August 22 -- A Meeting At A Ghost Town, And Hummingbird Craziness

I was planning on hitching a ride with a friend who lives "down the street" to attend the Cochise County photographer's meet at the "ghost town" of Gleeson, west of the Chiricahuas, but finally opted to go by myself as I wanted to stop at the Wal-Mart in Douglas to get 2 bags of salt crystals for my water softening system . It was "trash day" at Portal, so I dropped on my bags at the trash truck and chatted with Tom, the "trash guy" who commutes all the way from Willcox (92 miles one-way). Then it was east down Portal Road, then south on Hwy 80 into Rodeo, New Mexico, then back into Arizona and Douglas, 55 miles away. Douglas is the nearest big town of any consequence to Portal, and the favorite places for "Portalites" are Wal-Mart and Food King. I'd looked online and saw that Wal-Mart had Morton Salt Crystals (40-pound bags) in stock, so I went there, asked the guy where they were -- and he showed me a bag, not of crystals, but pellets (I find out later from my friend Helen that pellets are probably better for the water sofenting system as you don't have to clean any encrustation on the top). So as I was looking for the crystals, and didn't know if the pellets worked for my system, I left an tried the tractor store up the road; same story, only the pellets. The guy there said probably the closest store that would have the crystals would be Lowe's or Home Depot in Sierra Vista, about 109 miles one-way from Portal. Looks like it was going to be another over-200 miles day...I headed up Hwy 191 to Elfrida and Gleeson -- and along the way got some spectacular cloud displays, billowy formations that seemed to be growing over mountain ranges --

There's a horse in center distance in the 2nd photo, but as I was trying to get all of the huge cloud, he ended up as a tiny dot in the distance. The way to Gleeson was winding through foothills dotted with ruins -- and then I realized I must've passed it without knowing it. On the way back I saw Gleeson Cemetery, and an old structure on the other side of the road -- that was it; Gleeson. There are displays in that building, which used to house the jail. Gleeson, as so many other towns in the late 19th to early 20th centuries, were mining towns, and you can still see the mine openings into the hills, along with tailings. I introduced myself and got "Oh, I've seen your photos!" A warmer bunch of folks you couldn't imagine. Some of use brought our camp chairs (I found out afterwards that I left my chair behind at Gleeson) to sit and listen to the music supplied by 2 live musicians. My new friend Olga, who was kinda the "doyenne" of the group, had brough taquitos and snacks, so I opted for those and kept my Subway sandwich for dinner. Around 12pm the clouds moved in; the structure in this photo is the foundation of the old school -- 

Then a "weather event' occurred down to the south -- a band of rain that started off small and compact at first, sort of looking like the beginnings of a tornado, then it spread and dissipated before coming to our little group near the jailhouse -- but the wind picked up and raindrops were starting to fall. I almost never get photos of people (I don't know why) so I depended on the group photo, taken by a participant; here we are in front of the jail --

Yours truly is second from the right; it was all I could do to hold my stomach in. :o) The members were from all walks of life; for instance, Olga and her husband had lived in Orange County, in the city of Orange, then she decided to come back to Cochise County where she grew up (her husband preferred the Pacific Northwest) and became a teacher here. Everyone has a story to tell...By 1pm the weather was threatening, so I left to head to Sierra Vista, 51 miles to the west, where dark, ominous clouds were shrouding the Huachucas. I actually ran into spots of rain, but for the most part I ended the day dry. Hurrah! -- the Sierra Vista Wal-Mart had oodles of the salt crystal bags I was looking for. So I carried the 2 40-pound bags to the truck (I'm surprised my arms didn't fall off) and headed back east to Portal and the Chiricahuas. On the way back, traveling on a paved back road, I came upon a flooded section of the road, with a patrol officer on the other side with a stalled vehicle. I wasn't sure how deep it was, so I kinda "blasted" through, and when I got next to the officer he was motionin with his hands, pushing down, meaning "slow down!" . Well, at least I didn't get HIM wet...The roads I travelled were dotted with road signs reading "Do not enter if flooded"; I was luck more roads weren't. At Douglas I filled up with gas and headed back north up Hwy 80. It's wide and lonesome country there, with mountain ranges to the east and west. And a swear there must've been a raptor on every 3rd power pole!  Mostly Red-taileds, but I'm sure Swanson's (and a few Golden Eagles; some raptors were much bigger than others) were there, too. As I was driving along, with the Chiricahuas appearing on my right, I remember having the feeling of -- contentment. AND that I was truly heading home; that I was meant to be here. After arriving back at Faranuf I grabbed a quick bite to eat (that Subway sandwich and taquitos from the Gleeson meet) and looked out at the feeders. Dang it if that Gray Fox wasn't back again, chowing down on bird seed! --

