Wandering the Southwest for Four or Five months of Wheeling.

[wibornz]

Today’s adventure was an hour of wheeling across the Desert to the Betty Lee Mine so we could do some more hiking and exploring.

Betty Lee Mine

Mr. Business is a Jeep dog and he has lockers. He can climb just about anything.

I send Mr Business in first so he can scare away the rattlesnakes.

Way back down the valley the Jeeps are parked. Very rugged area. Life must have been very taxing on the miners back in the day.

Carla loves Mr.Business.

Gary my retired Lumberjack pal. He loves to prospect, use metal detector and collect rocks.

Carla and Fary exploring a mine with Mr. Business and I am pulling up the rear.

Telling Mr Business to turn on his locker.

On the way back I took a different trail that did not show much traffic. We came upon a sign that read, “Stay Out, Unexploded Ordnance.” The was a big Black Raven on the sign and as I drove by he made direct eye contact with me. I took the sign and the Raven as a sign and turned around.

These pics are screenshots from the dash cam video.

It maybe easier to see the sign on anything bigger than my phone screen. With the sound on, you wilk her me and Carla talk about it from the dash cam video.

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[wibornz]

Been running anywhere from a mile and a half to three miles each morning with Mr. Business. We ran two miles yesterday morning then did a six and a half mile hike up a mountain with over 1633 feet of elevation change. This is to a crash site of a WWII B-17. A tough hike for sure. The end was a little disappointing as there was nothing that resembled an airplane at the crash site. My expectations were to high. Probably been looted over the last 80 or so years. Still a great hike with a bunch of scrambling over boulders. Mr Business had to

Mr Business is ready to go. He is looking out the window of the camper at the jeep. He is ready for some adventure.

This is the crash site. Not much to see, just a big rock with a white cross and a geo cache box.

Mr. Business with hill decent activated. Both lockers on.

This picture does not due the hike justice as to how rough it is.

 

[Whaler27]

My wife Carla

and I

leave for the Southwest in the morning 12/27/22. Mr.Business our Jack Russell dog is going with us as well. He is currently resting and getting ready for the drive in the morning.

We are packed, loaded and ready to go. Bring a sewing machine and a scooter plus camping, hiking and climbing gear.

We plan to head to our base camp in Wellton Arizona. Wellton is about 10 miles east of Yuma Arizona. We have rented a 5th wheel camper January to the end of April. Hoping to spend New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day on Glamis Dunes. It will be a push to make it happen.

We plan to wheel the Baja peninsula in Mexico, Southern California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah and New Mexico. We love the Southwest. There will be a bunch of hiking, climbing, Jeeping and camping. This year we are leaving the camper at home and bringing a tent that hooks to the Jeep and a Deep Sleep mattress for the back of the Jeep.

We will visit some of the spots that we did this year and sure to find some new spots.

2214 miles for the first leg. More to come and after we return to Michigan in May,. Then plan is to head to Alaska in June if everything goes as planned. That will be a different thread.

More to come.

You two are doing retirement right! We plan to follow in your footsteps. My better half wanted me to retire last year … and the year before, but it‘s hard for some of us to let go. Maybe this year….

 

[wibornz]

You two are doing retirement right! We plan to follow in your footsteps. My better half wanted me to retire last year … and the year before, but it‘s hard for some of us to let go. Maybe this year….

Retirement isNOT overrated. You can not buy time no matter how much money you have.

Just know the clock is ticking. As we get older, we start to run into “this is the last time I do this” kind of thing. There are things that I did in my forties that I can’t do in my fifties and I am sure that I probably will not be doing in my sixties and seventies.

Don’t let the money chase or the thought of one more year working will change anything. We are at the stage in our life where regret of not doing something weighs more than ever.

I have yet to run into a retired person that said they wished they worked one more year if they managed their life right. Many think that they will run out of things to do. This can be true if you decide to sit on the couch every night. Me, I got in after dark from a difficult hike with 1633 feet of elevation change.

The more you live in your fifties, the more likely you will live better in your sixties and seventies.

 

[QwikKotaTx]

Awesome pictures as always!

 

[Whaler27]

Retirement isNOT overrated. You can not buy time no matter how much money you have.

Just know the clock is ticking. As we get older, we start to run into “this is the last time I do this” kind of thing. There are things that I did in my forties that I can’t do in my fifties and I am sure that I probably will not be doing in my sixties and seventies.

Don’t let the money chase or the thought of one more year working will change anything. We are at the stage in our life where regret of not doing something weighs more than ever.

I have yet to run into a retired person that said they wished they worked one more year if they managed their life right. Many think that they will run out of things to do. This can be true if you decide to sit on the couch every night. Me, I got in after dark from a difficult hike with 1633 feet of elevation change.

The more you live in your fifties, the more likely you will live better in your sixties and seventies.

Great advice.

 

[MayThe4x4BWU]

On the way back I took a different trail that did not show much traffic. We came upon a sign that read, “Stay Out, Unexploded Ordnance.” The was a big Black Raven on the sign and as I drove by he made direct eye contact with me. I took the sign and the Raven as a sign and turned around.


These pics are screenshots from the dash cam video.

It maybe easier to see the sign on anything bigger than my phone screen. With the sound on, you wilk her me and Carla talk about it from the dash cam video.

Kinda chilling seeing that video. Like something out of a movie lol

Sometimes you just have to listen to the "signs" beyond the signs

 

[wibornz]

Kinda chilling seeing that video. Like something out of a movie lol

Sometimes you just have to listen to the "signs" beyond the signs

And that was exactly what we did. I am not superstitious by any means, but that Raven made Eye contact with me and he was like here’s your sign.

be of friends was like there was even a halo around that Raven in the picture.

