup which is always nice to have. Here’s a Google Earth view showing our location of just one mile from the Mexico Border which is clearly identifiable in this image…

The motorhome is facing in a southerly direction. A through-the-windshield view allowed us to see across the border into Mexico…

And at night-time afforded us this view…

The weather has been sunny with daytime temperatures in the low 70′s with a nice breeze and nighttime temperatures in the 40′s. All in all, it’s been a very enjoyable stay.

Yesterday was laundry and do odds and ends kind of day. This morning, after a scheduled oil change and lube job for the motorhome, we’ll head to Lake Patagonia Arizona State Park about 20 mile distant for a planned two-day stay. Both Lake Patagonia and our next planned destination after that are kind of out in the toolies, so if you don’t hear from us for a few days…not to worry.

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2012
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust