World Donkey Day (May 8th) celebrates one of humanity’s most quietly capable partners. Donkeys have worked alongside people for thousands of years, prized for their endurance, sharp memory, and sure-footed confidence on rugged ground. Often mistaken for stubborn, they are actually careful thinkers—pausing to assess risk rather than rushing into trouble.

Reminds me of an adventure with (Audrey) Wilde out to Oatman, AZ to find “wild donkeys”. Her 2023 Tabula Rasa Declaration was to chase down 5 new Arizona locations – she watched a few TikToks about Oatman which was a roadtrip with her buddy, Los!

But, first, Geocaches.

My little Geocaching heart inituitively knew there were geocaches either in Oatman or en route. It ended up being both. I created a map of teh geocaches I wanted to attempt, and knowing there’s no mobile phone reception out there, I downloaded (cached) the offline data. That’s just a power move.

Atlas Obscura is one of my other related websites that I superimpose over my Geocaching Map. The generally align with the thought, “hey, this is something cool but not tourist-y”. A few stops along the way were added to the itinerary. On December 16, 2023, we loaded up the famed, Millennium Subaru (my 2014 Subaru Outlook) with roadtrip snacks, water for our 3.5 hour drive.

Shaffer Spring Goldfish Bowl

Many people have visited the wondrous Shaffer Spring Goldfish Bowl on Oatman Road (aka Route 66) between Kingman and Oatman in western Arizona.

However, many of you probably don’t know about the history of this bowl fed by a natural spring from the side of a mountain.

Herberta Schroeder, in a special article for the Kingman Daily Miner, provides some of the background. First off, it was an offshoot of the Works Progress Administration during the 1930s and ’40s.

During the WPA construction of the “Gold Road Section” from Gold Road Mine to Kingman, sources of water for animals, cars and humans alike were hard to find.

A man named Shaffer found water seeping from cliff walls and built a basin made of indigenous rock and concrete. He set it where the springs could drain into it.

Locals kept gold fish, snails and plants in it to help keep the water fresh and algae free. Many local residents call it the Gold Fish Bowl.

The spring has frozen over or gone dry, but someone always restocks it with fish. The only hint of its presence is a column of stone stairs built up the cliff wall to the basin.

Schroeder notes that wildlife — including the famous wild burros that frequent the area — and honeybees can be seen drinking from the bowl. She also says a monkey paw orchid also grows at one side of the bowl.

And although algae seems to have returned to the bowl, we’ve seen goldfish in at least one of the times we’ve visited it.

Another online source says 31 steps go up the mountain to the bowl. But there are no banisters, so be careful.

There’s no road signs pointing out Shaffer Spring Goldfish bowl, but Schroeder says to watch for those stairs after mile marker 31 heading to Oatman.

Cool Springs Station

Cool Springs Camp ~ Something happened here once … 

              … soon Route 66 begins the climb up the Gold Hill Grade towards Oatman, Arizona. The ruins of an old gas station on the right stand as a silent guardian at the entrance to the canyon, a lonely ghost of another time when a nation on the move paused at this spot. What stories are hidden away here? The little day-to-day dramas played out so long ago by people coming and people going, but stopping for a time here to rest? I stood among the ruins and looked out upon the desert. Nothing stirred. A gust of warm desert wind brushed up against my face then whispered in my ear before moving on – up and over the ruined, blackened stones. In the stillness now I thought I heard the wind echo “Something happened here once…”

~ The Road Wanderer Log, March 2001

In 1997 Ned Leuchtner passed through the area. The beauty, history and majesty of the area intrigued him. When he found the ruins of Cool Springs, the spirit of the place fascinated and inspired him. Ned Leuchtner tried repeatedly to buy the property for three years but to no avail. Finally, in the summer of 2001, the owner called and said she wanted to sell. She was moved by Ned’s appeal to rebuild Cool Springs. The rebirth of Cool Springs had begun.

The rebuilt Cool Springs station is now a gift shop offering Route 66 souvenirs and one of a kind Cool Springs memorabilia. You can also order items from the Cool Springs gift shop through this web site. Visit our online store for more information and to check out some of the Cool Springs items for sale. They’re cool!

Future plans for Cool Springs include rebuilding a replica of the famous cafe as a Route 66 Cool Springs Museum and Interpretation center. (And yes, there’s a geocache hidden there)

Oatman, AZ

Oatman is nestled in the rugged Black Mountains of Mohave County, Arizona, perched at an elevation of 2,710 feet. Yet to Wilde and me, it embodies far more than its geographical designation.

As we strolled into town after parking, a pickup truck ambled by, trailing a donkey that nibbled treats from the bumper, moving at a leisurely pace of 2 mph. We exchanged glances, intrigued by just how “wild” these celebrated donkeys truly were.

Oatman boasts a rich history as the site of the Last Big Gold Boom in the United States, and this quirky village clings to the longest stretch of the original historic Route 66, a testament to its storied past.

The feed bags of $1.00 were well worth the money spent!

Oatman Town Burros

The wild burros of Oatman are descendants of the sturdy animals brought here during the late 1800s, originally employed by miners to transport vital supplies like rocks and precious metals. Now that the mining era has faded into history, these resilient burros remain, roaming the town each morning in search of food and welcoming tourists with their gentle presence.

Protected under the Wild Horse and Burro Act of 1971, they enjoy federal protection and are cared for by the United States Department of the Interior. Thanks to a gentleman’s agreement with the Bureau of Land Management, visitors can purchase Hay Cubes for just $1.00 per bag to feed the burros.

I picked up two bags—one for each of us. The footage I captured doesn’t quite convey the charm of the scene. Walter, the town’s beloved mayor, is none other than a donkey! While Audrey browsed the shops for souvenirs, I took the opportunity to hunt for a few hidden geocaches tucked away in the town.

Experience the thrill of Wild West shootouts in Oatman! Be sure to catch the Oatman Ghost Rider Gunfighters alongside the Red Ridge Marauders, the town’s oldest gunfighter groups. The gunfighters burst onto the streets around noon and again at 2:00 PM on weekdays, engaging in about four exciting skirmishes. On weekends, the action kicks off at noon, but keep in mind that showtimes may shift due to weather conditions or special events. Audrey and I made it a point not to miss this spectacle—it was an absolute blast!

Oatman Saloon

After noshing on some lunch, and guzzling brew, it was time to add our hard earned dollars to the walls, er ceiling, um, anywhere we could as it was decorated from floor to ceiling!

While We Driving …

A few miles beyond Oatman, I spotted a group of donkeys roaming freely, their wild spirits unrestrained. I pulled over and parked, urging Audrey to hop out and experience the moment. Then, on a whim, I decided to join her. My keen eye counted eight donkeys, drawn to the scent of our takeout from the Oatman Saloon. They quickly surrounded us, their curious faces peering in. We scrambled back into the safety of the Millennium Subaru, laughter bubbling up as I opened the sunroof. Audrey stood on the passenger seat, leaning out to feed these furry creatures, who eagerly nibbled at the treats. As the sun dipped low, casting a golden hue over the desert, it was time to rally back to Camp Wilde in Chandler. Our hearts swelled with joy, and Wilde’s unexpected serenade of Marty Robbins songs filled the car with warmth.

So, that wraps up my memories of donkeys on World Donkey Day — creatures known for endurance, caution, and quietly carrying people toward adventure. Looking back, maybe that road trip to Oatman wasn’t really about finding “wild donkeys” at all. It was about chasing curiosity down an old stretch of Route 66 with a good friend, a pocketful of geocaches, a Subaru full of snacks, and absolutely no guarantee of what we’d discover next.

Turns out, that was the real adventure all along.