 

[wibornz]

The plan was set. Head out at 8 am. 745 I grab Mr Business and start running towards town. Told Carla to pick me up roadside so I could get a short run in and let Mr Business do his thing. Plus this way I get a girl in a jeep to pick me up off the side of the road. Winning!

First stop is for a big breakfast burrito. If you are by exit 30 in Wellton Arizona they have great food.

These burritos are huge for $8 and tasty.

Plenty of time to eat as we have a forty or so mile drive to meet up with @jlrubeinswaz for the day of wheeling. Of course he is right on time and we get busy airing down for today’s adventure.

Usually I lead, but today I gladly hand that responsibility over to Scott. He is super knowledgeable of the area and promised a great day of exploring filled with sights, mines to explore and great trail’s with rocks, climbs, off chamber and obstacles here and there. The day did NOT disappoint.

First stop was an overlook of the Colorado river.

Rolling down the trail. Mr. Business points out a monster in a cave.

No need to reach for the pistol, we hammer down for a quick escape.

We are out wheeling on part of the US Army Yuma Proving Grounds. Of course they have awesome warning signs too. Exploding dancing guy and girl.

I love wheeling in the mountains and high desert. Now for some scenic shots.

This turned into a 26 degree off chamber and a little butt pucker from Gary with a RTT on the rack.

While the trail was rougher than it looks, we navigated pretty easy. Sway bar disconnected for sure.

Just a random stop netted this pic.

Mr Business on guard duty. Nobody stealing my ride. He is a fighting, biting, mean dog…. Lol.

We kept seeing donkey’s poop. Then we see donkeys.

There were many steep short climbs. Only about 10 to 15 feet high. Would not want them to be much taller.

We did stumble upon old abandoned equipment during or run.

Many rugged spots like this today and that makes for fun wheeling.

The first couple mines we stopped at were either filled in or blocked off. Scott was sure he would find us an open mine we could explore, and he did. It just required a crawl over a rock pile into the mine opening. Mr. Business is on the job scaring rattlesnakes away.

I was down for climbing down the ladder, Carla was like the fuck you are. None of us will be able to carry your big ass back up if there is a problem. She and common sense won that argument.

Mr.Business needed a lift across the open hole with a board across it. He was like hey, I am an adventure dog, but need a little assistance here.

The day starts to get long and out we head.

Carla did snap a shot of me up on the top of a climb overlooking a Valley.

We came off the trail, aired up and headed to a local BBQ joint called Dirty South Bbq.
Great way to end the day as we part company with Scott and his wife.

No better way to spend a Friday in January.

 

[cornercanyon]

The plan was set. Head out at 8 am. 745 I grab Mr Business and start running towards town. Told Carla to pick me up roadside so I could get a short run in and let Mr Business do his thing. Plus this way I get a girl in a jeep to pick me up off the side of the road. Winning!

First stop is for a big breakfast burrito. If you are by exit 30 in Wellton Arizona they have great food.

These burritos are huge for $8 and tasty.

Plenty of time to eat as we have a forty or so mile drive to meet up with @jlrubeinswaz for the day of wheeling. Of course he is right on time and we get busy airing down for today’s adventure.

Usually I lead, but today I gladly hand that responsibility over to Scott. He is super knowledgeable of the area and promised a great day of exploring filled with sights, mines to explore and great trail’s with rocks, climbs, off chamber and obstacles here and there. The day did NOT disappoint.

First stop was an overlook of the Colorado river.

Rolling down the trail. Mr. Business points out a monster in a cave.

No need to reach for the pistol, we hammer down for a quick escape.

We are out wheeling on part of the US Army Yuma Proving Grounds. Of course they have awesome warning signs too. Exploding dancing guy and girl.

I love wheeling in the mountains and high desert. Now for some scenic shots.

This turned into a 26 degree off chamber and a little butt pucker from Gary with a RTT on the rack.

While the trail was rougher than it looks, we navigated pretty easy. Sway bar disconnected for sure.

Just a random stop netted this pic.

Mr Business on guard duty. Nobody stealing my ride. He is a fighting, biting, mean dog…. Lol.

We kept seeing donkey’s poop. Then we see donkeys.

There were many steep short climbs. Only about 10 to 15 feet high. Would not want them to be much taller.

We did stumble upon old abandoned equipment during or run.

Many rugged spots like this today and that makes for fun wheeling.

The first couple mines we stopped at were either filled in or blocked off. Scott was sure he would find us an open mine we could explore, and he did. It just required a crawl over a rock pile into the mine opening. Mr. Business is on the job scaring rattlesnakes away.

I was down for climbing down the ladder, Carla was like the fuck you are. None of us will be able to carry your big ass back up if there is a problem. She and common sense won that argument.

Mr.Business needed a lift across the open hole with a board across it. He was like hey, I am an adventure dog, but need a little assistance here.

The day starts to get long and out we head.

Carla did snap a shot of me up on the top of a climb overlooking a Valley.

We came off the trail, aired up and headed to a local BBQ joint called Dirty South Bbq.
Great way to end the day as we part company with Scott and his wife.

No better way to spend a Friday in January.

Looks like another awesome trail day with Ted, Carla, and Mr. Business—

 

[wibornz]

I need to get the drone out more.

Wheeling in the high desert

Running to the sun

 

[wibornz]

Mr. Business modeling a JLUR at sunset. He is such a good boy.

 

[wibornz]

Super windy yesterday, so I pulled out the laptop and made a video of the badge trail we ran up by Vegas last year.

I have a ton of content that haven’t even looked at yet from all over the place.

 

[SadRobot]

Looks like an awesome trip. Are you headed out to CA soon? I know the timing didn't work out the last time you were out here but maybe could meet you guys to do some trails this time.

 

[wibornz]

We have been wheeling in the south east corner of California currently. What are you thinking?

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