Blog 393: Ready to Rumble
A big hobby in many parts of the Southwest US is off-roading via side-by-side (SXS) vehicles.
These rugged, four-wheeled beasts are designed to navigate the sand, rocks, water, mud, dust, and other perils of the desert with speed, agility, and a modicum of comfort. Bumps on the butt, dust in the eyes, and grit in the mouth are all badges of honor for these hardy explorers.
Our Ajo RV park has a number of SXSs, and their owners have been kind enough to take me along as a passenger on several trips, and one time allowed me to drive—what a hoot!
Painted Rock Petroglyph Site
On one occasion, a small group of us went to explore Painted Rock Petroglyph Site, a 65-mile trip mainly north and a little east of Ajo. The latest site inventory was close to 4,000 petroglyphs on 428 boulders. Some are close to the entrance parking lot, but to see most of them required traveling across rough terrain. A very worthwhile visit.
Here are a few photos taken from other SXS adventures.
Ready to Rumble
One day after a rain, a group decided to take a ride. Everyone was positive about the trip because the earlier rain would mean a pretty-much dust free ride. When someone asked a member of our group if the rain would mean there would be lots of standing water, he assured him with strong conviction that our trip would be puddle-free. But when the trip was over, the group had driven through at least 90 bodies of water, from small puddles to deep pools with currents.
I asked Randy, one of two dare devils in the group (Bob is the other one), if I could shoot him in action, and he agreed.
Makes your pulse pump just to watch!
Hummers
Once again, here are a few hummer shots taken from our backyard.
More tales from Arizona to come.
These rugged, four-wheeled beasts are designed to navigate the sand, rocks, water, mud, dust, and other perils of the desert with speed, agility, and a modicum of comfort. Bumps on the butt, dust in the eyes, and grit in the mouth are all badges of honor for these hardy explorers.
Our Ajo RV park has a number of SXSs, and their owners have been kind enough to take me along as a passenger on several trips, and one time allowed me to drive—what a hoot!
Painted Rock Petroglyph Site
On one occasion, a small group of us went to explore Painted Rock Petroglyph Site, a 65-mile trip mainly north and a little east of Ajo. The latest site inventory was close to 4,000 petroglyphs on 428 boulders. Some are close to the entrance parking lot, but to see most of them required traveling across rough terrain. A very worthwhile visit.
Here are a few photos taken from other SXS adventures.
Ready to Rumble
One day after a rain, a group decided to take a ride. Everyone was positive about the trip because the earlier rain would mean a pretty-much dust free ride. When someone asked a member of our group if the rain would mean there would be lots of standing water, he assured him with strong conviction that our trip would be puddle-free. But when the trip was over, the group had driven through at least 90 bodies of water, from small puddles to deep pools with currents.
I asked Randy, one of two dare devils in the group (Bob is the other one), if I could shoot him in action, and he agreed.
Makes your pulse pump just to watch!
Hummers
Once again, here are a few hummer shots taken from our backyard.
More tales from Arizona to come.