Nomadic Beginning's

Several weeks of sitting on "The Mesa" being surrounded by private property was starting to give me the willies. Decided it was time for a change of scenery. After pondering upon my current options, which needed to be within a reasonable distance of the vet, so that Candy could still be able to receive her shots. There was only one location that had beckoned to me.

The picture above surely doesn't appear to significant, but it carries much sentimental value. It is the very spot where my nomadic adventure begin over 3 years ago I had discovered this spot while turning around to go back to a pay campground that I'd passed, because I was still being very weary of the whole concept that a person could camp in the forest for free. Figured it was time to take a stab at it, and I was hooked!

Not only was this the spot I discovered that one could live rent free, it was also where I reached a major crossroads, when I knew the decision to live a simple life was the right one. Lets face it resigning from a job of 16 years, and getting rid of everything you own, to move into a van, and live in the forest. Will certainly make any fair minded being question there own judgement.

Freedom is what I found that day, and still find daily. No longer being tied to mortgage, or hefty car payment not to mention all the other bills associated with my previous lifestyle. Now. If money ever becomes a issue a simple part-time job will suffice, no more 50 hour weeks just to make ends meet. So if any of you readers are considering taking the plunge into a nomadic lifestyle I say go for it! I didn't do it tell m mid 30's, and regret not doing it sooner, but enough about my freedom speech. Here's a few more pics of the area.

 Current camp down the road from my sentimental camp, which could now be called rookie camp to close to the road, and not nearly enough solar!

 General pic of sites in the area

"Big Ears" Abert's squirrel  eating a mushroom a troublesome creature to photograph.

 Reminiscence of the mushroom that was thrown at me from the guy above. Needless to say he/she was a good shot and hit me square in the head.

 Even have commodes here 3 camps in the area have them. The area is Forest Lakes Az. Plenty of free camping Ill do a write up on the specific areas later.

 Mountain Meadow

Ponderosa pine

Candy always excited in the pines. The Adequan shots definitely help her overall mobility, but she still a bit slow getting up and down. Unless there is ham involved then there seems to be no pain whatsoever. Thanks for visiting. Good Day!

Staying Put

Exactly what Ill be doing for awhile. Candy's arthritis has been getting worse. Decided it was time to take some action, so for 8 weeks she will be receiving Adequan injections into her legs to hopefully ease the pain. through her golden years. In the past shes had a tree fall on her, 3 leg surgeries, been confronted by a Bobcat, and been bitten by Rattler, so a mere 8 injections will be a piece of cake.

Happy Labor Day! Labor Day weekend has always marked the end of summer, and this year for me as well. My summer exploring the mountains will come to an end. I will be staying on "The Mesa" (the name which I've giving to my property/homebase) until my descent into the valley this fall.

Candy 3 days after her Rattlesnake 2009 Craggy wash Lake Havasu City.

 Fellow Nomad, and friend visits the Mesa in his converted Snap on tool truck. Definitely a comfy apartment on wheels. Right down to the back patio. 

Of course these guys are still running amuck/amok on the Mesa. That should do it for now Ill report any excitement that happens out here, but to tell the truth there isn't much of that out here, which is a good thing. Thanks for visiting. Good Day!

Violated

 New private property sign across the driveway

The locals had warned me when I started looking land in the area telling me you at least need need to put up signs on your property, or otherwise the local riff raff will gladly welcome themselves to your belongings. I scoffed at such an idea.

Now that I have returned, the truth quickly settled in. Almost all the items I had left there were gone, so now I put plenty of private property, and no trespassing signs to ward off such types. I believe part of the problem out here is there's so much vacated property that people tend to think items were just left behind unless otherwise informed, they figure its up for grabs.

On a better note my brother, and nephew came up from Tucson for a visit, they helped  spread the rest of the remaining cinders, and removed some large rocks that were being troublesome. Heres a few more pics....

 Brothers Rig

 Cinders spread

 Time for weed killer

Pulling out the big rocks. 

Candy sleeping in front of her new 24 inch industrial fan. Still hotter then average here with temps in the upper 80's, so shes dreaming of 9000ft. Thanks for stopping by!

