On our Saturday morning drive into town, we decided to venture out the “front way.” You should know that there are two roads that you can take when you want to get into the Carrizo Ranch. One is called the “Back Way” — and involves a long drive along the 6040 and rumbling along a very rocky two mile stretch beside the railroad tracks before crossing those tracks and angling back into the ranch. The “Front Way” is impossibly convoluted and involves crossing the Carrizo Wash a couple of times, as well as crossing the railroad tracks twice (the railroad splits into two branches as it approaches the Coronado Power Plant – the one we can see from our cabin). Often, in fact regularly during rainy season, the Front Way is washed out, and the only way in or out of the ranch is the Back Way. The Back Way is, in fact, pretty much the lifeline for those who live out there.
We had been informed by our neighbors up there that the Front Way was, in fact flooded last week, but since Paul is on the ranch association board, he wanted to check the road for himself. So we ventured north on our way into town, and saw the sights. We discovered that the roads were mostly fine, although there was some sugar sand that was a little bit squishy. There was a spot where we saw some of the work they’ve been doing to divert a mini-wash that has been threatening to intersect the road. We saw lots of cows meandering, puffy white clouds floating in a pretty blue sky, and then we got to… (cue Golumn’s voice) The Tunnel! And that was a surprise. Usually the spot where one finds oneself unable to proceed is where the road goes down into the wash under the railroad — but this time, we were brought up short right at the entrance to the tunnel which is the last railroad crossing before leaving the ranch. Right at the mouth of the tunnel, there was a big puddle of standing water and mud. Now, to get through this tunnel, one has to approach it very carefully even when dry, due the way the road narrows and the sharp curbs on either side as you go through. Threading that needle takes skill, and approaching it through that slippery mud made it very unlikely to be successful. So, after checking it out, Paul decided we’d better not take the risk only to get stuck. Back we went, retracing the half-hour drive we’d just made almost back to our place, and then out the back way, which took another half hour. So around 90 minutes or so after we left our place, we finally made it into town. At least it was a pretty drive!
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