Our last ATV ride was so enjoyable we decided to try a night ride. We picked the perfect moonlight night and headed out. This time Jim and I were in a 4-seat Rhino while our guides Steve and Jeanette were on the ATVs.
We left for Vulture Mine at Sunset filled with anticipation and little perplexed the moon was not to be seen anywhere. In a few minutes we were off the pavement and onto the dark desert trails guided only by headlights. 
It was surprising how lush the desert was –even in the dark. We had been warned tarantulas, snakes, bugs of all types and other wildlife might be out, but we only saw a few birds, bats and bugs. That was just fine with me. After the first ½ hour ride packed with twists and turns, we stopped on a bluff to admire the view. The Wickenburg lights were off our left shoulder, Phoenix lights in the distance to our right and stars everywhere. Jupiter was the brightest body in the sky, other than the moon, because it was the closest to earth it’s been in years. Almost as if on cue, an orange glow started in the southeast and the full moon rose right in front of us framed by mighty saguaro! The Milky Way streaked above us and Vulture Mine almost looked majestic as the moonlight from the rising moon made it loom larger and larger off to our right. It was one of those scenes and moments you never want to end.
We opted to take the challenging route home. When we got to the “Big Daddy” hill and waterfall, it was good to be in the Rhino. I was glad Steve figured out the way home because we lost the town lights immediately. We went up and down, turned right and left, into and out of the washes so many times, I didn’t have a clue where we were until we hit the blacktop. The whole adventure turned out to be fantastic. I realize anything could have happened and that was part of the intrigue.
If you’d like to see Wickenburg from a different perspective, contact Steve & Jeanette at www.atvwickenburg.com or 928-684-1200.
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