We are Here Still!

North Ranch, Congress, AZ        Currently 71 degrees, high today 89  (Yep!) Low 58

Roving Riders have been very active since our last post, and we will bring all of our readers (perhaps all 3....?!) up to date. We will cover our hikes in the desert BS (BS--Before Snakes!), buggy rides, yearly maintenance (us and our motor home!), and a preview of the spring and summer to come.

This posting will share our desert strolls. We found a map of Desert Strolls posted on the North Ranch Electronic Bulletin Board so we set out to explore these trails.

Along the Fence Line--down across the wash....

February 3, we hiked the "orange" line, past the Lone Saguaro on the Martinez Ridge Trail, then east

Suicide Hill....

on the Fence Line Trail up Suicide Hill. At that time of the year we could NOT walk up that hill, even Rupert with "four-wheel drive!" We walked along beside the hill, then headed south on Russ's Ridge, then west at Big Barb's Junction on Jim's Jaunt Trail back to the trail leading to the Back Gate. Total distance was 4.26 miles.

Along Russ's Ridge

Water Break! 

"Four Corners"--- just out from the back gate of North Ranch

Finally, back to the Buggy! 

On the 14th of February we went due east on Jim's Jaunt Trail meeting up with the Russ's Ridge Trail. We continued south on Liz's Loop where we met up with the road we have traveled many times going to the Crested Saguaro near what is called Martinez Tank. We continued west through Irrigation Basin, up Assay Road, then north west back to the back gate. This hike was just over 5 miles.

By the first of March, temperatures were warming up and already a rattlesnake had been found near the back gate. We again ventured out, this time departing earlier, and were ever watchful for snakes....as we had been on the two previous hikes. On this hike, we reversed our direction of the first hike. We had had rain--quite a lot through mid February into March, so walking down Suicide Hill was not a problem!

We had plenty of water, and Rupert especially enjoyed the times we stopped for drinks, especially the last hike, as it was much warmer!

Because of the heat on the last hike, we took a short cut up to Martinez Ridge Trail through the shade of trees instead of walking up the Fence Line Trail. We all appreciated the shade!

We have enjoyed the desert! (You already knew that, didn't you?!) We saw green re-appearing, as spring approached.