109 Stable Home

Nov 28th Friday,  We were pretty excited about today.  We had been on the road for a week arrived
in Arizona and perhaps hours from a resting place.  We had placed the call to Craigslist Gary to check on lodging. The price seemed reasonable and he sounds on the up and up.   It is a fifth wheel trailer home at a stable in Wickenburg.  Checking the weather there it seems like we will like it.  He said he was going to be at a roping event giving us the address for both the event and the trailer location. 

Probably the last group leaving phoenix.

The happy couple in Arizona sunshine.

     Always a crapshoot about dealings on the internet we were anxious to check out Wickenburg and the trailer.  Leaving Flagstaff  traveling going south on #17 we knew we would be dropping several thousand feet on the way with hopefully a warming trend.  It wasn't long before we seen a sign warning us to check our brakes due to a 18 mile downgrade at 5% or greater, it seemed to warm up  a degree or two every 1000 feet of elevation.  The views from the road were spectacular.   Pictures just can not due the panoramic view justice.  Several times we commented we were happy we were headed the way we were as the north bound  side of the highway was very crowded.  After a while it became jammed with traffic crawling up the mountain.  We thought there must not be anyone left in Phoenix and very happy we did not have to find lodging in Flagstaff tonight.  We were feeling pretty good, there is something comforting about the sun warming your body, I think we are going to like Arizona, on our last two winter rides it had taken us weeks before we felt this warm.  At a scenic pull off  a couple from Palm Springs CA said to check it out and took our picture.  I should point out our (as Bandana's says) snazzy matching jackets.  We have to give credit to Ruthies sister Donna and Curt, our trike riding relatives for finding these on sale at Trimbles in Austin.  For some time we have wanted new jackets and I especially was looking for a mesh one to protect from the sun while allowing air to flow thru, in addition these had a zip out thermal and rain liner.  An added bonus if we are separated in a crowd "I know exactly who your looking for!"   Reaching the valley floor we cut west on #74 hoping we could catch Gary at the roping event.  Unfortunately we were down on gas and had already tapped into our reserve gas tank and not knowing how civilized an area we were headed for we decided we should fill with gas before heading up Wickenburg way.  It took us out of the way and a phone call from Gary told us he was finished at our intended meeting point and was going on to a friends for roping practice.   "go ahead to the trailer and I will meet you there later."  He mentioned he had set out a couple of lawn chairs for us, seemed friendly enough I thought.  When we arrived in Wickenburg we found we could have made it on gas, it is a town of approximately 3000 people, many more in the winter months.   We had already made a bad impression in Amarillo pulling in with dirt and grime from six states on our little rig.  Now with two more states added to it we didn't want to do that again.   As luck would have it we pulled into a gas station at the very center of town to inquiry about a hand operated car wash.  (Ruthie gets pretty cranky if I ask her to pull it through a automatic car wash.)  I just got off to inquire inside about the

Map and notes, must be planning a trip.

car wash when we met Jack, evidently the Wickenburg greeter.  He asked about the trike and camper, told us where to find the car wash, bragged about Wickenburg and how we were going to love it here.  While he was extorting the virtues of this wonderful oasis we were lucky enough to land in I noticed what looked like a homeless man sitting under a tree behind Jack, not wanting to make eye contact I diverted by eyes but in that instant it looked like some people were over by him.  None of my business, we will get back to this later but it seemed to contradict Jacks description of this little town.   Jack continued, he lived six months in Wickenburg and six months in his home in Michigan.  He asked what our plans were and how long we would be in town.   We told him we were heading to Wickenburg stables to check out a place to live.  "Well if you stay you should come to the Swiss steak feed my church is having on Dec 6th."  We told him it sounded interesting thinking it would be a way to meet more people and learn about the area.   Exchanging cards we promised to contact him if we stayed and wanted tickets.  What a promoter of Wickenburg, and all from a chance meeting, wonder if we will see him again?  

.   A quick trike wash and we headed west about two miles and turned right on Vulture mine road.  Within a mile we seen Wickenburg Stables on the right, a few acres of round pens, exercise arenas and spacious box stalls made with 5 to 6 feet high welded pipe enclosures.  The stalls had shade structures to give the animals shelter from the sun, there was some smaller buildings that I figured must be for tack, a house, two fifth wheel trailer homes and several horse trailers parked as if for storage.  On a raised area there was a fifth wheel that looked occupied and down by the exercise arena with two lawn chairs (as Gary promised) and a carpet pad set up in front was what we figured was the one we were supposed to look at.  It looked inviting enough, the door was open so we went in to take a look.  We were greeted with a roomy kitchen, dining and living room area ( who needs separating walls) a slide out kept the seating area out of the way.  Nice, we could live here while we checked out the area.  I think we sat in the chairs enjoying the sunshine for a few minutes rather but rather  than wait we moved our things in.  Even today I can't remember if Gary had told us to check it out or make ourselves to home.  Maybe we are squatters?  None the less my resume now states I come from a stable home!  Well now to get a good nights sleep, tomorrow we meet Gary. 



Ruthie, ready for company