Below are some photos of our ATV's. I had to take them for the insurance company so I could get 'motorcycle' insurance. The insurance is required to license the bikes so they can be ridden on certain State Trust Lands and some roads on Federal lands (National Forests and Bureau of Land Management). Farther down are links to some shots of our latest trips to mining country and the great Arizona outdoors.

My Kawasaki Bayou 400. What a thrill to ride this one! It's like owning a mule that you don't have to feed. I will go anywhere I've asked it to go. I have an almost unlimited field of view and full exposure to the elements. It's like riding a magic carpet. The ride is smooth and stable, even over old mining roads that are a challenge to conventional 4-WD vehicles. Erosion ruts and protruding quartz spikes are taken in stride. I've never had so much fun outdoors!! This fall I was finally able to afford to sell the 3-wheeler and get this much nicer 4-wheeler. The difference in ride between the 3 and 4 wheelers is like the difference between a World War II Jeep and a brand new Cadillac. Thanks, Intel!

Another view, showing the accessory grille guard, speedometer and racks for a rifle or a camera tripod. The speedometer is for navigation. I don't care how fast I'm going, but I do care how far I go. A navigational error can have dire consequences in the desert. A few bunjee cords and a cooler and I'm ready to go anywhere! The gas tank mounted saddle bags are an indispensable accessory. They keep a mid-day snack, a cell phone, a GPS receiver, some topo maps, a camera and a drink both handy and dust-free (an important attribute in this part of the country).

Evelyn's Kawasaki Bayou 300. Plenty of motor for the lighter weight riders, and a two-speed transfer case. Evelyn has 10 gears, I only have 5. In low range and first gear she can tackle anything I can. We can get into the toughest territory Arizona has to offer with these. No matter when you read this, I'm anxious to get started on the next trip!

Evelyn's Kawasaki Bayou 300 from its best angle. Classic profile, no? In addition to the difference in engine displacement, Evelyn's Bayou 300 is air cooled, my Bayou 400 is liquid cooled. When ridden in cold weather, and depending on the wind direction, one ankle stays warm, the other freezes during Fall and Winter.

Arizona map showing central area where below map is detailed. I want you to get a feeling for the areas we explore. Arizona is almost twice as large as Pennsylvania and three times as large as Wisconsin. We have more Federally controlled land (National Parks, National Forests, National Monuments, National Wildlife Refuges, Military Reservations, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau of Indian Affairs (nearly 1/2 of the State)) than most Eastern states have land of any and all kinds.

A detail of the area outlined in black, above. It shows the Phoenix Metro area and our camping and hunting sites, to the North East. To the North West is the area we explored over the Christmas and New Years holidays, 1999. This area is detailed further in the map, below. In the Southeast corner of the map is the location of the Box Canyon trip.

On the 29th of December, 1999, Evelyn and I took a trip to find the remnants of the (so politically incorrect that its name doesn't appear on new maps) Swastika Mine. I have been wanting to find it for 2-3 years. The 1960's book, 'Ghost Towns of Arizona' lists it on one of its maps and shows some old buildings that are remnants of the 1800's mining days that I had hoped to photograph. Unfortunately, I came here about 20 years too late. Vandals and those with no respect for history have reduced most old mining structures in Arizona to mere concrete foundations. Vandalism persists, despite the Antiquities Act, which makes it a Federal felony to remove ANYTHING from Federal land. My new GPS receiver and topographical map software pointed me to the exact spot. It's now in private hands and none of the really antique stuff I'd hoped to photograph remains. The DeSoto Mine is more readily accessible, but has almost no old structures to view or photograph. I still enjoyed the trip. The views from up the mountain side are incredible! You can see areas that are larger than some Eastern states.

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