My Last Hurrah! (For awhile atleast)

 2245 days ago I moved into the Turtle, and within the next couple of months I will be moving out. After many months of pondering, and thousand of hours of research. I've decided to hang up my nomad ways for a few years. To give homesteading a shot.

 Ultimate goal is too build a little off the grid cabin, that cost close to nothing to live in. Electric by solar. Water by catchment. Heat by wood. Eventually throw a few chickens, and a garden in the mix to cut down on the food bill a we bit. Would be nice to be completely self sufficient, but taco, and beer seeds are hard to come by.

I shall continue to post here with updates. Most of the techniques that are going to be used to build cabin will be useful for nomads as well.

My gypsy gene is sure to resurface again. When it does I will have myself a great little mountain retreat. Heres a few pics of my stay up in Madera Canyon before I left Tucson...

 Sorry for my Darth Vader like breathing but its one hell of hike

 

Kent spring the goal for the hike, not the most rewarding but the hike was good!

Ginger enjoying her time up one the Mesa. Rabbit patrol last from dawn to dusk.

Thanks for visiting! Good Day!

Vegging

Creative Cacti

 That title sums up my life for the last 3 months, and its been a good thing. Enjoyed a solid 3 months on The Mesa until a early November snowstorm made the decision for me to take the 4000 foot plunge down the mountain to more reasonable weather.

Drying clothes Mesa style

A brief week stay at Roosevelt to catch up with some old friends then back to Tucson to be with the family for the holidays.

Interesting rig

Then the inevitable. 3 outta 6 years Ive been nomadic The Turtles broken down right as I pulled into the folks house. Never like a breakdown, but if its gonna happen its a fine spot. Turned out to be a $150 repair so in the grand scheme of things not to shabby.

Ginger dreaming of days up in the forest.

Thanks to those who emailed in concerns for my well being. Ill try to keep yah up to date a bit more frequently. Thanks for stopping by,, Good Day!

Cinder City

Still hanging out on the Mesa.Temps been hanging out in the upper 70's, so I'll probably be staying put for awhile yet. Done pulling all those pesky weeds. Took a bunch of pictures, but wasn't doing the property any justice. Decide to do  a video of a walk around instead. Here's what a few thousand smackers will get you in northern AZ.

And if youve been living under a rock we have rare Supermoon solar eclipse Sunday night.

Thanks for visiting! Good Day!

Weeds

 Was getting kinda chilly up at 9500ft, so decided to head back to the Mesa. Only to find my lofty mountain property had been completely overtaken by weeds! No Hoa's or pesky neighbors to tell me to get rid of them, but they are here, and driving me a little bit crazy. Plus it gives me something to do.

So for the past three weeks Gingers been chasing rabbits, and I been pulling, spraying, and burning away. After 26 gallons of spray, and 9 tanks of propane think its safe to say in the next week I should have won the war on weeds. Here's a few more pic's....

 Neighbor's stopped by for a visit.

 Fresh roasted Hatch Green Chile's. During August and early September the southwest mainly New mexico harvest over 150 million pounds of them. Bought mine from a lady roasting them on the side of the road. 

 Pain in the butt to peal and de-seed, but well worth the effort.

 Ginger hoping she gets a bite of Green Chile Cheeseburger.

 Black caterpillar invasion. They've been literally everywhere! That was the box my propane torch came in. All those guys crawled in it overnight. Few even managed to crawl into the Busch Light as well, which was a little shocking going to grab a wobbly pop, and grabbing something furry instead. 

Thumbs up cloud. Thanks for visiting!

Good Day!

Ice Cave Hike

On a recent visit to the Reservoir. I lay awake listening to some teenagers talking about a magnificent Ice Cave they had discovered out in the forest. Figured the next morning I'd  take a hike out into the woods in search of this great cave. After about a 4 hour hike going cross country was time to throw in the towel, and decided to head back to camp.

Upon returning to camp I did some googling, and it turns out its a very popular hike in the area, which has some how eluded me for many years. Heres a few pic of the hike.....

Ahh yes and there it is turns out to be a short 2 mile hike from the reservoir. Climbed down into the cave a little ways. It was kinda cold and creepy. Next time ill be sure to pack a working flashlight.

Gingy hunting rabbits from her picnic table perch

Thanks for visiting! Good Day!

The Forest Hermit

 The title pretty much sums up my life so far this summer. Found a great spot 9400ft, good internet, weathers been in the upper 60's, and almost no hassles from anyone. So figured why not stay a couple weeks, which turned into more like 7!

 Daily hikes have been about the most exciting part of my stay, and even those have been pretty uneventful for me at least. Ginger stirs up tons of critters. Sure beats a early morning commute! Heres a few more pics.........

 Stay got cut a few days short. When a family decided to have there reunion right in my camp. Ended up being about 10 motorhomes, tents etc...so decided to move on. Family was enroute so figured id find a spot with some facilities.

Thanks for visiting! Good Day!

10000ft

 More like 9500ft, but 10000 just sounds better. Off for a long Independence day hike! Here's a few more pics of my home for the last few weeks......

 Smoke rollinf in from a fire down near Globe.

 Seen a few Elk, Deer, Turkeys, and plenty of cows

Log Dog

Happy 4th of July Everyone!