By Patty Wilber
Our January Arizona Adventure with the Shuerts and Kingsburys did not disappoint! Shuerts and Wilbers pulled out 7 am. We wanted to get there around 2pm so we could do a shorty ride (4-5) miles the first day.
Of course, there were a few glitches. Kingsburys had to make a side jaunt and didn’t leave with us, and we had a little fuel tank issue. We have a gravity feed auxiliary fuel tank on the truck. I used it on my Clovis trip earlier this month. Worked fine. But on this trip, we were on the 86-mile scenic drive from Grants to Quemado, when our gas gauge reading went from Full to Empty in one fell swoop!
We pulled over to verify we were not gushing fuel out all over the road or something. We were not. A little internet research (we had cell service) indicated that this was a known issue. The computer can become confused, and when confused, its answer is, “GIVE UP! GIVE UP NOW! The fuel world in this truck is coming to an end! AHHHHH!”
To reset the computer, one can follow these steps: 1. Stop and turn off the truck. That allows some resetting. 2. Open the door (to get out). Opening the door resets more things. 3. Shut the door, lock the truck (more resetting), and 5. Let it sit for five to 15 minutes (and more resetting.) Another way is to simply turn off the truck, and refuel. The influx of fuel is the resetting key. To cover all bases, we employed both methods at the next fuel stop. Then, we turned the truck back on. All the gauges woke up, EXCEPT the fuel gauge. It stayed on E! We groaned. Then the gauge gave a little shimmy and popped back to Full. Thank goodness!
The rest of the drive was smooth. We had a text from Ride Out listing our camp spots, so we parked, gave the horses a snack and a break while we set up. Then the Shuerts and Wilbers got our afternoon ride. 4.3 miles. Saguaros. Gobs of saguaros. They are, along with aspens, one of my favorite “trees”
Patty and Bill and a saguaro!
The next day, the full group (Kingsburys made it by 530) decided to ride to the Gila River, which we had done in 2022. About 16 miles round trip. This time, however, some of the trail had been blocked off, so we had to ride around, which took a few tries. We saw some javelina with some new babies, though! Then we got to state land that required a permit to cross. There was a QR code to get it, but we didn’t have reception, so we tried to ride around that, too, but no. Eventually, Richard climbed up out of the big wash we were in, got reception, and secured a permit. We finally made it to the river, around 2 pm!
LT at the Gila!
Jim and Cometa in the Gila River.
We ate a late lunch under the biggest salt cedars I have ever seen. I know they are invasive water sucks, but this grove was beautiful. The salt cedar I have seen in NM is in dense thickets of scrub, not soaring trees.
Patty S. in the salt cedar grove
Richard among the giant salt cedar!
We took a different route back that had less bushwhacking. Great day. 19.1 miles. A little further than we had planned.
Richard on the ride back.
An amazing saguaro!
Day three was a trip to The Boulders and then down Boulder Wash. 12.0 miles.
The Boulders is a big pile of rocks in the middle of the desert. We hiked up into them, and I am so happy to say that my fitness program is paying off.
Jim, in a crevice!
Our posse pose. Amber, Richard, Bill, Patty S., and Jim, after we had climbed out of Boulder Wash.
On the last day, the Kingsburys pulled out at 8 am, but Shuerts and Wilbers wanted one more ride, so we got intel from another camper and made a 4.4 mile loop that was just what we wanted! Then we packed up and headed home. We still had some fuel in the auxiliary tank, so we ran with it open, and there were no gauge resets! We did learn to record the odometer at the start of the drive so in case of trouble, we’ll know when to refuel!
We covered 40 miles over the four days, and old man Cometa did not miss a step! It was a fine trip with warm weather!
For the last five years, we have gone horse camping in January in Arizona with Patty and Bill Shuert, and more recently with Amber and Richard Kingsbury. We’ve been to Ride Out Ranch, Cold Bore Ranch (which may now be closed to camping), Rio Rancho Verde, Hay Creek Ranch, and this year we went back to Ride Out!
Ride Out and Hay Creek both have really nice clubhouses that are great for group dinners and games. They both had full bathrooms, too, which I like since our trailer is basically a nice bedroom with electricity but no “powder room”.
Ride Out and Rio Rancho Verde have riding among the saguaros (which I love) and lots and lots of trails.
Hay Creek had the most outgoing and welcoming community and some really cool rocks–I’d like to rockhound there more. The riding was more rugged, and the landscape was more similar in feel to around here.
So, for next year, I think I’d choose Ride Out again, or Rio RanchoVerde, especially if they have added a public bathroom!
