2020-30 Year End Wrap up, Trip to Ajo Arizona

 

2020-30

A year End Wrap-up
Short trip to Ajo Arizona

I thought I’d send out a year end wrap up during this most unusual year of covid-19 and all the other stuff making for a difficult year for all.

Desert Trails Rv park, Tucson AZ

Having arrived in Tucson for a couple of months, mainly to sell my 5^th wheel camper and prepare to live in Zippy for the near future. After taking a couple of weeks to prepare the Open Range Roamer for sale, ie, removing most of my stuff and transferring what I needed into the Class C camper as well as stowing some stuff in the back of the truck, it was ready to go up for-sale online first.

Selling the Open Range Roamer, 6 years on the road...

I advertised it on the Desert Trails FB website and had it sold within a few days to a very nice couple in the park. Making for what I assumed would be an easy transfer. Oddly the couple purchasing the 5^th wheel never showed any enthusiasm about purchasing the camper. I had even kept the price much lower than I could have sold it for to the general public or on consignment locally. Oh well, hope they eventually will enjoy it as much as I have over the past 6 years. It was very pleasant to spend a good month and a half in it before selling it.

Ajo Arizona

So after the transfer of the 5^th wheel and settling into the Class C camper, it was time to take it out on a winter excursion to test out a few things and enjoy an outing along the way.

Things I learned:

heading out for a few days, I would leave most of the outdoor
stuff at my site in Desert Trails

• 
  living in Zippy full-time and around the Christmas time-frame, I wanted to find out how much effort it would take to get it ready to go out on the road. Extra stuff laying around and Christmas decorations being the biggest difference. It took only a little extra time to stow everything away and prepare to head out. A pleasant surprise.

• Driving to Ajo, about a two and a half hour drive was pleasant with no issues.

• Monitoring the propane use for furnace use in the evenings as the desert gets really cold at night. Used about a 1/3 of a tank of propane. Closing the slide at night provided a more compact area to keep warm overnight but not sure it saved much fuel.

• Solar panels (2) along with 2 lithium-ion batteries got well used. it’s the most power I’ve used so far. Consuming 50% of the 200 amp hours available per day. Of concern is that the solar panels during the winter months are not as efficient as the summer time. Only recharging the batteries to about 65% capacity. May need to tilt the solar panels while boondocking in winter months to capture more sunlight.

• Boondocked at Darby Wells Road (BLM land). The road wraps around the mine outside of Ajo Arizona. The main road is well maintained though washboard. Side roads for camping are a mix of good to just ok. I usually try to get a spot close to the main road. I went approx 1 ½ miles on Darby Wells rd before turning off one of the numerous side roads for camping.

• Locals in the area for the most part are wearing face coverings, though some don’t and I avoid any interaction if someone is not covered. Limiting my stay inside to a bare minimum.

Darby Wells Road, surrounding the old mine

Stopping off at the visitor center in Ajo’s super nice town square, with it’s magnificent palm trees and Spanish designed buildings provided some good brochures on the local area as well as some history. Brochures were outside as the visitor center was closed.

Main Plaza

Lots of O’Odham Native Indian members live in the area and along with the Spanish influence, artist colony and retirees who have moved into the area, the place has some great possibilities. One of the signs in the local area mention the 3 Nations Tribes.

Community Thrift shop, multiple vendors

I was able to see the original open pit mine, though the museum overlooking the mine was not open. Many of the larger homes in the area are painted a stark white as are the Adobe Churches. The town which is the only planned mining community town in Arizona was integrated yet separate. Though all were welcome into the central plaza.

large mansion on top of the hill, Ajo AZ

large open pit mine on edge of town

Lake Ajo

Mission style Church near mine pit

My plans for the near future are to hang around the Tucson area hopefully long enough to get the Covid vaccine once it’s available to the general public, then I’ll start my plans for the spring and summer travels. Hoping to get to the U.P. Michigan this year and then back into Florida next fall. With the possibility of heading to Washington State to visit dear friends. But only time will tell what happens.

Christmas Time in my Tiny home

Hoping for the best of New Years for all of us, staying safe until we all can get the Covid vaccine. Final note: Desert Trails has had two people confirmed of having Covid-19 and self quarantined for 10+ days and are doing well. Possibly a couple others have been exposed and are in self quarantine as well. With that, I will stop all get together s for myself with fellow Desert Trail neighbors. It’s getting way to close for comfort.

More photos:

Ajo Arizona, a short shake down cruise in Zippy

2020-30 Addendum

Two more “Things I learned”

• Since I had the built in dinette removed and replaced with a lounge chair and side table I wanted to find out how stable they would be for travel. The trip to Ajo did the trick along with the washboard road leading to the campsite. The loose furniture, tucked into the slide-out did not move even an inch. Good to know for long summer travels.

• What didn’t stay in place were items stored in the cab-over bed area. The soundbar for the TV came crashing down, fortunately on the passenger side so I didn’t get knocked out by falling debris. Guess I need to take more time securing those items overhead. Fortunately, most of the items are blankets and hats.

• Now the big big lesson I learned on this trip was about security and dogs in particular. While boondocking this summer, I would often go for a walk in the area I was camping, often passing by other Rv’s. Many with barking dogs. Fortunately they were all on leash or inside of the campers. While setting up at my site in Ajo along Darby Well Rd. I had met a guy how was camped near my new camping spot. Thinking nothing of it, I later walked past his older motorhome and as is often the case, his dog began barking. didn’t think anything of it until the dog came running up to me barking and trying to jump up on me. Having lots of friends with dogs who have jumping dogs, I still didn’t think much of the situation, figuring it was a friendly dog. It wasn’t, the owner after calling his dog a number of times came and held it back. This was just after the dog jump as high as my face and almost took a bite out of me. Ekk. The owner made no apologies except to say he had the dog for his protection. No concern over whether his dog could have or would have bitten me.

Lesson learned. Have some kind of pepper spray or deterrent to scare/chase off the dog. IE not dogs are friendly. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.