READING THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SIGN

From deep in the heart of the Tohono O'odham Indian Reservation, Why, AZ., the only way out is either north, south or follow the jeep trails across the mountains to the west; We chose north to Gila Bend, AZ.

The opportunity now presents itself more abundantly to “boondock-dry camp,” follow bumpy, gravel, two-track trails onto “our” land, BLM, Bureau of Land Management, managed lands to where most other RV’ers fear to tread.  Getting stuck in the sand/mud or not being able to turn the big rig around once committed to a single trail are but a couple of the cautions needed to note before attempting this adventurous endeavor. The more one is willing to chance, the greater the possibility of complete and total solitude.

The U S of A has several ways in which they manage public lands, most of which exclude public access.

Woodie Guthrie wrote a song in the 30’s called “This Land Is Your Land.” One of verses goes like this:

“As I was walkin' - I saw a sign there And that sign said - no tress passin' But on the other side .... it didn't say nothin! Now that side was made for you and me!”

That’s where we are now, 10 miles north of Piedra, AZ on public, BLM, land, “our” land, the land that belongs to you and I. But----wouldn’t you know, some decision, in which we the public have had no say, decided that you/we/I should NOT be here. Yep, right in the middle of creosote bushes and rocks, with not a thing but nature in the surrounding million square acres, the BLM has plunked a fiberglass placard in the ground that reads, “NO CAMPING”

Well, here we are and here we’ll stay, "Reading The Other Side Of The Sign"