He was calm as could be, unconcerned with my presence -- until I got a bit closer to shoo him away from the bird seed trays. Then I decided to change my technique in photographing hummingbirds; instead of shooting with my 500mm lens looking out from the back deck , I put on the 100-400 lens and stood on the outer deck, looking in at the hummingbird feeders. The light was perfect, and it's going to be my hummingbird photo technique from now on..

Rufous

Broad-billed

Another Broad-billed (I was trying to turn this one into a Plain-capped Starthroat)

A menagerie of hummingbirds at the feeder -- From the right, Black-chinned male, Rufous, and Broad-billed

Then the clouds to the east over the Peloncillos began to weave their magic once again, and there was lightning flashing inside -- 

The days here at Faranuf, Portal and the Chiricahuas just keep getting better and better...

August 21 -- Whacking Weeds, And A Cloud Display

I'd bought a Stihl string trimmer back in the South Bay when I was staying with my dad in San Pedro. I figured with Faranuf's 4 acres, and the monsoon season in full swing, I'd need a little yard maintenance. I had put in the mixture of gas and oil (50 to 1) and had tried to start it up a few days back, just to get a feel for it -- but was unsuccessful. Did I not pull the cord hard enough? The directions say not to give it a "yank" as you might break the string. And I also have an "impinged" right shoulder, so I had to take it easy with the arm motions. So this morning I put on my Levi's, long-sleeved shirt, boots and ankle-length leggings, and goggles -- all needed in case I come upon a rattlesnake. And the bad thing about encountering one while using the loud weed whacker is -- you can't hear the snake "rattling". One of the "inconveniences" of rural living...After about 20 pulls on the starter cord, the 2hp engine started -- and I proceeded to whack weeds. It was actually kinda fun -- enough though afterwards my lower back hurt a little because of the way I was holding the string cutter. It does have a harness that you place over your neck, and there's also a handle, but holding it in position while cut weeds are flying in all directions -- not to mention small rocks -- well, it really becomes a strain after a half hour. But I was totally satisfied with the job I'd done -- and I came across no rattlesnakes. I raked up the cuttings and put them in trash bags, which I'll take to the trash truck across the street from Faranuf (the truck is there Wednesdays and Saturdays; $2 per bag) this morning. This is the unglamorous part of living at Faranuf -- but it wasn't as much of a chore as I thought, and is kinda fun as I have a feeling of accomplishment. After weed whacking a watched the birds come in to the back yard feeders -- here's a Cactus Wren; there are 3 that come in every morning --

I'm getting a nice yard list of birds -- 14 species so far, including Pyrruloxia (I always thought that sounded like a gum disease) and at least 3 hummingbird species so far  that I can discern-- Anna's, Black-chinned, and Broad-tailed.. They are a bit challenging to ID, especially if they're juveniles, but here's an Anna's female, probably a "juvie" -- 

I thought this one was a Costa's due to the white-tipped tail feathers, but an expert birder here in the Chiricahuas said it's a Black-chinned young male -- 

IDing hummingbirds is like IDing Empid flycatchers -- a challenge. But the more photos I take, along with observing them, I should acquire more accuracy. And since the Chiricahuas are one of the hummingbird capitals of the world, with about 14 species you can possibly see here -- well, this will be FUN. 

The morning began with fluffy white clouds --

By the way, I always thought this was Portal Peak, a well-known landmark here. But it turns out it's not -- in fact, my friend and neighbor, Helen Snyder, said its unofficial name is "Fake Portal Peak" -- and the REAL Portal Peak is that peak in shadow on the left. And this one doesn't have an official name, which is kinda strange as it's so "prominent". But as the day went on, the clouds over the Chiricahuas grew darker and more ominous -- then it rained for little less than an hour, a good hard rain with occasional rumblings of thunder -- 

This is looking towards Cave Creek Canyon. After the rain, the sun peeked through and highlighted the huges storm clouds --

And the sunset was another spectacular one, truly "fire in the sky" --

I wasn't much into weather when I was living in San Pedro, as -- well, there wasn't much weather, mostly either foggy or blue skies. Here there's WEATHER, and it's great for the photographer. Today the 22nd there will be a trip to the other side of the Chiricahuas to meet with other Cochise County photographers.

