I checked the position on Google Earth and even Dirt Road Boulevard easily shows up. I can't wait to give the site a try. Clear skies, aj ---- Steve Coe <stevecoe@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > Howdy all; > > > > A.J. and I took some time off of work this Friday and drove out to try and > find a spot that we could use to replace Flatiron. I believe that we did > just that. Obviously, we need to spend some time at the site during the > night, but it does look good so far. I will give the Lat and Long position > from AJ's GPS receiver, so that the map geniuses in the group can try this > place out from the comfort of their computers. > > > > 33 15.125 > > 112 53.749 > > 983 ft. altitude. > > > > It is beyond the little town of Arlington, Az. and off of Aqua Caliente > road. The trip involves 6 miles on a dirt road, but it is pretty well > maintained. The good news is that there appears to be no interest in > staking this place out for a housing project. So, maybe it will last for at > least a while. There is enough room for 100 vehicles, it is a desert > pavement larger than either Flatiron or Sentinel. And, it appears to be on > BLM land as far as my old map tells me. I will listen to others with more > computerized map info than me. > > > > Please do me one favor, I have had some trouble posting to the freelists, > let me know that this got posted OK. Directions to follow. > > > > Thanks; > > Steve Coe > > > > Directions to the "Dirt Boulevard" observing site > > > > Drive west on I-10 and turn south at Hwy. 85 as if going to Gila Bend. > About 5 miles south of the freeway is a well marked three way stop with a > Shell station on the northeast corner. This is the last place to stop for > ice or other supplies. > > > > Go straight through the three way intersection and the highway bends sharply > right, get in the right lane. In 0.7 mi is a sign that directs you toward > Arlington, Az. Turn right at the sign, it is before the wide bridge over > the Hassayampa River. You will immediately notice a sign that says "Old > U.S. Hwy 80". Stay on Old Hwy 80 for about 12 miles, along the way are two > stop signs, take a left at the first and a right at the second, staying on > Old Hwy 80, traveling west. > > > > After you pass the Arlington Post Office and the Desert Rose Bar and Grill > is a sign for Aqua Caliente road, it is a right turn. On the left side of > the highway is an abandoned cotton gin. > > > > Turn right onto Aqua Caliente road and zero your odometer at this point. > Turn right again onto a dirt road that is 0.6 miles from the turnoff. At > 2.8 miles you will pass under a set of power lines. At 5.3 miles there is a > cattle guard. At 5.5 miles is a yellow sign to warn you that the road turns > right, but don't go that direction. Take a left at the fork in the road and > you will be on the "Dirt Boulevard". It is a very wide dirt road, actually > two of them, with a median strip in the middle. At 6.0 miles there is a > very large desert pavement on the right. It is a large, pretty flat area of > dark rocks. That is it, turn right off the Dirt Boulevard and set up your > scope. > > > > Palo Verde Nuclear Power Plant is 12 miles north. Sentinel is 29 miles > southwest. > > >