Monday 1/29
Early to bed, early to rise. I finished watching the cowboy movie last night. Free Range, Open Range something like that. It’s no “Dances with Wolves” but it’s a new twist to my evenings. I got “Lonesome Dove” in now. Made popcorn in my new Whirlypop popcorn maker on the stovetop. Pretty simple, couple of tablespoon oil, 3-4 tablespoons popcorn and start crankin’. The smoke alarm sings along with the popping. Cleanup, not so easy, but I got popcorn.
I remembered this morning what I forgot. Arizona does not do Daylight Savings. I have left Bill’s clock set to Missoula time. I turn my watch to whatever the local time is. Been running late to wherever I’ve been going.
Okay, giving the GoPro some work this morning. We’ll see. It is a lot smaller than super camera. Mounted on driver’s mirror, I’m not sure how much of Bill we’ll see.
Off, these roads are #2 gravel but I putz along stopping at the different turnouts. Took a short hike up Oak Canyon on my way out. LOTS of birds. Had my aids in to boot. I really heard the birds this time. A couple of hunting(?) stands in the tree. Maybe birding stands. A nice way to start your morning.
Heading to Tombstone to try a touristy thing. Then over to Chiricahua National Monument. Tombstone was full of old people. Walked from the saloon to OK Corral with my imagination turned up. Hmmm. Well it ain’t long before I’m heading Bill’s way.
There is a road less traveled from Tombstone to Pearce, where I want to go. I have a little difficulty sorting it out and it’s getting sketchy so I make a decision to turn around and……Bill decides to go into “Reduced Engine Power”!! Which means it runs but the computer stops it from having any power. W T F . The good, I’m only a couple of miles out of Tombstone, the bad: no services in Tombstone. But there is a gas station and you never know. I fill up, start up, and still in reduced power. Pulled over in a spot if I was stuck would be okay for the night. I’m thinking Tucson about 50-60 miles away. Probably better tow it not drive it that far. Start looking on my phone and, lo and behold, there is a GMC 16 miles away in Sierra Vista. I call and talk to Dave. He gives me the number of his towing company…there is a backroad to Sierra Vista…really Bill could get to 55, just slowed down on the uphill, emergency flasher slow. I easily find the road and there is a decent sign “Sierra Vista” and it looks downhill for most of the way. Cake, I pull in, Dave comes out to greet me, takes Bill away and tells me I’m lucky ‘cause they have the best diesel guy in the area. A nice kid, Joe. I’m thinkin’ motel, bicycle, what I’ll need, but first I’m hungry. Walk down to Jimmy Johns have a sandwich, walk back and see Joe taking Bill out for a spin! TL;DR loose hose, oh and I forgot to put the diesel cap back on when I fueled in Tombstone.
Cochise Stronghold CG here I come! Enough of this day.