August 20 -- A Bike Ride, Dinner at the Rodeo Tavern -- And Oh Yeah, It's My Birthday

Really, I stopped "celebrating" my birthday long ago. But I decided to be different this year -- a new home town, new friends who haven't any pre-conceived notions of you, etc. So I decided to start afresh, giving people the impression that I'm a calm, rational guy -- well, I am! (Most of the time.) But my way of celebration is to go on a bike ride, so I got out the Diamondback hybrid bike (27 speeds, 700c tires good for both dirt and paved roads). took a spin down the paved part of Foothills Road where I ran into Noel Snyder on his mountain bike and chatted with him for about 15 minutes -- then took a classic view of the broad portal (hence the name of the town) of Cave Creek Canyon, with a lush foreground from the wet monsoon season --

It truly is one of the most spectacular views in all of the southwest -- and I never tire of looking at it. After Foothills I biked up Portal Road, then the East Portal-Paradise Road which seemingly goes straight into Cave Creek Canyon. Along the way, South Fork Creek was having a good flow --

And during this time, seeing the flowing creek and lush growth, I was marveling that this was my "back yard" only about 8 miles at most from my home at Faranuf, and that I could visit it any time I want. I rode all the way to Sunny Flat Campground, took a rest on top of one of the tables, then headed back, passing a Coues deer on the side of the road. Once I got back home, I put hamburger on my indoor gill for lunch -- it turned out good!  -- and spent the rest of the afternoon watching the parade of wildlife in my back yard. There are at least 3 Cactus Wrens frequenting it --

And I saw a Thrasher for the first time, a Curve-billed -- 

Later in the afternoon, I saw a deer about 100 yard away, in the underbrush; it was glancing back at me --

His antlers still have their covering of velvet. The weather was becoming cloudy, and the wind was picking up. Then off to east I saw sheet of gray that almost looked like the beginnings of a tornado -- and there was lightning inside it -- 

Believe me, the weather here is not for fair-weather weenies...The cloud dissipated, but it provided an awesome display of Mother Nature. To end my birthday day, I had dinner at the Rodeo Tavern (8 miles away in New Mexico, so the time is 1 hour ahead) with Roger McKasson, an artist and writer who has a gallery in Rodeo and used to be a park ranger for, among other places, the Providence Mountains and Mitchell Caverns in California's Mojave Desert. As with most everyone here, he became an instant friend...Today the forecast is for scattered thunderstorms, so I plan to stick around the house, perhaps give that Stihl "weed whacker" another go... 

August 19 -- Wasps, and a Gray Fox Visits Faranuf

I tell ya, this rural living is for the birds -- and I mean that in a good sense of the term. But before that -- wasps. A friend of mine has the correct attitude of "live and let live" and after all, all the critters that we come across here, whether they be snakes, lizards, scorpions, mountain lions, etc. etc. have all been here before us -- and will probably be here after we are gone. And wasps are to be included in that consideration, too; if you leave them alone, they'll leave you alone. But if you "bump" into one, then the just might sting -- repeatedly, for unlike bees they don't lose their stinger once used. One thing you have to put up with down here is having wasp nests under the eaves of the house, or tucked away on the front porch ceiling. Now, if they were tucked away in areas that doesn't see high traffic, then I wouldn't mind. But come on, THE FRONT PORCH. Where the front door is. And there were TWO nests there. Well, you just can't move a nest, so the only alternative is to get wasp spray and exterminate 'em. Commercial sprays can shoot a stream up to 27 feet, which is good because they don't like being sprayed  by a poison -- would you? The trick is to get them before they can attack you. Sort of like the "first strike" belief during the Cold War; knock out the Russians before they knock you out. So at about 3am (I have insomnia, or to put it more truthfully, I sleep only about 3 hours a night, and can't get back to sleep) I put on long pants, long shirt,  and goggles, and stealthily went out on the porch, and shined a flashlight on the first nest. Wasps are sluggish at night, which is why it't the best time to plan your attack. There wasn't much activity, and hopefully the wasps were at  "home", so I stood back about 15 feet, took aim -- and got the nest on the first try. You SOAK it, and it worked. Here's the nest afterwards, sans wasps --

