We took a different route back to camp from Hoodoo Well, we didn’t want to drive down Red Rock Pass! We decided to rely on the Garmin GPS as well as our Kofa map and our Arizona Gazetteer to help us negotiate Hovatter Road. A bonus of this route was finding the Hovatter Homestead. The family of Ray & Barbara Hovatter and their 3 daughters lived here, just inside the border of the Kofa Wildlife Refuge, from 1951 to 1974. More of the story HERE.

The saguaro lined driveway of the Hovatter homestead.

The gravesite of Ray Hovatter and his stepdaughter Lindsay, overlooking the ‘camp’ as they called it.

More of the ‘hobby garden’ planted by Mrs. Hovatter.

The long beautiful road home!

Driving home into the sunset.

We went on a great adventure today! Our goal was Hoodoo Well and the cabin near it. About 20 miles on 4 wheel drive tracks, over the rutted Red Rock Pass and down into Hoodoo wash got us there for a great lunch on the small porch of the cabin.

Climbing Red Rock Pass

Looking back from the top of Red Rock Pass.

Hoodoo well on the right, the line cabin on the left.

The line cabin, ready for occupancy!

The explanatory plaque.

This morning we walked 8 miles round trip on what we call the ‘fenceline road’ that divides the wildlife refuge from BLM land, avoiding the cattle that are allowed on the BLM side of the fence.

Maintenance on the barbed wire fence must be arduous!

Mavrik was happy to be out walking finally!

The walk must have energized me because I went all domestic when we got back. I started a batch of baguette dough in the bread machine, heated up some homemade beef barley soup for lunch and vacuumed the camper and rugs!

The finished baguettes, garlic no less! If you could only get a whiff of the fragrance!

Another run to town to re-supply!

We found a new watering hole!

But it seems we’re a day too early!