Just 'a Relaxin!

 Last night I slept like the sleeping dead..Den said he didn't sleep well....I think he was over -tired! Our truck took one Hell of a beating on our ride into Charlie Bell Pass...We got what they call down here, "Arizona Pin striping"...I always wanted some pin striping, but not necessarily this kind..Oh well....Like Den says..."It's just a truck". Have a look-see

Now that we had that great trip yesterday, I realize what a very great  experience it was!!. I think I appreciate it more today than I did last night...I was just too tired to think much last evening. After talking to our neighbors, I know we were really fortunate to have seen the Pronghorn Antelope...they are an endangered species down here. I have a couple more photos from our drive .....

Ya gotta love the Pronghorn!...

...Perhaps this is why our truck took such a beating....
I couldn't resist shooting this goofy looking Saguaro....

 The wind came up in the night and really tossed the HitchHiker around...A warm front must have came in because our temp went from 52 at 9PM to 58 this morning at 6AM...and continues to rise..I fixed us some sausage muffins for breakfast. These are made with Pork sausage, Old English Cheese , all stirred up and spread on english muffins halves, the I freeze them and pull a couple out whenever I want and bake them...a great recipe.
Anyway, I also decided I needed to use up some boneless short ribs, so I peppered them up, browned them, and threw them in the crockpot with some red wine, beef broth and cream of mushroom soup...That will be dinner over noodles...easy!
  After we walked, I went outside with my coffee and read my book. The sun was getting really warm by now. I heard a helicopter coming around again. This is a regular occurrence here. While we were walking, we did our usual swing through the casino parking lot and I noticed a decal in the back window of one of the cars..It was an exact replica of the stone maze they have here at the park....See what I mean...

...and here is the rock formation here in the park..if you can see it very well..

 I really need to ask Hickiwan Ray what that symbol means...I think it is tribal from the Tohono O'odham...but I will find out.
I was sitting outside about 11AM when a huge "ba-boom!" sounded in the distance. I said aloud " What the Hell was that?". Den heard me from inside and he said "I don't know but something exploded somewhere!" There is never any lack of excitement or strange sounds around here. Shortly after that, I saw a huge military transport flying low over the distant mountains...I managed to get a photo....

..When we watched our "safety video" we learned that on the Barry Goldwater Air Force Range they practice low level maneuvers, learning to fly low between the mountain ranges...Preparing for flying missions over in Afganistan and Pakistan.  There are so many things I have learned out here, about our world ,that really make me realize the dangers out there...for everyone.
Dennis needed to get a set of allen wrenches to fix one of our chairs so he rode his bike down to see if Hickiwan Ray had any...and he did, of course. However, they were not the right size, so he dug out a small set of vice grips and that did the trick...This is my McGuyver on a mission.....

I talk a lot about Hickiwan Ray...He runs this place and he also delivers the mail here to us...on his little "amigo"..He has a bad leg, so this helps him get around the park easily. He is quite a character and everyone loves him..Here he is.....

 I told Den this afternoon that I will never get tired of the view here....It is so absolutely spectacular!!....and we are virtually "cradled" in the middle of this beautiful scenery...I am in awe daily, and I cannot resist trying to share it..

..taken right across from our campsite...
..We took our afternoon bike ride...a great day for one! Here I am on my blue racer....

...Trust me, I don't RACE anywhere....what's the hurry anyway?..I told Dennis to make sure he got the mountain range in the background, and he did good! I wish you could see what it says on my T-shirt. It says,"EVERY IDEA I HAVE GETS ME IN TROUBLE"...so true!!
We heard another big "Ba-Boom!" a few minutes ago...and Dennis thinks reminded me we are close to the Air Force Range and they do practice with munitions, so we figure that must be it..I gotta tell ya, there are just too many adventures out there yet that we need  to see. Tomorrow morning's "adventure", unfortunately, is the laundry...a weekly necessity...Luckily the laundry is just a walk away!(not to mention, a beautiful walk!)
The weather they are projecting for next week around here is some rainy days headed our way..maybe even a thunderstorm or two...Now that would be a real change!! I sure can't complain about the weather so far, and I won't even complain if we get some liquid sunshine...The desert could use a little drink....More tomorrow...
LIFE IS GOOD!!