And here's a closeup of a wasp, which was still moving about 2 hours later -- not a good feeling when your nose is about a foot away from it --

It's about as alien-looking as one can imagine. A few minutes after getting the first nest, I sprayed the second -- but neglected to take into account the breeze, which was blowing in my direction. So I felt some spray get on me; lucky that I had the goggles and was mostly covered by the clothes!  Now, if I were to come across a wasp nest while, say, hiking, I'd leave it alone as it wouldn't bother me. But ON the exterior of my house, that's a no-no. After the wasps have been exterminated, you knock down the nest with a stick -- and wait for the next one to pop up, as surely it will given time. 

OK, enough of the creepy crawlies. Wednesday and Saturday are the trash days in the Portal area. The trash truck parks in an open area across the street from me, and people can drop off trash bags at $2 at bag, and boxes, paint cans, and anything short of a nuclear bomb . Even old mattress pads, which Helen and I brought from an outside structure to a house that she just sold. The fellow operating the truck -- his name is Tom -- and I got into a discussion about colliding with deer, and an upcoming "improvement" on Interstate 10 east of Tucson that will limit our Costco runs for supplies; now we're more likely to make the runs to Douglas, at 55 miles away where there's a Wal-Mart and Food King. And just when I got a Costco Executive membership --- it figures!  After chatting with Tom I went to the Portal post office as I'd lost the paper with my mailbox combination. Luckily Debbie, the postmistriss' daughter who was working there that day, had seen it on the table after I'd left a few days before, and put it in my mail box. WHEW!  Then it was down to the Swap n' Shop, at the corner of Hwy 80 and Portal Road in New Mexico (Portal, Arizona is only abut 8 mles from the New Mexico border, and NM is one hour ahead, which can lead to quizzical expressions when you forget what time it is, and where) where I bought a few kitchen items. Then I went back to Faranuf, poured the gasoline/oil mixture into my Stihl weed whacker, pulled the starter cord -- and nothing happened. OK, one to something else, and I'll deal with it later...In late afternoon I went out to to back porch to do some bird-watching. I'm making a yard list, and the number of birds increases daily, with even some "families" making appearances -- 3 Cactus Wrens, 2 adult Black-throated Sparrows with a juvenile, a Say's Phoebe couple that perch on the front porch in the shade and hawk insects, Black-chinned hummingbirds that seem to have constant aerial battles over the hummingbird feeder, and 2 new birds for the back yard, a beautiful Blue Grosbeak and a Pyrrhuloxia; neither stayed around for long. Then, just after sunset, I noticed movement off to the right -- and darned if a Gray Fox didn't amble across the yard, clamber up a bird feeder tray, and chow down on bird seed!  

After snacking for a bit, it posed nicely for my 500mm lens -- 

And here's a portrait -- 

 Wow. In my own back yard. Who would've thought!  This is the time when my having the 500mm lens comes in handy -- I shoot from the back porch, and get quality photos as it's a prime lens. So -- what will tomorrow bring? Stay tuned...

August 18 -- The Faranuf Bird Buffet Has Guests...

But first, here's sunrise over the Peloncillos, the range in New Mexico to the east of the Chiricahuas --

I plan to go hiking there soon -- it's remote and little-visited, but I've heard that it has Indian ruins -- and the last jaguar seen in the US was spotted there in 1997; the fellow who saw it even got a good photo of it. You get the feeling that you can see pretty much ANYthing here...I've set up some of the backyard bird feeders, but I need more shade trees; it starts getting sunny and hot there by about 11am. It appears that I have a resident Black-throated Sparrow -- and a juvenile; I'm assuming the BTS is a female as "she" was feeding the juvie. Here's the missus -- 

And the young one -- 

I certainly hope they stay -- and they will so long as I supply them with bird seed.. There's also a Canyon Towhee with a juvenile, and a Say's Phoebe who goes to the front yard's porch in the evening, perching on a railing -- could be to get out of the wind, which can blow in the afternoon, especially in the back yard. But there were some "new" visitors to the buffet, including this Lark Sparrow, nicely fluffed-up -- 

And a Chipping Sparrow -- 

There have been about 5 hummingbirds at the feeder -- and they're quite territorial, chasing each other all over the place if one gets too close to the feeder. I try to keep it in shade on the back porch as the nectar solution I make (1 part sugar to 4 parts water) can spoil in the heat. I think most of the hummers I've seen so far have been for the most part Broad-tailed; here's a "bad" photo of one, but good enough for ID purposes -- 

