I left Organ Pipe National Monument early in the morning. As
I drove, I was still feeling the results of yesterday’s van trip. My MCS was
kicking me in the head, and the headache and brainfog and grouchiness were
really trying to do me in. I should have known better, and I do, but there are
times when it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity, or a really IMPORTANT
opportunity, when I toss caution to the wind and do what I know will have
consequences. Driving in a van with 9 other people, doused with fragrances most
of THEM can’t sense, wreaks havoc with my system. On the way out to
Quitobaquito, I had to sit next to a very nice man and his wife, whose scented
laundry detergent kicked started a reaction. Luckily, there was an hour hike in
the middle which gave me time to gulp fresh air and clear my head a bit. And on
the way home, I scored the front seat by saying I felt a little carsick. It was
just easier than trying to explain MCS. But by the time I got back to camp, I
knew I was in a bit of trouble. Even though I had moved into a space where
running generators was not allowed, from 4 to 6 pm, I had to shut myself up in
my van to escape the fumes and noise, both of which grated on my senses like fingernails
on a blackboard. I had a restless night, coughing and aching, and by 5 am, I
was ready to get out of there and into some wide open space. The campground at Organ Pipe is lovely, and
would wonderful for anyone with a normal disposition, but all those folks
crowded into that small space just spelled trouble for me, and I know I can
never camp there again.
But that’s ok, because this is a HUGE country, and I plan on
exploring it! This season, I am focusing
on the southwestern part of Arizona, mostly because of the weather. I’m really
enjoying this magnificent state!
Another reason I left so early was because I needed
COFFEE!!! When I turned on my Coleman
Stove for dinner, the fire didn’t only come out of the burner. The entire bed
of the stove caught fire! Holy
SMOKES! I took out the fitting and
discovered that a tiny little O-ring appeared to be the problem. It looked a
bit chewed up and since that was the ONLY place propane entered the stove, I
figured that had to be the problem.
So I took off at O-dark-thirty, and headed into Ajo, where I
knew I’d find hot coffee. The ranger had
told me there was a coffee shop in the plaza, so I stopped there first. They
opened at 6:30, so I had a bit of a wait, and while I was waiting I peeked in
at their menu. Coffee prices were twice
the amount I paid at Roadrunner Java, so I hopped back in the van and headed up
the main strip to Roadrunner, which was open and bustling!
I asked this nice lady behind the counter, “Who makes all
these donuts?”
She said, “I make all these donuts!”
Dang! She must get up
early!
And the donuts, though not
something I eat often,
were as good as anything I’d get back home in
Portland.
I had my coffee and a couple of donuts and studied the map,
making a decision to head for Saddle Mountain.
The hardware store opened at 8 am, and I was there waiting when the gal
opened. She was late, and set off her own alarm in her rush, so I had a chance
to check out the shop while I waited for things to calm down. It’s a nice
hardware store with pretty much anything a person would need. There, she helped me find just the right
O-ring and voila! I was back in
business! Price? $1 for 5 rings (I got extra, just in case)
I decided to wait to buy groceries in Buckeye at the
Walmart, and got on the road. On my way out of town, I passed this little
shrine to St. Jude. I stopped and said a prayer and left an offering. Can’t
hurt to have a few more Saints on your side!
 |
| A Little Shrine to St. Jude |
 |
| The Saints are in YOU |
 |
| A very old hand carved St. Jude |
 |
| I believe this is St. James! See the Shell on his cloak? |
In Gila Bend I gassed up the van, put in oil and aired the
tires. Leaving town, I passed thi Best Western SPACE AGE LODGE! Flying Saucers? How far am I from Roswell?
I stopped for groceries in Buckeye, then headed for Saddle
Mountain.
I arrived just in time to set up camp before the clouds
rolled in. What a GORGEOUS place!
