Exploring the desert

 

When there is free time to explore the desert surroundings, you can always find some ghost town nearby.  We were intrigued by the 'Cemetery' in the ghost town and found it a bigger deal than expected.

Unlike typical Arizona ghost towns based around mining, Agua Caliente ("hot water" in Spanish) was built around a natural hot spring and a stagecoach line. The natural hot spring in the area had been used by American Indians and later by travelers along the Butterfield Overland Mail Route in the early 1860s.

The 'old' section with dates of 1800's

I always love the metal sunflowers in the desert!

The newer section (with the white fences) has dates as recent as 2019.

This is a very well cared for cemetery,

note the abundance of new flags.

We noticed the name on the current 'convenience store' 

("Conde's Middle of Nowhere Chevron")

 in the tiny town of Sentinel had many Conde relatives buried in this cemetery.

 By the year 1897, a 22-room resort was built, complete with a swimming pool fed by the hot springs. Many used the resort for its healing properties, but farming in the area ultimately sucked the springs dry.

A very few of these building remains were visible.

Adventure turns Mis-Adventure

Leaving Eloy- Thankfully, a kind motorist pointed frantically to a problem on the  driver side.
Lou saw that the wheel on the trailer was smoking --NOT a good sign!
We managed to limp to a truck stop about a mile away, and camp out there for 2 nights while we found help.

 

Getting to the wheel bearing was a "DIRTY JOB"

and needed trips into town to get a big enough tool to pull 

the brake drum.

Sure enough, the bearing was shot -

Really Shot!

We were looking for a tow company, but discovered nobody would tow a travel trailer so, I kept calling folks, and

After a couple of 'divinely appointed' phone calls we found a repair shop within walking distance of the lot we were parked in!

Then, another blessing --

Lou contacted the manufacturer of the axel and they are sending

a "good will" offering of a new axel, complete with bearings, and brakes for free!

Hallelujah!!!

Can't stay in the truck lot too long so we need to move!

Another big blessing

Lou's cousin Russ Mayer just 'happens to have his fully equipped 5th wheel available for us to use'

What a trip!! 

and God had our back the entire time!!

Praise the Lord!!

Sightseeing, Team Roping contests, and County Fair

BESH - BA - GOWAH

A partially restored ancient ruin of the Salado people who occupied the site between A.D. 1225 and A.D. 1400.

Typical of so many of the Southwest Indian Ruins

Every time we visit these ruins, the common fact is that all of these have been abandoned at about the same time.

I guess climate change was prevalent then too.

TEAM ROPING

A fun morning at the Team Roping Contest

at 'our' Cowboy Church-

comes complete with Rodeo Grounds.

Admiring one of the Championship winners.

The starting gate is a busy place.

We were surprised at how quickly all the events took place.

Good practice place

( in the middle of the road)

Lots of great action, and none of the cows got hurt,

( I think the cowboys were OK too)

Then on to the Fair

Bluegrass,

Antique Cars,

Model Trains

This band was Arizona Wildflowers

4 kids aged from 8 to 14, and a couple of state champions.

The 8 year old is practically the same size as his bass fiddle

and he does a great job!

Young to old, and everything in between.

The bass player is 12 years old.

MODEL TRAINS

A few model railroad fans set up this huge display of model railroads and trains.

They take an entire day or so to set up the trains at various fairs, displays, etc.

Then they let kids run the trains by controlling the speed by inserting the controller at various places around the track.

It usually requires some adult supervision.

This kid is 8 years old.

ANTIQUE CARS

Lou remembers when his cousins received cars like this for their

High School Graduation present.

Pretty spiffy

A great 'fixed upper". (not!😅)

"Sublime to the ridiculous"

There are quite a lot of things to do in Casa Grande!

A pleasant time indeed!

 

Youth Haven - almost done

Week number 3

Yes, it has gone quickly!

The Prayer Garden

Task was to "tidy up all the winter debris and

 cut off all the dead branches from the trees and bushes.

Many wheel barrel loads going to the burn pile.

 

The bushes had gotten so overgrown that the guys felt like they had a logging job.

Many piles of sticks had to be dragged over to the burn pile.

We all dragged many 'sticks' to the fire, mostly big branches that wouldn't fit into the wheelbarrow.

My fitbit showed way more steps than usual!

The use of the tractor was a big help.

Lou was one happy camper!

Other jobs:

The guys cleaned out the bike shed. 

These will be donated somewhere.

Fun stuff for the kids:

Bill and Sandy Yaden (Sowers on Assignment) cooked for the kids.  Sandy was SO creative and made the food in the theme of the camp.

What a blessing to the kids that came to camp!