October 20-21, 2021

Overlanding In Alamo Canyon

Ajo Heights RV Park Ajo, Arizona

Both Tim and I did our morning exercise and then we packed the Jeep for yet another overnight trip.  Our first order of business was to get another cup of coffee but both places in town were closed.  We had to drive through Why and so we stopped at Why Not for gas station coffee.

Cool old truck fountain.

We went to organ Pipe Cactus National Monument and took our time driving the 21-mile scenic loop.  We have been here a couple of times before but wanted to drive through again.

We then headed to Alamo Canyon Campground.  This is a primitive 4 site place with picnic tables and a bathroom…no hookups but we brought everything we needed.  We had the whole place to ourselves! We set up.

We took a hike on the Alamo Canyon Trail. 

We saw an old ranch house and corral built in 1910-1920.  There were originally 600 head of free-range cattle kept here.  Such a harsh environment to live in.  The rocks are sharp and craggy and the sun unrelenting.  It was warm today…88 degrees, but in the summer the temperatures here often exceed 110 degrees.  Of course, we know that people have survived and thrived here for more than 10,000 years.

There is no water here now though there was at one time.  We could see the water marks in this dry creek bed.

We cooked dinner and quickly the sun went down. 

As soon as it was just a little dark, I caught sight of a mouse…and his little friend.  Tim went up into the nest at 6:30.   I didn’t last much longer…I didn’t want mice running over my feet!

I lay awake waiting for the full moon or the hunter moon to creep up and over the mountain. Long before the moon made its appearance, the canyon glowed with white light. It was ghostly and gorgeous! We saw the major constellations and the planets but it was much too bright to see the Milky Way.

Good morning!

I took my walk along the campground road while Tim did his yoga and stretching back at camp.

We were back in Ajo by 9am and ate our breakfast in the square.

We had a restful and lazy afternoon.  Tim did take his bike out and I walked to a nice gift shop nearby to do some Christmas shopping. 

Ajo is a nice mix of people…people of Native American heritage, people of Mexican heritage, and lots of older retirees.

This evening, we went to Taco El Tarasco for dinner and we shared a platter of shrimp tacos with beans and rice…I don’t know why we don’t do that more often…it was plenty of food for both of us!