It all started over the Christmas party, with talk of a camping trip over the New Year weekend. Stacey and Gordon pre-ran the trip and sent out the directions. Run the high speed dirt road “you can do at least 50mph” on Mule Shaw road. Stacy and family, Gordon and Kathy both left early Friday followed by Mitch and Susan that afternoon. Bill, Barbra and I leaving that night. The directions were great. Mule Shaw Rd was Mule shoe road; and we never did find the smooth 50mph road. But we did make it into camp. We got set up and enjoyed the fire and the company. There were a million stars out, and it seamed that you could reach out and touch them.

Saturday we got up early made a great breakfast, and started out for Jackson’s cabin. The trail to Jackson’s cabin winds through the Muleshoe ranch and a wilderness area. The trail was easy very little 4 wheel drive but the views were spectacular. We stopped many times for pictures and site seeing of the surrounding area’s rock formations and scenic views. We stopped at the lone ranger cactus, a lone saguaro cactus sitting on a hill side all by it self. Than there is the natural stone arch that frames in a view of the valley and the baby arch next to it. We all parked and started to walk to the arch when Bill did his best to explain the way gravity works, by falling on the rocks and landing on his head, in a patch of shin dagger cactus. After the safety team got done Bill was bandaged and as good as you can make Bill, and we were on our way. Jackson’s cabin sits down in a valley, nestled in a very picturesque area. Once an old homestead cabin the cabin has been repaired and fixed up. You can even rent the cabin for $20 a night. We stopped and had lunch and did a little exploring. Gordon and I hit a near by geocache, only 2/10’s of a mile away unfortunately almost all up the side of a mountain. While crashing back down the mountain side toward the cabin where most still waited, Stacey pointed out the large rare Arizona gray bear making all the noise crashing through the brush. We did some more site seeing and hit a couple more geocaches, before heading back to camp.

Once at camp the fire was stoked up, the gluehwein was heated, really hot, and the party was on. It smelled like a German Christmas market the cinnamon sweet aroma of the gluehwein boiling in the pot. Stacey the party police was threading much pain and harassment for all those that could not hang to bring in the New Year at midnight. To bad most of us never made it to the midnight hour, between the day of 4 wheeling, exploring and the free flowing adult beverages most were gone long before midnight.

The next morning the sun rose to a beautiful clear blue Arizona sky. Before long the smell of beacon, eggs, and coffee and other breakfast treats was in the air. After a hearty breakfast, we were off to explore more of the area. We ran a few trails, and found some fantastic views. There was area that was covered with cactus, prickly pear, and yucca. And lots of birds. It was the biggest cactus patch I ever saw. There is lots of wild life in this area we saw dear, despite all the hunters and Gordon even pointed out an eagle on top of a small hill. We ran many trails found a few dead ends and found lots more trails that still needed explored. There was so much to see, the views of the rolling hills and deep canyons, all of which kept you looking for more. As always it was all too soon before it was time to start back for camp. Wood had to be collected, a fire started and dinner made.

After dinner, with the fire raging, we all pulled up the chairs to the fire, with smores cooking and the stories were on. Everything from the sites we saw and challenges of the day to those of days long gone. We learned lots about more than you would like to. The war stories tails of past runs gone bad, trips to Mexico, and some things that left you wanting to hear less, like Bill’s nick name Herman Munster, Stacey wearing Angela’s, underwear. We laughed most of the night away. All too soon the weekend was over and it was time to pack up and head for home and back to the day to day grind.We plan to come back to this same camping spot for the next 3 day weekend in January the 14 through the 16. If you don’t want to miss out on all the fun you need to come along on the next trip. The directions are on the website, www.rangeridersnet.com. Also be sure to check out the web site for news of up coming runs and camping trips. I’ll try to keep the calendar up dated. Or check in the forums section for more information. It’s easier to use than e-mail and you can check on a Saturday morning to see if anyone has plans for that weekend.