Can you believe it? 2017!! Wasn’t it just Y2K we were all concerned about?
January 1
I wake up at 4am with a sense that it’s going to rain. Where the feeling came from, I’m not sure…dream, or intuition? I feel greatful for this ‘knowing’ because last evening I left my chair, both dog beds and all the new Christmas dog toys out in the open. I rush outside in the dark and collect everything and put it all in JR. I’m scooping up the last fluffy Christmas toy, when sure enough, the rain in upon us.
When we leave the campground shortly before 9, it’s still raining.
Im concerned about the 7.7 mile long dirt road that leads to Caballo Loco Ranch. I shoot off an email to the owner, Jim, and ask how the road is, due to the rain. At my first rest stop I see that he has answered. He says “The road is fine, come on in!”
That’s great news, but I’m also concerned about the roads I’ll be traveling on once I leave the freeway. I have a total of 40 or 50 off freeway miles, and on most of those roads there are washes running through them.
It rains on and off as I travel east on I-8 and then on I-10. Its no longer raining when I leave the freeway at exit 236 towards Mariana.
S. Sandario Rd is like a roller coaster with dip after dip for washes. Amazingly they are all empty! Hwy 86 is fine and at Three Points we take 286 until we reach the dirt road to the ranch.
View behind me from the dirt road to the ranch!
Finally we reach the ranch!
After 7.7 miles of bumpity-bump, but really no splish-splash ( except for mud), we reach the office…where no one is…but that’s what I expected. One of the residents here, Martha, takes me under her wing, (along with Tim, of Tim & Tisha who were my neighbors last time I was here), and help me find the perfect spot to set up camp. While I’m setting up Tim comes by on his ATV to hand out dog treats (he’s known for that) and offer a helping hand. He’s known for that too. A little later Tisha and neighbor Ruth come by to say a quick hello.
Ournew camp.
After lunch, Joy, Shiloh and I take a walk to see where we can pick up the Internet. I find it’s only usable near the library and the office, and there is no AT&T signal anywhere.
As we walk back home we see a Havalina meandering in the bush near the road. Shiloh is on instant alert. I hold tight to his leash and hurry on in the other direction.
Its cold today, in the low 40’s but the folks here assure me it will warm up soon. I see snow on nearby mountains.
This whole place is off grid, run by a gigantic generator. It runs from 9am until 9pm and for the other 12 hours you are on your own.
I’ll tell you lots more about CLR in future posts. Please continue to comment, though I may take awhile to respond due to internet limitations.
Do I like it here? No. I love love LOVE it here!
Sunset last evening!
PS….more pictures to come!
Wandering Spirit 
Micky, where is this place you love, love, love…I may want to find it one day. Is it a pay campground? Looks really good!
Oh…and Happy New Year!!!
Hi Pat, yes, coming off I-10 at exit 236 you need to Google directions. Once you get to Ajo Road which is 86, you go towards Three Points. That’s a little crossroads more or less, with a combo gas station, hardware and grocery. There you will get on 286 and drive 11 miles till you get to the dirt road on the left. It has various names, depending on where you look. Drive 7.7 miles down the road and you are there. Google Caballo Loco Ranch, and call ahead. You might have to leave a message and get a call back. Or email. I will tell you more about the place in the next post. It isn’t for everyone, but Pat, I have a feeling you would like it here.
Happy New Year.
I admit I had to look up what a havalina was. Doesn’t look snuggly. 🙂
Looks like a pretty camp. May I ask what the fees are? I’m either 5 or 7 months away from heading out – depends on if I plan to stay and toss a couple more months of pay towards my savings. It’s tempting!
Hi Lori. Yes, money or freedom. Both are necessary. I waited till I could get Medicare, so the first of the month after I turned 65. It wasn’t my official date for retirement, because I think that was somewhere in my 66th year, but it was…well, all I could handle…let me put it that way.
Fees here. There is hookups and boondocking. Hookups are $350 a month, plus tax and that includes your electricity, at least 12 hours a day, which is all you get here. 😀
By the day it’s $25.
Boondocking, I’m away from my site and don’t have the info. I think $15 a day and maybe $275 a month? Maybe $250. Maybe $225. I’ll check and include that info in my next blog. Way too hot here in the summer to be comfortable.
The 5 or 7 months are going to fly, either way! You are almost out the door! 😀
Looks wonderful! This is the place you were talking about in Quartzsite and the young man that came by your camp, right!? Glad you were able to go to your favorite place.
Hi Sharron, yes, you have a good memory! Gosh though, doesn’t it seem like that night was just….last week?
Feels just as good here this time, as it did last time.
Looks interesting. Combo boondock and campground. Looking forward to hearing more. Love the photos.
Lots more info in the next blog Dawn, and more photos. Sun is shinning now and the weather is just about perfect. ( perfect for someone who likes it on the slightly cooler side that is…which is me). I’m using the internet here now, and it’s slow. Will probably go somewhere where I can use my cellular to post a blog.
What a special place!! I can certainly understand why you love, love, love it!!
The sunset picture was beautiful!! Can’t wait to see more pictures from this area!!
Hi Gerri, they will be coming soon! Last I was here was almost 2 years ago. I blogged about it then too. Probably February of 2015. I was here for one week that time.
Sounds like a really neat place! We camped for a week once at a campground in Northern Maine…they too had a generator from 9 to 9….it was “South Arm c.g.” on Richardson Lake..at the end of the gravel road. No phone service, and pre-cell phone era…a very special place…the jumping off point for cottage owners to travel up lake to their places. The night sky was AMAZING! That ranch in AZ also looks like one of those truly special places….enjoy your stay!
Sharon that sounds wonderful! Nice to find these very special places. The night sky here is amazing too. In fact I’m looking at a big observatory one mountain range over, as I sit here. It’s called Kitt Peak. I’m going to go visit it one of these days.
Look amazing Micky Jane! Wish I were there with you!
Hi Deb, hey I wish you were too! You and I do laughing better than anyone I know! And I mean real good belly laughing! 😂😂😂
Hoping to get back east eventually….
Looks beautiful! Stay warm….
Hi Guy, it’s warm enough now, at 70 degrees and sunny skies. Looks like the cold snap has passed!