Free camping Big Lake AZ

 Big Lake, AZ.  Located just southwest of Greer above 9000 ft. This area offers a ton dispersed camping. Just pick a fire road, and you'll be sure to find some descent spots. Weather still remains in the upper 60's to low 70's, with the monsoons typically coming thru once a day on average.

Interesting facts about the area in 2010 three convicts escaped from the kingman prison went on a short killing spree across several states, and were captured in the campground just across the street from where I am camped now, they were brought to the authorities attention for having a unattended campfire. I recall the event very well, because they were dropped off at a truckstop in Flagstaff, by a semi driver who they had hijacked, and it was just down the road from where I was camped. Heres more on the story.

Also in the area in 1975 there was a alleged Alien Abduction, which later turned into a movie, and a book. Here's more on that story here. About the only aliens I have witnessed out here is the fella pictured above. Over the years I've camped around several herds of cattle, but ill have to say these guy/gals get 5 stars for being the most entertaining. Here's a few more pics......

 One of several large camps in the area.

Is it one of us? This is there morning ritual stand around, and moo at the Turtle.

Crazy Cowa! This one insist on running back, and forth all day making all sorts ruckus. 

 Trying to befriend the bovine.

A loud morning moo! thru the back window.

 Herd of deer that I spooked out of the meadow.

Candy in a stare down.

???

Thanks for visiting! Good Day!

Driveway's in!

Finally after 10 weeks of waiting, the Apache county court system has finally cleared the title on the land, so as of last Tuesday I am officially a landowner once again. Yep that mean gotta pay property taxes again, but $60 a year shouldn't put too much of a damper on things. However the purchase price of the land, and cost of the driveway will definitely cut into my gas travels for a bit.

The day after signing the papers I had the driveway delivered. Pic above is the Turtle's new perch. Located behind some 12 ft junipers about 160 ft back on the property. Will post more pics later. There is still alot of work to do. Had 25 yards delivered, and the driveway only took about 10, so I will be spreading it to create a large parking area, walkways, and a campfire area.

To bad all that work will be postponed until mid August, after 5 days. Candy once again decided the upper 80's were to hot, so we headed back up to 9500' for a few weeks. Although the land averages temps in the upper 40's at the coolest months, and upper 80's on the warmest months. Ill be frequenting it the most during the spring, and fall. Take Care, and Good Day!

Turkeys

Still enjoying the good life up at 9500ft. Daily highs have been a breezy 75 degrees. Moved on from my old locale, and into someplace a little bit more incognito. Would love to share, but cant be given away all my good spots ;). If you really must know feel free to shot me an email, and plan on bringing gifts. 

 Heres a few more pics......

 Turkeys in action

 Turtles new home

 Remains of the wallow fire that burned over 538000 acres. Biggest recorded fire in Arizona's history. Smoke reached Albuquerque NM over 200 miles away. 

Web pic of sunset and smoke in Albuquerque.

 Mouse in the house. Caught with a MiceCube mousetrap. First mouse in over 3 years.

 The good life. Sitting in the forest. Playing PS2. Drinking a cold one. All powered by the Sun!

Finally a good rain, and hail storm. Still not as much as we need, but its a start. Roads stay in pretty good shape up at these elevations , and you have lawns instead of mud pits.

Scene from Candy, and I morning hike. Thanks for visiting, and have a great day!

Chipmunks and Beer?

Got Food?

Still enjoying my stay at Greens Peak, but will be leaving in a few days. Due to the fact that Arizona Ranger stopped by to notify me of the 2 week stay policy. In my 4 years of being nomadic I have only ran into a true Ranger once.  Figured someone would be thru I am camped right below the station, thats my bad but those cell towers were just so tempting. Looks like ill be in search of a more incognito locale.

 Besides waking up to fresh pine scented air at 9400ft, the only excitement out here has been this lil woodland forest critter. He/She stops by daily, and has obviously been eating campers leftovers for sometime. Heres a few more pics........

 Hey! I'm hungry!

Then

later 

that 

on!

To my surprise. 

 Hmmmm Whats this?

 Delicious 

How do I get the rest out?  Hmmmm guess i'll go watch the human.

Ahhhhh thats how its done.

Thanks for stopping by! Good Day!