Friday, February 11, 2011

Four Peaks of the Plomosa Mountains

After finally getting our blog posted Gina and I took off for a long four-wheeler ride. Our goal was to take the same trail that Mike and I took Monday over to the Four Peaks. We have not been back there since last year when we spent our anniversary hiking around that area. On our way there we found a very big mineshaft. We ventured in just a little. Gina didn’t think it was too safe and I even brought our big flashlight. So you only get to see a little of it.

The Mine Shaft entrance

Looking inside

Looking back toward the opening

We continued on and finally arrived at the base of the Four Peaks. We parked the four-wheeler and Gina began her search for that perfect rock.

Four Peaks of the Plomosa Mountains

The largest of the peaks, notice the moon above it

Just another view of the desert

Before long it was time to make our way back home. It was a long ride and the next time we’ll need to leave earlier since it’s almost a 30 mile roundtrip. Even though we didn't have a lot of time we still had another great ride. We made it back home just in time for happy hour at Jim & Ellie’s. They were hosting and Jim was cooking for our new arrivals, Doug & JoAnn and Fred & Jo. Of course Rod & Deb and Mike & Janna joined in welcoming our new arrivals to all of ours little desert paradise.

Doug & JoAnn, Jo & Fred and Mike in the foreground
thanks Janna for the picture

Once we made it back home it was time to get our home ready for traveling. We’ll be pulling out some time this morning making our way to Victorville, California. This is where Thomas & Ashley live. We want to spend some time with them before he deploys for Afghanistan. We’ll be back to our little desert paradise just as soon as he departs later in the month.


Gina & I hope everyone has a pleasant and wonderful day, enjoying what our Father has so graciously blessed us with.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Beauty In The Desert

First let me apologize for not posting a blog. We are having Internet difficulty. I broke our air card’s antenna connection that left it unable to get a signal, which equals no internet for us. I ordered another air card from Millenicom and had it shipped to me.

One of the many beautiful sunrises we see in the mornings

Desert Beauty

Looking out across the desert

It doesn't look it but that is about a two foot vertical rock climb we did on the four-wheeler

We had a great weekend of four-wheeler rides out in the desert and Gina learned to shoot a handgun for the first time.

Gina getting lessons from Janna on shooting a handgun

Janna teaching her on how to aim

After about 20 shots she was hitting the targets every time

Here's her last target, I was very proud of her.
She did great Thomas

The highlight of the weekend was a Superbowl party at Jim & Ellie’s. Jim boiled shrimp, which also included all of the fixings, sausage, corn on the cob, potatoes and onions.

Jim boiling shrimp

Doesn't look like anyone is watching TV with all that good food

There is no better way to watch the Superbowl than this

All of the food tasted wonderful and for desert Jim made a homemade pecan pie and Gina made a homemade chocolate pie. What better way to watch the Superbowl than with great friends and great food. A very special thank you to Jim & Ellie for a wonderful evening of food and fellowship. Congratulations to Green Bay on their win and being the Superbowl XLV Champions!!

Monday morning Gina and Janna went to Parker to do laundry while Mike and I went four-wheel riding. I have been trying to find a trail that would take us from our campsite over to Four Peaks since we have been here and haven’t been able to find it. Well, today Mike and I found it. A perfect day for riding in the desert. We finally made it back home and realized the girls had already made it back from Parker. Janna invited us for dinner while she was baking two pound cakes in our oven. One for her and one for us. Dinner was good. However, the pound cake with strawberries and whip cream was fantastic!! Thanks Janna, you can use our oven anytime.

Tuesday we were up early and out the door as Mike & Janna were taking us to Crystal Hill and Palm Canyon today. Both are located between Quartzite and Yuma. First stop was Crystal Hill and Gina was in Heaven. She could have spent the whole day there but she managed to pull herself away. We enjoyed a lunch of cheese & crackers and pound cake for dessert. As we were driving out we spotted some coyotes walking across the road. Mike was able to grab a photo of all three while I got out of the jeep and managed to get a pretty good close up of one of them.

A coyote in the wild

We didn’t know at the time but our highlight of the day was Palm Canyon. We love the desert but this canyon took our breath away. I was very disappointed in the pictures I took because they do not even come close to capturing the beauty of this canyon. Gina and I highly recommend that if you are ever driving on Highway 95 between Yuma and Quartzsite this is a stop you need to make. Enjoy these pictures.

Looking at Palm Canyon from a distance

Still pretty far away but very impressive

At the entrance of Palm Canyon

It looked like a stairway to Heaven

A close up shot of "Stairway to Heaven"

A single Palm tree growing in a crack

My best friend and a great friend in front of "Stairway to Heaven"

Looking out from Palm Canyon

Our dinner after a wonderful day with great friends

We woke up early again Wednesday as Gina was going with Ellie and Janna to Lake Havasu City for a girls day. While they were gone Mike and I took a little jeep ride through the desert. He took that jeep where I didn’t know it would go. He can maneuver that jeep great. What can I say but another great time in the desert. (we forgot a camera again) The girls made it back around 4:30 just as Doug & JoAnn was arriving here in Bouse. Jim took the four-wheeler and guided them back into our little desert paradise. Gina and I went down to Mike & Janna’s so Mike and I could finish our conversation. Janna invited us for dinner again but she said we had to bring hot cornbread. (Just kidding) Since she had leftover pinto beans I thought cornbread would be great. We went back home and baked cornbread.  Another great meal!! We really eat way too good out here. There for sure is no lack of great chefs out here. We finally made it home and called it a night.


Gina & I hope everyone has a pleasant and wonderful day, enjoying what our Father has so graciously blessed us with.