Wickenburg AZ

 Wickenburg was founded in 1863 on the banks of the Hassayampa River.  It went through many trials and tribulations in its first decades, surviving the Indian Wars including repeating Indian raids, outlaws, mine closures, drought, and a disastrous flood in 1890 when the Walnut Creek Dam burst, killing nearly 70 residents. In the 1950s and 1960s it capitalized on its western heritage becoming the “Dude Capital of the World. To this day the strong western vibe can be seen through out the town. 

We had an excellent guide 

Tim Cox is a self taught artist. His mother recalls that even before he started kindergarten, he was already sketching cowboys, cows, wild animals, and horses. He painted the environment that he grew up in. 

Tim Cox  The Heritage Herd

Tim Cox Another Day Gone Forever

Photographer Werner Segarra work, Cowboys from the Cross of the Devil transports us into the hidden world of the vaquero from the Sonoran region of northern Mexico. Through Portraits of place, work, and community, Segarra brings to vivid life this emblematic figure of the desert frontier. I was impressed sharp detail in the photos that are 3 to 4 feet across. Our guide told us that Wener uses a Danish Phase One medium format camera. 

John Nieto Yaqui Deer Dance 

Kim Douglas Wiggins

Cardenas at the Grand Canyon 1540 AD

Wickenburg of yesteryear

 

The old general store with a very informative hologram presentation.

Pick your wire

What a great museum

A walk around town

Everett Bowman All around champion cowboy 

of the world 1935-1937

Petroglyphs

 Tom, Elaine and I did a hike up Grapevine Canyon to view the petroglyphs. The glyphs were created between 1100 and 1900 AD Both the meaning of the glyphs and their creators remains unclear although the area was inhabited by the Mojave  It is located just North of Laughlin NV. 

Most of the glyphs are geometric shapes 

Slot Canyon Hike

 We had a great time doing the 3.4 mile out and back slot canyon hike in SARA Park, Lake Havasu City, AZ.

An arch is forming

A little bit of rappelling

The walls are squeezing in

Returning on the high trail around the slot canyon

Just another wonderful day on the road

Parker

 It's been a while since I posted. I will catch up starting with Parker AZ. 

Drag boats from all over the west coast strut their stuff on the Colorado River in February. Just below Parker Dam a quarter mile course is marked by buoys on the river. There are several classes of boats. The big boys can reach speeds up to 200 mph.

This was last years winner

Boats are towed out and  line up on a rope stretched 

between two floats. 

This boat is so fast and powerful it has 

a parachute on the stern 

I did not see this one run, but it sure is pretty 

I was move night back at camp

Up there, in the sky??

A launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base