Trip Report:
Overall a very good run (I thought). Wish I could say the same for the weather. Freek cold front came in the night before and gave us rain and snow on some points throughout the trails. Made it a bit slick in a few spots and got the jeeps nice and dirty (like they should be). After meeting up for breakfeast, we headed out and while making a last minute gas and food stop, the power at the gas station kept going on and off. Got on the trail and quickly made a stop for the requisite group photo.
Pictured are Signcutter21, O8K, Pablo and OlHockeyVB along the International Boundary Fence near Bisbee, Arizona.
The trail took us up through old mining roads and that is where the rain/ sleet started turning into light snow flurries. Unfortunatley I couldn't capture any of the snow flakes to make a snowball.

We continued through old mining roads and then got back on the highway to head down to Douglas.
A quick town tour of the Port and town, then it was back on the trail again.
We headed down the border road again. Within five minutes of driving, we got a view of an illegal alien attempting to make it into the United States. He was just jumping over the fence when we came driving down the road. With his eyes and big as saucers, he just stood there, thinking he was caught. Then the look of confusion as he reliezed that we weren't the Border Patrol. He stood there and watched us continue on our way.
As we continued east, we were treated to some steep rocky climbs and even steeper desending muddy hills. With a bit of slipping around and careful navigation we safely made it down the hills.
We turned north of the line and continued on through the Rocker M Ranch (with the landowners approval). We looped back towards town through the ranch's back roads where we were treated with more Caleche clay roads to slid a bit on and some rocky steps to navigate down.
As we started to head back in to town, we made one last side trip to climb "D" Hill. Climbing the 1/4 mile plus road took a bit of proper wheel placement as it is a torn up granite road to the top. When at the top, the view of Douglas and its sister city Aqua Prieta is incredible.
After arriving back in Douglas we stopped and ate dinner at one of the best "real" mexican places Ive been to. After getting our fill, we returned to my house and took stock of supplies for the evenings entertainment and relax before heading off to our next adventure of the evening.
We left home and headed to downtown Douglas were we watched the holiday christmas parade. After a stop at the local coffee shop for tea and coffee, we were treated to a great color guard, school marching bands, the Shriner's cars, various local group's floats, and O8K's favorite, the WalMart semi. (Don't know about other small towns, but to see a shiny wally world semi with spanking new side adverstisements is a"tradition")
Upon returning home, we opened up the liquer cabinet. Spiked egg nog was made to go with the snacks in preperation for the encore treat of the day. As if a great day of wheeling wasn't enough, to be followed by a small town parade to put us in the holiday spirits; we finished the evening off with dualing battles of Guitar Hero 1, 2 and 3, provided by Ol Hockey.
Thanks to those who came down. We had a great day all-round. Met two new members and hung out with old ones.
later, mike
- Unfortunatley no pics of the GH battles but Vern and Katelynn tore it up till teh wee hours of the morning.