Friday, March 6, 2015 (Midland LTVA, Blythe, CA)

Steve captured this picture of the moon going down as the sun was coming up this morning...very cool. It was a gorgeous day today...although a little breezy. After breakfast, Steve went out to off-load the quads from the truck while I did the dishes and cleaned up inside. He thought it would be nice to go for a little ride after lunch.

So with bottles of drinking water safely stowed away in my cargo box we headed off...it was shortly after 12:30 (oh, by the way, that is Arizona time...we decided to just leave our clocks alone since California will be going on daylight saving time Sunday morning...why screw around by switching for only a few days).

(Click to enlarge photos)

The recent rainfall has really brought out the blossoms on the desert plants. This is a Brittle Bush...

Yee Ha!

Lots of light coloured streaks in this mountain...

We came across the trail to the Big Maria Mountains Wilderness Area...27 miles, well, I don't think we'll go that far, but lets ride in for a little way....

Need some water first...

View in the opposite direction...

Looking north from the intersection...

A few miles in we came to a sign saying the trail was closed to all motorized vehicles along with bicycles and hang-gliders! Well fine...I guess we'll have to turn around!



But before we set off again, we took a few pictures...beautiful area! It would have been nice to ride in further...we couldn't imagine walking the 20 + miles...

There were lots of neat rock formations...

Not sure if all the white rock is quartz...

And we're off...

There are Prickly Pear Cactus in bloom everywhere...

Another Yee Ha moment!

The colour of the mountain formations is so beautiful...pictures don't do it justice...

Another Prickly Pear Cactus...

The old Calcium Carbonate Mine...white as snow!

Okay...this was the tricky part...trying to find the correct turnoff that will take us home along one of the many bluffs. This was the wrong way but was a very beautiful area. I'm the black dot in the distance...

Back to the main road...

We found the correct bluff. That's me heading down...

...then up the side of the far hill...

...then back down...

Almost home...

We arrived back home shortly after 4:30...that was a nice "little" ride...53km/32 miles! LOL! After putting everything away and getting cleaned up, we sat outside for a bit and then I texted Charlene to see if Dennis was up to company. She said "come on over!" So we took our bevies and went over for a visit. He's doing much better today...so good to see! Armand and Anne also popped by for a visit.

After a couple of hours chatting, we called it an evening and headed home. So glad Dennis is improving...he just has to remember not to overdo it!