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Please click here for Part One
Deep into Kofa
Light was subdued when we woke the next morning. I wandered outside while the Lady completed her morning fussing in the camper.
Our morning wander took us across the wash and over to the mountain front receiving its first kiss of sunlight.
There was a high dry fall. We could not – because of the brush – reach its base. The Lady was convinced there was a stunning bedrock plunge pool. “I’ll look down into it!” she exclaimed and was off. I’ve said before that keeping track of her is a full-time job.
This was a moving day. We had at least 16 miles of 4x4 road ahead of us. But there were a few things within a couple of miles from this camp we wanted to check out before we started the truck's engine. First was the steep climb up to High Tank Number 6.
This tank used shaded natural catch basins and was not as developed. It was bone dry.
In the area was a possible shelter site we climbed up to. “The knack” insisted we investigate. It held treasure.
Rock art and deep bedrock mortars told of centuries of use at this site.
With a couple of short stops, the 16 miles took us 3.5 hours. The only vehicle we encountered was a Tacoma parked at Jasper Springs. We did not see the occupants but we did see a bighorn ewe. We continued on to Kofa Cabin
We spent time at the pleasant New Water Well.
There was water. Quail and other birds were abundant here.
It was now late afternoon, we were tired of being in the truck, we settled into a campsite. There were highpoints about so we had to go to the top of every one. The views were grand.
After dark a convoy of overloaders – five vehicles, thank god not twenty-two – drove into Kofa Cabin and set up camp about a half mile from us. Their bright lights were behind a screen of trees and we could not hear voices. It rained hard before dawn. Our windows were partly open. The scent of rain in the desert was intoxicating. The sun appeared for a moment below the clouds at sunrise.
The clouds quickly began to break apart. We had a nice day ahead.
The parade of 22 vehicles, the wind-up toys, and the convoy camped nearby – although quiet and well mannered – dampened our desire to further explore this area. We needed to go deeper on far less popular routes. We implemented an alternate plan. After wide graded dirt, two secondary roads, and several miles of primitive, we were settled in this marvelous spot.
There was a natural arch on the ridgeline above camp. She was off. This girl just wants to have fun.
I joined her.
The Lady glassed possible shelters high on a ridgeline to the south and she was off.
I marveled at the beautiful Ocotillo flowers.
Our climb took us to a wonderful highpoint. The truck is just left of center in the photo.
This was a very special afternoon. We were alone out here and free to explore as we wished. The Lady discovered she had – for some mysterious reason – two bars of cell service if she stood just right on this highpoint. We named this “Two Bar Hill.” Julie enjoys taking photos with her phone and sending them to close friends. If you received a text and a photo from Julie during our stay here, you have a climb to the top of “Two Bar Hill” to thank.
As I said, these off the beaten path spots in Kofa are incredible.
There was something of a storm front still passing through and we watched distant thunderstorms.
As we walked in the dark and also when we sat out in the night, we watched distant flashes of lightning to the north, east, and south. Coyotes broke out in song. What a great place.
Our adventure continues. Please click here Part Three.
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