And here's a view from the back porch, showing my Canon 7D MK II and 500 f/4 + 1.4x TC lens on a tripod, and the yard with its feeders, and the background of Cave Creek Canyon --

I have yet to see a rattlesnake -- or any snake -- on my property (I have 4 acres, but most of it is overgrown with grasses both native and invasive and mesquite) -- but there's always the chance that I'll come upon one when I least expect it. For instance, I opened the well house for the first time; I couldn't find the key to the padlock, so I was hesitant about going inside, thinking there was a possibililty of a snake being in there, making itself at home. After finally finding the right key, I opened the well house -- and no snakes or other creepy crawlies were inside. Inside is the well pump, water softener, and supplies on shelves, so I'll have to learn how to maintain things as, for instance, the water softener system is serviced by a company in Tucson -- about 179 miles away, one-way. You really have to become self-sufficient out here as there are times when no one is available to help you. I borrowed a long ladder from my neighbor Helen, my personal guru, friend, real estate agent and wildlife biologist, to get access to the roof; there are nails that are pulled-up on the back porch, and a missing shingle on Faranuf's roof (it's composite; the best type of roofing material for this area is metal, because of the periodic high winds). But by the time I got the chance to get up on the roof, it was early afternoon and too hot, so I got out the generator (a Yamaha 2000-watt) and fired it up, which hadn't been done since the beginning of this year. It was stubborn, but I eventually got it going. I was thinking of attaching it to the house in case the power went out, which it does on occasion  here -- but Helen said I don't need one as the power isn't out that long, and the only appliance I'd have to worry about would be the full-sized freezer. But I moved most of the frozen food into the refrigerator's freezer, thus cutting back a bit on the electricity bill (Faranuf is all-electric). As you can tell, you REALLY have to be on your toes to maintain both house and property, and it's just me...Helen also suppled me with a pack rat trap; there's a possible rat "abode" in a pile of wood and rocks not too far from the house. And speaking of irritating critters -- there are wasp nests in the eaves. I knock them down after sunset, when the wasps are at their most lethargic and thus less likely to attack, but Helen and I noticed BIG nests right on the front porch. So, as my continuing insomnia means I'm up by around 1AM, getting only about 3 hours of sleep, I went outside, armed with wasp spray that shoots out a steam about 27 feet, and soaked the nests. But the prevailing breeze was blowing in my direction, so I got a bit of the spray on me. Luckily I was wearing goggles, a long-sleeved shirt, and long pants, so I just threw them in the washer after. I'll check the nests when it starts getting light this morning. All in all, it was another productive day, and it ended with another cloud display, not as spectacular as the night before, but impressive to this former LaLaLander, where there is NO weather -- 

This is looking northeast, with the Peloncillos in the distance. Today is another day of errands, and bird watching at the Faranuf Buffet..

August 17 -- What a day and evening at Portal and Faranuf!

And I've only been here 5 days...Things started off with a bang with a beautiful sunrise bathing the peaks of Cave Creek Canyon with a golden glow --

Then birds starting coming to my backyard feeders; word must've gone around that the Faranuf buffet is back in business.  I'm starting a Yard List -- so far I have Black-chinned Hummingbird (and there were at least 3 others which I couldn't ID), Canyon Towhee including a begging juvenile, House Finch, 2 Say's Phoebes, and 2 Black-throated Sparrows, one of which I photographed in the front yard with the 500 f/4 lens --

