Illegal activity on the border - Tucson, Arizona boondocking

I was in the mood for geocaching, and the directions made the road sound ... meh... so I took the Tracker out.

THIS is how you spend your lawless card?

You know that sometimes, finding the actual geocache site is the least exciting part of the trip.

Forward? That's a negative. Reverse? Still no. 

 Later, Annie said "one wheel what?" I was going to call  her for a refresher on putting it into 4WD, but I had no signal. That made figuring it out myself the very best of one option.

All the rest of the challenges kept things four-down, but I did need to get out to assess my strategies a few times.

Palo verde trees are full of bees lately.

Jake is full of wags lately. This is him obeying a JAKECOME!

He seems to have no separation anxiety at all, despite the shelter's records. YAY! He just doesn't want to be left alone outside. So, today we could enjoy one of our favorite dog-unfriendly restaurants (Govinda's) for our anniversary.

Sonoran Squash? Palo gourd-o?

This is on a dirty road we walk. Some sort of a benchmark? The concrete seems too stable, round, and regular to be fill. Ideas?

We met Dixie and Will (who don't blog yet), an energetic newly-retired couple who grabbed their RV in March and high-tailed it to Tucson. Dixie has a keen interest in boondocking, and is interested in solutions for impassable roads. Dixie, this is what one landowner here does.

If you're going to park here for long, you need to pre-think your response to requests for help. A traveler may need water, food, money, and/or transportation. It will also help to know more Spanish than no hablo Español and lo siento, even though those phrases will get a "no" across, if that's what you want. So will "no."

It's important to be able to say THAT'S NOT PHOENIX, because no one wants that kind of mislead on their conscience.

Inform yourself on the legalities of aiding a person who may be in the US without documentation. Friends in the know tell me that giving water is always legal. If you choose to give food, you're on shakier ground. Some people put it on the ground and walk away from it; if someone takes your food while you're not looking, well, there's not much you can do about that. Items that you might have stolen are things like Vienna sausages, soft granola bars, fruit cups, soft fruit, or things that can be eaten by a partially-dehydrated person.

[NOTE: Tucson Samaritans' website says "It is NEVER ILLEGAL to provide water, food, or medical assistance to another human being in distress."]

Transportation to anywhere (including a hospital) may land you in jail. If you encounter someone who is in medical distress, you can call 911. If you choose to drive them to help, understand the possible consequences.

Maybe you'll be asked if you are la migra. Or, you may be asked to call migras, if the person wants to go home.  

Please read this excerpt from The Devil's Highway: a true story.

Some of our friends are fearful for us, knowing that we are parked where there is foot traffic. All I can say is that "illegal activities" are not all created equal. Having met a traveler hasn't changed my mind about this.

I dig that not everyone feels the same about this stuff. You dig that I won't argue with you about it.

Spring in the Sonoran Desert - Tucson

It's nice to have a good think, or a good non-think, outside in the morning air. That's what I thought.

Franklin Whitey still hangs around here day and night for some reason (Trader Joe's Lamb and Rice), and he's a good non-think companion, until...

He loves to chase cows. Who doesn't? They run from him - WHEEEE! - until he barks. That's a gamechanger; a steer stops, turns around, and chases Whitey. WHEEEE! Whitey remembers where I am! WHEEE! Whitey comes to find me! WHEEeee...?

 Lesson for today: We're all always wearing a bathing suit.

No pictures!

 Spring makes you take pictures of birds. Just try to stop yourself - can't be done.

 I waited so long for this ocotillo to leaf it's like I birthed it. Hope you're all birthing something great.

Annie's away again having a crown adjusted. I think she's feeling like royalty.

~~~~~

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