Camp Haekel 2

 Another long morning in camp, nothing to hurry for!  

Late morning we headed out for the Cluff Ranch.  It’s toward the west end of Mt Graham.  Homesteaded by the Cluff family around 1880 and lasting into the 20th century.  Various owners between then and when the AZ Game & Fish took over for a series of different wildlife growing and finally fish growing operations.  It’s now the Cluff Ranch Wildlife Area, 788 acres at 3500’.

We were pretty surprised when we drove around expecting to see some waterfowl like we did 3 years ago and instead found a dry hole.  Twice. Come to find out pond 1 and pond 3 have been drained for renovation and rehabilitation.  They’ll be refilled when conditions are right.  Pond 3 will be stocked with fish.

On the way back we hit the Taylor Freeze for a milkshake and root beer float.  It’s like an independent Dairy Queen.  Pretty good!  It was 77 degrees so we were ready   

Back at camp our neighbor has left.  We saw him this morning going out for a walk.  Maybe we never saw him because he was out walking.  Who knows.

My Graham in the morning

Skye was rather pleased to find some water again

Contrails beside Venus

Jupiter is also there by the lower contrail but harder to see.

A later view of the planets