Then I went to the Portal post office, a small building that, inside, reminds me of the post offices of, say, the 1920s. I'll have to take a photo and post it. I've been thinking of having a mailbox installed facing the main Portal road because all my mail is still being forwarded to the RV mail service in Florida -- and there was seemingly no way I could get out of it until the contract runs out on January 16, 2016. Well, I THOUGH I couldn't get out of it -- but Debbie, daughter of Postmistriss Joan, who works at the Portal PO at couple days a week (and is also the owner of the Rodeo Tavern, one of only 3 places to eat within, say, 30 miles of Portal) called the main post office in San Simon, put a gal on the line, and after I explained the situation, said "OK, it's done, now you can get all of your mail at your Portal post office box, and it won't be forwarded." Sort of like waving a magic wand and -- POOF! -- it's fixed. Simple as that; it's amazing what you can get done around here armed with just a smile and winning personality :o). So I no longer have to worry about buying a mailbox and sort through all the rules and regulations that accompany installing one. And then my binoculars, which I've had for over 8 years, gave up the ghost when the center wheel which focuses the left-hand eyepiece stopped focusing, no matter how much I rolled it. They were Kahles bins, made in Austria -- I kidded people by saying they were the ones Rommel used in the Afrika Korps -- and I've had issues with the company when they reneged on a lifetime guarantee and tried charging me for having to send them in as one of the binocular clips that hold the carrying strap to the bins broke off; they said I did it, and eventually still charged me half of the original quote and made it sound like they gave me a great deal. I told them I'd NEVER recommend them ever again...But all's well etc etc and I ended up going on Amazon and ordering the Nikon Monarch 7 8 x 42s, which reviews said hands-down were the best birding binoculars under $500 -- and had the characteristics of bins twice their price. As it was another hot day outside -- 90-plus degrees with a warm wind -- I stayed pretty much inside Faranuf, practicing my guitar and getting chores done. Then around 5pm a Javelina family visited my yard, along with a tiny baby; here's one of the adults -- 

The adult Javelinas are very protective of their young -- NEVER get between the adults and their kids -- and apparently stink to high heaven. But I don't plan on ever getting that close to them...Then I was treated to an awesome sunset -- the beginning --

The color just continued to get more intense over the Chiricahuas; that's Portal Peak in the center --

I literally stood there with my mouth open (which can be dangerous as bugs could fly in); I have never seen such intense color. And it culminated in --

About 15 minutes after this, the lightning started to the north of me -- jagged displays about every 10 seconds, with flashes of light in the clouds; it reminded me of the "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" Mother Ship appearing. And then the rain started...It was the perfect end to a day of wildlife, the palette of  Mother Nature, followed by a display of her power, I think I'm going to like life here...

August 14-16 -- I Arrive At Faranuf

After spending 2 days with my sister-in-law and her daughter in Tucson, it was time to begin the last leg of my journey to "Faranuf", my house in Portal, AZ.  My truck (Tundra Dos) was filled to near-bursting with perishable food from Costco (put into a large cooler), and items for living in a somewhat isolated area. As I made the turnoff from the I-10 onto Hwy 80 in New Mexico (the only paved way to Portal is to go into NM, then back into AZ) I went through Granite Gap -- and there were the Chiricahuas, with Cave Creek Canyon seemingly at the end of the highway --

After taking this photo (not much traffic here, so I was able to stand in the middle of the road), I turned the other way and took a pic looking towards Granite Gap -- 

I felt like I was coming home, and all the effort, and setbacks,over the past year -- getting an Arizona driver's license, buying a manufactured home, having a deer cross in front of Tundra Uno and totaling the truck, actually "pulling the plug" and making an offer on the house, getting a housing inspection, renting Faranuf from February to June -- faded as I now was actually HERE, and would be living in what would forever be known as "Faranuf". I unloaded Tundra Dos that very first day, then had dinner with fellow "Portalites" at the Portal Lodge, Store and Cafe -- the only "game" in Portal. We had dinner outside, and as trite as it may sound, I really felt that I belonged here. I know the challenges will be many, living in a rural area where most of what city dwellers take for granted are miles away -- but that night I was living for the moment...Much to my surprise, the DSL internet connection at Faranuf was just as fast as my cable Internet back in San Pedro, and I finally had a landline after about 2 years of living with just a cell phone. I suppose you could say that, though I travelled and lived in Discovery, my Lance travel trailer, for nearly 2 years, I craved living within 4 permanent walls, and now I can use Faranuf as a home base and take forays in Discovery II (I traded-in Discovery I so I could get Discovery II, with its upgrades and solar panels for boondocking). The weather ever since Tucson has been hot -- 107 in the city, and now in the 90s at Portal, with a warm wind. I knocked down a few wasp nests in Faranuf's eaves, but my friend and Portal "font of knowledge", Helen Snyder, said there's a wasp nest in the utility box outside, and the way to get rid of them (temporarily) was to put a trash bag over the box so they can't get out, then hit 'em with wasp spray, which comes out in a 20-foot stream (you don't want to be too close to those suckers). I haven't done it yet...I set up a few bird feeders in the back yard where the original owners had put up feeder hangers, but the word hasn't been spread in the bird world yet -- 

