Playing on Water

When we put the boat away after out last river exploration we thought it would be for awhile since we are having trouble affording the fuel to run it. Today however, we decided to splurge in celebration of some news I hope to be able to spread next week if all goes well, by going out “one last time” on the river. The weather was begging us to cool off; the sun was brightly shining, and there was still much more to explore.

Because it was a Sunday, even though we got an early start this time, the river soon became very active. Part of the fun for us was lollygagging upstream shooting others having fun. Here: immerse yourself in it and imagine all that cool water and the thrill of speed!

Now to our own fun! Finally, the boat cooperated and we made it into the Picacho State Recreation area via water. The scenery is different in this section; more dramatic with steeper, peaked mountains reaching down to the river and forming marching lines into the horizon.

We found another marvelous slough to explore, turning slowly into what looked like a solid wall of reeds. Water depth was sufficient though at four to five feet. We passed an abandoned enterprise of some kind with a derelict, neglected dock and probably 20 overturned canoes. Had it been a business at one time? Why, way back here, where few come? Making our way stealthily and carefully farther along, with the reeds bending and slapping our boat we came to the choked down entry into Adobe Lake, filled with the ghosts of hundreds of dead tree snags. Was this an old orchard at one point? The boat goes nowhere now, entering would be far too dangerous; so we sit eating lunch while listening to myriad bird calls and bullfrogs croaking. A military helicopter passing over is the only disturbance to the total tranquility.

We’ve come far enough up river; time to turn back so we have some time to participate in our favorite river rite—sandbar sitting with a cold one in our hands. We find the perfect location all to ourselves and just mellow out and stay wet. It’s nearly the end of another perfect day out on the water. We hate for it to end.

Our last activity before blasting back down river is to follow some party boats into a very narrow entryway into a larger pond. As we near the torn and jagged ends of the elephant grass wall, sticking out menacingly like punji sticks--obviously hit numerous times by numerous others, we see why as we smash into them too; pushed there by the fierce river current. We check our rooftop canvas to make sure we sustained no damage and then note the mess of debris we’ve acquired. Oh well, we’ll be sure to blow that out! Hidden away on this small lake, tucked well back into an inlet with parking for only one boat is a perfect sand beach surrounded by rock walls. It would make a secretive camp spot; of course it is taken on this day (so I felt it too intrusive to snap a picture), but we’ll be back someday to hide away there ourselves.

We’ve immensely enjoyed our short time exploring the Colorado River; its call is very alluring. Given its length and numerous sloughs and backwaters, it never really feels crowded despite the crowds on weekends. Weekdays we have it virtually to ourselves. It is a wonderland worth exploration and we’re happy that we have the boat here now to do so. The natural beauty of the area is stunning and we would encourage everyone to take the opportunity for a visit if you are in the area. Boat rentals are available at Martinez Lake, including houseboats.

Arizona Summer Sunsets

We decide to 4 wheel drive up in the hills above our lot again, to catch another sunset. The best Arizona sunsets are always in winter or when there are some clouds available, but today we’ve had smoggy air due to the burning of trash that they do in Mexico, a scant 30 miles away. We figure with the haze we should at least have some vivid enhancement of color.

We pick another trail this time but it still has some rough steep spots before bringing us to a flattened area with a couple of fire pits people have built over the years. It’s very quiet; other than the wind, we hear nothing beyond our own muted voices as we wander around taking pictures. At some point it looks as though the BLM had information on a hike that starts from this area which appears to climb the mountain and then disappears. Some idiot decided that the sign would make a better target and has needlessly destroyed someone’s hard work. We do note that the hike might be worth doing in the cooler and snakeless weather of winter.

As the skies turn dusky and grey, the far mountains disappear into a hazy profile. Far away, Pichaco Peak will appear only on maximum zoom with my camera. We try photographing the bats flying low out of the mountains but never manage to catch them on camera as anything but an unrecognizable smudge in the sky, but they entertain us as we wait for sunset.

As a giant glowing ball gliding towards earth the sun seems to move in slow motion until it’s blinding light touches a piece of distant landscape, then the descent seems to hasten all at once, giving the impression that the sun is literally dropping from the sky. I snap picture after picture and post them here with no enhancements or changes to the original as the glowing orb made its final and last impression on this day that it will never see again.

Backwater Travel

Looking for all the world like we’ve entered a canal with no outlet we ease down the quietly moving water towards a wall of cattails. On what will be our last foray in the boat we’ve decided to skip the blast up the river in favor of quietly sipping fuel to explore the nooks and crannies that start immediately from the launch area of Squaw Lake into what is termed the “backwaters”.

It’s quiet, tranquil, serene. We end up lost half the day but know by heading north we’ll keep to the general direction we need to be. We backtrack some; run aground on sandbars (an anomaly here in the sloughs) and then later enter great and small lakes that we enjoy all to ourselves. We gaze down at many large fish along the way.

At lunch, finding one such lake, we tie up to an old snag. We get a little tangled so Marc jumps in after fashioning a not-so-ideal ladder. Since this section of water is deeper, it is a little cooler and takes his breath away momentarily. Back aboard, we lazily drift around the snag with the wind, this way and that as we gaze out on the colorful rock hills and landslides around us. We need this quietude desperately.

We continue our trek of discovery up-slough; a new sight waiting around every bend. We marvel we are just about the only ones here; we’ve seen a few jet-skiis and fishing boats on the larger lakes but no one else in the channels and canals. Once again, we also see a lot of bird life.

After our exploration of Lake Ferguson, which features good depths and boat-in campsites, we head down the main river to a sandbar and take cool refuge in the flowing river as it passes our chairs; taking our minds and thoughts free-flowing downstream with it. I guess it’s been a good last day on the river.