Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge

After a fun-filled week in the desert just south of Ajo, Az, it was time to move on, and move on we did!

Why?  Yes.  We took the road down to Why, then headed east towards Tucson.  Unfortunately, the empty propane bottle had just been filled at the Shell in Ajo, where they see fit to charge $3.99/gallon for propane - do they think they're in California or something?  I guess they have the 'monopoly' thing figured out.  It was a pleasant surprise to find propane for $2.29 just down the road at Three Point (Robles Jct).

I also spotted a nice 100W solar panel at the 3 Nations Market on the way out of Ajo, and managed to pick it up for under $60, to add to my mixed bag of panels.

There were only a couple of spots occupied in the area of Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge where we usually camp, so it was easy to find a nice level, scenic, private spot well off the road.

There must be about 60 designated camp spots in the Refuge, but unlike a campground, they are spread out over miles and miles of primitive roads, so you can easily be as far as a mile from your neighbours, or just a few hundred yards. There are no services, of course, but they do provide a nice fire pit, and a numbered sign at the entrance!  And - the price is right!

 

I took advantage of trees in the area to put up my hammock, so I could relax once in a while!
 

No wild burros were seen, but there were lots of tracks around, and some droppings, right in my camp site. 

I haven't had complaints about the roads in the past - usually just some very minor washboard, but crews were hard at work making them even better.  They were in the process of hand-trimming and chipping all the brush along the roadside, and had graders, packers, and water trucks making the roads very smooth and nice.


Of course, that made the roads even more pleasant to bike on, so I spent quite a bit of time checking out various routes, and went down to the Refuge HQ one day via the back trails.  

I saw almost no Border Patrol action in the area, but there are always signs of past nefarious activities.  I have often found abandoned camo backpacks left in the bush, and I found these crude boot covers with carpet on the bottoms to help disguise tracks of the undocumented and illegal foot traffic.

My old camo Crocs have all the tread worn off, so I would fit right in!

As usual, there are a few night time four-legged visitors that come by at night to check things out.
 

 

I had my hummingbird feeder up the whole time we were there, but never saw any signs of them.

Don and Donna did stop by one day, as they were killing time in Tucson, waiting on some trailer repairs.

And, it wouldn't be a blog post - if I didn't post some night time photos taken with only moonlight, using the iPhone 14 pro - it's truly amazing!

And no blog post would be complete without mentioning the new star of the show, mr Bailey!

 

He's getting bigger by the day, and more of a personality.  He seems to be right at home (literally) with this mobile lifestyle.  He doesn't care where it's parked, it's still home.

Next - off to Las Cienegas National Conservation Area