Kingman Activity: Side by Side

A fun activity we became involved with in Kingman was a 4x4 side-by-side.  We bought a Honda Pioneer.   We lived in east Kingman and were surrounded by dirt roads.  We lived in Kingman from 2021 until 2025.  We found many fun roads, including an old gravel pit for up and down driving.  We crossed under the freeway for driving on the other side.  We had many fun times.  We also made sure the grandkids had turns when they came to visit.  Elliott even drove.  It was on the side-by-side that Sheri saw a Mohave green rattle snake.  We even took Grandpa Scoresby for a ride to see the airport and the stored planes.  However over time we found that it was too dusty to ride for much.  We always wore helmets to be safe.  However when we decided to move the need for the side-by-side went away; so we sold it.  On the 4 by 4 we saw animals and animals.  

We once drove to west Kingman for a picnic at Beale Springs with the side by side and traveling there.  

 We live in the eastern most part of Kingman on the north side of I-40, at the end of the paved portion of Airway.  Beyond our house is a network of dirt roads.  We didn't want to take our vehicles on them, so have purchased a side by side.  We call it the sand buggy.  We have found bouncy roads, hilly roads.  Most are pretty dusty.  We have found what seems to be an old abandoned house.  I also go looking for pretty rocks and stop from time to time to pick one up and bring it home.  

Baby is in buggy while we are parked

east of Kingman

 Taking the side-by-side from our house, going east on East Diamond Joe Road, you encounter a couple old homesteads that are nothing but ruins now.  These are north of the I-40.  The first is not very far out.  It is between Diamond Joe and Airway.  Mostly all that remains is the rock work.

The other ruin I have been past is farther out on Diamond Joe.  Again only the rock work remains.  The people who lived here must have been pretty hardy as they were living isolated on the desert.  However in the end, the desert must have driven them away.  It would be fun to know more of their stories.

She was on the side by side buggy east of Kingman and south of the freeway by Rattle Snake Wash when she cam upon a rattler.  Looks to me like a mohave green.  Needless to say no one got out of the buggy.  Sheri says it was at least three feet long.

For my part I saw a couple road runners this morning.  I also saw a couple quail.  The road runners are much bigger. By the time I got my phone out for a picture they had scurried away.  They were under a cholla cactus close to our house.  

There is a cholla  cactus bush on the corner by our house which often shelters different animals.  Most commonly is quail, but one time I saw a couple roadrunners there, and also a little mammal--squirrel or mouse.  

Behind this bush there are prickly pears, which are currently blooming.  I worry about this area as I know development is slowly encroaching and this will all be scraped away for houses or businesses.  This is the area behind KRMC Santa Rosa and they have already cleared away the other side for houses.  

I was very wary for rattlesnakes as I took these pictures.  I never did see any however.  Sheri saw one a couple weeks ago and that has me skittish.  

We also saw lots of prickly pear which I have always thought are beautiful.

skull of some animal about two inches in length.

Meeting Grandbaby 15, Baby Porter 2021

 We made a trip to California 2021 to meet Baby Porter.  He is a cutie.  

In addition to meeting Porter, we went to Todd's soccer game.  He is young so it isn't very competitive but it was fun.  Caleb coaches.  We then went camping with Caleb,Todd, Hadley, Camberly and Hayley.  We were at Caswell for just one night.  The next day was Camberly's baseball game.  

Quilts at the Elkhart County Visitor Center

 Elkhart Visitor Center always displays nice quilts, including the quilt mural outside.  

Joshua Tree National Park: Spring Break 2021

 Our first big trip from Kingman was to Joshua Tree National Park.  We coudn't find camping inside the national park so spent the day before at a boon-dock camp north of the park, and the day after south of the park; both on BLM land.  

Tony on a rock

Mohave Yucca

 

Chola cactus

Yucca

Juniper

Joshua Tree Visitor Center art

Lunch on a rock

Skull Rock I found

cactus

caterpillar

Joshua tree

tortoise rock

window rock looks like an elephant

Skull Rock

Tony and White Tank Arch Rock

Chola Cactus Garden

Tony's sign pictures

ocotillo plant

sunset

Joshua Trees was a three-day trip.  One day to.  We discovered park camping was full and spent the night on BLM property north of the park close to Copper Mountain.  Second day we drove through the park.  We hit many interesting sights as can be seen from the pictures.  The highlight was stopping for lunch and eating on the rocks.  This also afforded a short hike.  Another short hike was to Skull Rock which was close to Jumbo Rocks.  The rocks there satisfied any bouldering desires we had.  We all climbed some, but Tony really went all out.  He also hiked to the arch by White Tank Campground.  This was our longest hike.  We stopped for pictures after that at a couple groves, but were tired out and headed for camping south of the park in another BLM spot.