Saddle Mountain BLM to High Chaparral RV Park to Cieneguita Campground

Saddle Mountain BLM to High Chaparral RV Park to Cieneguita Campground

March 5 - 12, 2019

On Thursday, March 7 we left Saddle Mountain BLM and did a utility stop at High Chaparral RV Park for 3 nights.  We were there in January before we went to Quartzsite.

On Friday, March 8 we drove down to Asarco Copper Mine and took the tour.  It was $8 each for seniors and worth it.  We boarded a bus which took us to the open pit copper mine.

  Our tour guide said there used to be two separate mines but over the years it has grown into one big one.  The mine is 1,500 feet deep and they will never go any deeper because the water table is at 1,700 feet.  

They blast the rock and load it on to trucks that can carry 320 tons.  This truck is smaller than those.

Then they take it to the mill and crush it into smaller rocks using 8-inch diameter steel balls in the drum.  When they get to about 3/8 inch or smaller they are put in a drum with 3-inch diameter steel balls.  

This turns them into a fine powder, at which time the copper is broken free from the rocks and are separated by flotation.  They agitate the water and the copper sticks to the bubbles, which fall over the edge of the tank and break.  They then are ground even finer and purified by another flotation process.

Eventually they end up with a concentrate of 28% copper, which they send to the smelter in NM.  It represents less than 1% of the material taken from the mine.  After the copper is smelted they make a sheet through an anode process, and then the anode sheets are sent to TX and processed through electrolysis to make 99.99% pure copper sheets.  This is a starter anode sheet.

We got back on the bus and went to the display area outside the visitor center.  Here is some of the older equipment they no longer use.

Here is John standing in one of the shovels they don't use anymore.  The ones they use now are larger.

On Sunday, March 10 we drove back down to Cieneguita Campground in the Las Cienegas National Conservation area near Empire Ranch.  We were here in January and loved it.  Wade and Debbie met us here because they saw the pictures of the area and wanted to camp here too.  We're so glad they're here.  Here are the views from our campsite.

Bill and Lisa came from Tucson via a visit to Tombstone to stop by and see us.  We decided we'll meet them in Canada sometime around May 10.  We are traveling together to Alaska and are looking forward to it!  We spent so much time talking I forgot to get any pictures.

Unfortunately the winds have been really blowing since we got here and today, March 12, it has rained on and off today and all last night.  I guess every day can't be sunny and 72!

Roving on...

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows His handiwork.

Psalm 19:1

Saddle Mountain Hike

Saddle Mountain Hike

March 4, 2019

On Monday we took a hike up to the petroglyphs.  It was not a hard hike but very beautiful.  Here are a few pictures from the hike.  The flowers are so pretty and the desert so green because of all the rain this year.

Here is a saguaro over 100 years old, and one that has died.

Just a few extra pictures.

We have enjoyed our time here and will be moving on tomorrow.  We had thought of going north to visit family and friends, but the weather is not going to be good so we decided to go south instead.

Roving on...

Quartzsite, AZ to Apple Valley CA to Saddle Mountain BLM, AZ

Quartzsite, AZ to Apple Valley, CA to Saddle Mountain BLM, AZ

February 20 - March 3, 2019

We left Shady Lane RV Park in Quartzsite on Wednesday, February 20 and drove to Apple Valley, CA to moochdock in the front yard of my (Cindy) high school friend Joanne.  Joanne was also my maid of honor in our wedding so we go back a long way.  On Friday the 21st John and I drove to Yucca Valley to visit my 93 year old uncle.  As I said previously it's been a cold winter in the southwest and it was snowing on our way to Yucca Valley.  My uncle had several inches at his house.  He made us a delicious lunch and we enjoyed our time visiting with him.  It was funny to see snow on Joshua Trees.

  Back at Joanne's house for the next few days.  During our time there we went to Marie Callendars for lunch, then to See's candy to get a fresh picked box of candy.  We went bowling, spent time with Joanne's sister and brother-in-law, went to church on Sunday and then In-n-Out for lunch, and went to a movie (The Upside - it was pretty good) and got a pizza afterwards.  Of course we did lots of visiting too!  We had a great time but were so busy I forgot to take any pictures!

On Tuesday, February 26 we left Apple Valley.  There was still some snow on the mountains over Cajon Pass.

 We headed for River Breeze RV Park in Ehrenberg, AZ for a utility stop.  They had a special, stay 2 nights and get the 3rd free, so we took advantage of that.  It was a nice park on the Colorado River and it had grass!  We enjoyed hearing the birds singing in the trees and camping there and would return.

On Friday, March 1 we drove to the Saddle Mountain BLM area to do some more boondocking.  It's beautiful here and the weather has been sunny, in the 70s, and wonderful.

The desert is so green and has a carpet of beautiful yellow flowers.  They say because of all the rain in the southwest this year that the desert flowers are going to be really good.  I think they've already started.

On Saturday, March 2 another high school friend and her husband, Claudia and John, drove from Sun City West to spend the day with us.  We had a good time visiting, had lunch, went on a hike, and then visited some more.  So glad they were able to come out!

We are working on our next stops (well I am; John's taking a nap, but he's allowed because he's a senior citizen and retired).  😊

Roving on...