Meanwhile, the "monsoonal" clouds over the Chiricahuas were mighty impressive -- 

Yesterday the 16th I took my Diamondback hybrid bike (good for both paved and dirt roads) to get my mail from the tiny Portal post office, then continued up Cave Creek Road, winding among the shade and sycamores, until I came to Sunny Flat Campground. The campground is closed due to flood damage, and possible future floods, during the monsoon season, but I got in and took photos of my bike set in the mountain desert landscape -- 

Flying among these rocky ramparts I could see Swainson's Hawks and Turkey Vultures, and the lush growth provided a contrast to the rocky, barren mountains above -- 

Earlier in my cycling trip I'd stop to take a photo of the classic view looking up Cave Creek Canyon, with a Century plant smack in the middle --

I came home about 9:30 as it was starting to get hot. I worked on my Stihl string trimmer, mixing the fuel and oil in a 50 to 1 ratio (gleaned from a You Tube video, You Tube has a video for EVERYthing) then took a long-overdue, refreshing nap in the afternoon as I was going to have dinner at a new friend's house. About an hour before leaving Faranuf, I looked to the east -- and saw what looked to be a HUGE cloud of dust coming towards Portal, and it had brief flashes of lightning. It was very dramatic -- then it was upon Faranuf, and the wind picked up. But it was over in a flash...The evening ended with another dinner with good friends and fellow "Portalites" where we discussed everything from Short-tailed Hawks to desert gardening, and at 9PM, after salmon, 3-bean salad and steaks, we all went home. So now it's the 17th, and another day of adventure begins...

August 13 -- In Tucson and Supplies for Rural Living

I'm staying with my sister-in-law Barbara and her daughter Rachel in Rachel's small apartment here in Tucson; my brother Richard is back in Sierra Vista, where he's a civilian lawyer working on the Fort Huachua army base. My main reason for stopping at Tucson, on the way "home" to Portal (172 miles, or about 3 hours' drive from Tucson) was to spend time with them, and stock up on groceries and refrigerated items to bring to "Faranuf". The temperature has been HOT here -- it's only gotten down to about 85 degress at best at night, and averaging about 105-plus during the day. Thunderheads are a common sight; here's one I captured with my Canon 7D landscape lens while coming into Tucson on Wednesday --

It's been a pretty wet monsoon season both, here and in Portal. A friend and neighbor in Portal said the landscape is incredibly green - and she's been living there since 2002. On the way to Tucson Wednesday, the scenery along Northshore Road, along the north shore of Lake Mead, was spectacular with clouds and color -- 

So...yesterday the 13th was spent mostly at Costco, where Barbara and I went on a "shopping spree". I bought a lot of bulk groceries -- mayo, mustard, salad dressing/marinade, Ghirardelli double chocolate brownie mix (well, we all have our guilty pleasures), chicken breasts and thighs, prime quality small steaks, pork medallions for my indoor grill... the list goes on. So we end up at the checkout counter and give them my Costco card, and the checkout girl said my membership number has been changed, and I can "go right around the corner" at the entrance to get a new one; meanwhile, she plugs the new number in. So Barbara and I take out VERY loaded carts to membership services, and the guy at the desk gives me a new card. But....WAIT a minute...I'm NOT an "Executive Member" - and my name isn't spelled "Stephan". So I show them -- and they're puzzled. Don't I live on -- and said an address I've never heard of. "Isn't your telephone number..." and say a phone number that isn't mine. Long story short -- but someone else has been paying for my membership all these years, and my membership was combined with his. After about 20 minutes, we finally get things straightened out, and I decide to upgrade to "Executive Member" as I get money back -- and I'm able to apply that day's transaction to my new card. All's well that...yadda yadda yadda. Once we get back to the apartment, Barbara stuffs all my refrigerated items into her fridge, and I'll be getting block ice for the cooler tomorrow for the trip to Faranuf. There are still a few items I need to get today, probably at Home Depot -- wasp spray (my friend Helen says there's a particularly "pissy" wasp nest in my outside utility box) and a gas can for gas for my weed whacker. Tonight it will be dinner with good friends at a local restaurant (well, the ONLY local restaurant), a I brought a few bottles of Malbec wine for the occasion. I'll probably be spending the next few days unloading stuff from Tundra Dos (my name for the 2nd Tundra) -- and hopefully not encountering any rattlesnakes...