Checking Out the CBP's TAS

Today's riding was mainly spent locating the Customs Border Patrol (CBP)Tactical Aerostats System (TAS).

Morning at camp:

The TAS is The smaller version of two types of blimps used by the CBP to do border surveillance. The larger version is mainly radar-based whereas the smaller version uses surveillance cameras mostly. It is the smaller version that is hanging out here on the north side of the wildlife refuge where I am camping. 

The blimp is about 11 mi straight line distance from my campsite. 

It was more like 20 miles by road to get to it, it's location giving away by the EFF website which apparently tracks such things for the public. 

From my campsite, it shows to the naked eye as a small white dot in the sky.  It's actually pretty easy to miss unless you're looking for it. 

Here's what it looks like close up: 

2.9x zoom with bino

This is how the blimp is anchored to the ground.  It's also the way it's retrieved for maintenance and for weather issues.  Apparently one of these made the news sometime back when it broke free and crashed in Texas. 

I rode away from the anchor site perhaps a mile or two south of it for these two shots: 

This was 3x zoom without binos, scaled up in post-processing 

These blimp systems are apparently hideously expensive and so the CBP has installed over 500 towers all along the border that carry out surveillance.  There's one about 3 mi from my campsite at the junction of our Arivaca Road and AZ State Hwy 286:

It's the one on the left, the other one is an old telecom tower

There is a noticeable increase in border patrol vehicles cruising about and also stationed about the area. 

A photo of Baboquivari Peak taken at the campsite using the bino adapter:

1x zoom with binos

2.9x zoom with binos

Back Again in the Buenos Aires NWR

Almost six years have passed since I was here apparently....I didn't think it had been that long!  The last visit: Link 

After doing chores in Ajo, AZ, it took about two and a half hours to get to the NWR. I transited the Tohono O'Odham Nation along the way.

By 3PM I had camp setup at one of the designated camping spots along FR227 within the NWR. 

There will be more pics of the above peak.  Known as Baboquivari and sacred to the Tohono O'Odham people.  I've previously camped much closer to the peak.

Much Warmer Days in the Ajo-Gila Bend Area

Sunday, February 22

It was 50°F when I woke around 6:30 AM on Sunday.  By 10 AM though, the temperature was above 65°F and things felt quite nice and warm under the strong sunshine and cloudless skies 

Sunrise:

Before lunch, it was almost 75°F and I rode Yagi, my Tw200, out to the nearby (4.5 miles from camp) site where the Air Force has the training aids set up for pilots practicing gun runs.

This is not to say the actual equipment is the target, it is actually in Area B which is the safe area. The actual impact area is across the highway and of course off limits to the public.

I'm guessing they're used as visual cueuing and also targeting practice in terms of identification of targets for pilots.

Some shots from Saturday's riding around Area B's Top Mountain, still not finding any other campers.

Hat Mountain 

Monday, February 23

The plan is to displace to a spot near Ajo tomorrow.  Chores to be done in town while passing through.

You can tell it's warm here during the day, using the awning to shield the VRRV, lounging in the shady side of the VRRV as the gazebo is too warm.

Found a sign detailing information on the BGAFR:

It's 84°F at 13:30 hrs as I write this.  It's quite warm in direct sunlight, otherwise quite comfortable in the shade.

Wating for Warmer Days at the BGAFR

Friday, February 20

Sunny but temperatures only reached low 60s.  Still, nice and warm when no breezes. 

Sunrise was not bad:

Hungout in the gazebo out of the mild wind but still enjoying the sunshine that filtered in through the mesh screens.  In the afternoon, a short ride to check for newly arrived neighbors....none to be seen within 2 miles!

My campsite from atop a

small hill next to access road

More Pareidolia....what do you see?

Dinner

Sunset was pretty good:

Boondocking Again in the Barry Goldwater AF Range.

I displaced from Kofa NWR a bit before 8 AM, the prospect of another day of windy conditions dictated the move along with increasing number of campers arriving.

Got propane and groceries along they to Gila Bend, AZ.  20 miles or so south, was the gate into Area B aka Saucedo Area.  I've camped here before, liking the fact it's not a destination for many.

By 2:30 PM, camp was setup.  I didn't use the usual spot, instead picked a more secluded spot almost a quarter mile straight distance from the main access road.

That's Hat Mountain in the distance 

Sunset was OK, no other campers seen within a one mile area after a quick ride around.

The Palm Trees of Palm Canyon

Today's sunrise was pretty good:

The whole morning was overcast and windy, with a high of only 68°F in the afternoon, it wasn't the most inviting weather!

Around 2:30 pm or so though, the clouds cleared out enough to allow the sun to shine through and make me decide to try the hike into Palm Canyon.

I rode Yagi the 5.7 mi to the trailhead for Palm Canyon, I'd seen one hiker coming out and I had the place to myself until I was done taking pictures.  The hike itself is not hard but it is uphill most of the way, with lots of loose rocks and a narrow trail, I was huffing and puffing but not as bad as I remember the last time I did this. 

Palm Canyon Trailhead 

It's only about 0.9 miles and then one comes to a small sign that points off to the left and up. It's a good thing to sign is there because the palm trees are easy to miss if one is not really looking closely. 

I set up the tripod and mounted the binos with the camera phone adapter to them. Here's some of the shots that turned out. The handheld shots were too blurry to publish so I am glad I brought the tripod. 

1x optical zoom + binos

3x optical zoom + binos

6x digital zoom with binos

The process remains fiddly when the tripod is involved. Especially since the tripod I travel with is not as stable or as fine in terms of controls as the big tripod that I left at home. 

Still, the images came out pretty good as long as you don't blow them up too much when viewing them. 

This is the best I could do with a real camera back in December of 2017:

Back at Yagi, I geared up as a couple showed up in a Jeep to do the hike.  I rode back to the campsite with no issues, broke down all the outside equipment and packed it away. I will be displacing to the Gila Bend area tomorrow.