April 18, 2023
The wind is continuing today but this is our last day here in CA. We decided to explore Palm Springs. We found, at least we think we found, the downtown Palm Springs. For us it was not what we pictured but the palm trees were sculpted beautifully. Nancy found a park that had a waterfall. It was the Tahquitz Canyon. It is on American Indian property. We had Bree with us. We parked and left the windows down for Bree. We went inside the Visitor’s Center. There we found out two things. The first is that the waterfall was up a rugged 1.25 mile hike. The second was that dogs, were not allowed on Indian property. So we got back in our truck and left.
I had passed a few Del Tacos. I remember them from an episode of The Big Bang Theory. So we had them for lunch. I thought they were very good. We needed a couple of groceries before we left town so we found an Albertson’s. After that we left and returned to the campground.
April 17, 2023
The wind has picked up today. The wind advisory says 20 to 30 mph winds with stronger gusts. We opted to stay put today. This has given me a chance to start catching up the blog. I am several days behind.
April 16, 2023
We got up early this morning so that we could make it to Joshua Tree / Palm Springs KOA by 1:00 for check-in. We were going to see Cheryl Morris and her family. We had two route options and both were within 10 minutes of each other. Nancy had wanted to see Quartzsite. The area peaked her interest because it is a very large boondockiong area and it was featured in the movie Nomadland. From our location it was a straight shot up US 95. In Quartzsite we picked up I-10. We went from the Sonoran Desert to the Mohave Desert.
We arrived on time and had the RV set up and within a few minutes Cheryl and her family arrived. We sat and talked for a little while and then Cheryl, Jessica, Ron, Nancy and I loaded into the truck and headed to Joshua Tree National Park. They had never been and we thought since they were this close, why not?
Our first stop, as always was the Visitor’s Center. We talked to a Ranger about what was really the best to see. We headed into the park and when possible and warranted, we would pull over and some would get out and many pictures were taken. The Joshua Tree is really neat looking. We also saw a multitude of different rock formations as well. They were very interesting. We got to a cross road and turned right. In a few miles we reached the Cholla Cactus Garden. The cacti are starting to bloom. We all piled out of the truck and walked around the garden for several minutes. After several pictures we decided to head out of the park and find a restaurant for dinner. We settled on a restaurant and had a wonderful meal with great conversation. And we even had a little dessert. It was about a 45 minute ride back to our RV. It was getting late and Cheryl and Ron and Jessica still had about a 2 hour ride home. It was another awesome day with friends and exploring our great country. Another memory for us. We have taken the opportunities or made the opportunities to see a lot of my friends that I went to high school with or worked with over the last several years. It has been great to reconnect with these folks. The great thing is that Nancy has been or has become friends with them also.
April 15, 2023
Today is travel day again. First thing this morning we returned park property to the office and said our good-byes to Christi, one of the park managers. Michael wasn’t feeling real well so we didn’t get to see him. Sallie and Ron came down and we said our byes to them as well. Then it was time to hook up and head toward Yuma, AZ. We are scheduled to stay at a Harvest Host for the night. The Host is Dirty South BBQ. We arrived and checked in and found a good spot to spend the night. It was relatively level so we did not have to unhitch. We just lowered our jacks and opened our slides. I got the generators all set up. There was another couple there spending the night also.
Harvest Host is a membership program. We pay an annual membership fee. Across the country there are wineries, breweries, restaurants, dairies, farms, churches, museums, and many others that allow RVers to spend the night in their parking lots for free. The idea is that you will patronize the business in some way. Examples are taking a tour, purchasing something from their gift shop, eating a meal or two, etc. There are even a few that offer electricity. There is another level of membership which includes Boondocks Welcome. These are usually folks that have large driveways, etc. for RVs to park. Then another level is the golf package which allows RVers to stay at golf courses. The normal is a one night stay. Sometimes more is possible. Most hosts have their reservations online and the maximum number of RVs allowed and maximum sizes. We have used it 3 times on this trip. Well worth it.
We went into the restaurant and ordered our dinner. I got the brisket plate with BBQ (red) slaw, baked beans, and had a Mountain Dew to drink. Nancy had the brisket plate but with creamy cole slaw and mac and cheese. After we ordered we made our way outside to a large outdoor area with lots of tables and chairs. As it was outdoors, we could take Bree with us. Shortly after we were seated, the other camping couple came out and we invited them over. The four of us sat and talked and enjoyed some wonderful BBQ. As it turns out they are on a couple month trip and are from Libertyville, IL, which is on the north side of Chicago. He is a retired firefighter/paramedic. We sat and talked until the restaurant closed at 7:00PM. Very enjoyable. Fortunately the weather was ideal. Low was only going to be mid 50s so we wouldn’t need a heater or AC. We got up in the morning and I had my coffee and we closed up and headed out.
April 14, 2023
First thing this morning we said good bye to Dan and Susan, some fellow work campers. I had to run to town to fill our propane tanks and to fuel the truck. We spent the day packing and trying to figure what was going where and what will we need easy access to. We have a couple of Harvest Hosts stays coming up and we will need to have access to our generators and associated tools. We have accumulated a lot of stuff in the last year.
It is also our last night to work. Doesn’t seem possible. We took our ride around the park and took one last look. In the morning, we will return the golf cart to the office along with any keys we have and the clip board. Nancy ran out to get something and while she was gone, an elderly couple stopped in looking for an overnight spot. He didn’t like driving at night. They were pulling a pop-up. Since they had no bathroom, they were not supposed to stay but I though it might be best if we put them close to the bathhouse. They had just re-opened. I showed them a few spots but they said they wanted a pull-thru as he didn’t like backing. So I took them up to the Wagon Wheel where a couple of pull-thru are. Too far from the bathhouse. So back down to the original spot we went. They chose one and with my help and his wife’s help, he got it backed in just fine. And our last night was complete.
April 13, 2023
We are finally going to see some friends today that we knew from our Carmel days. After retiring, Ernie Maroon moved to Apache Junction, Arizona. He married Kirby. I didn’t know Karen but I knew her father. We ate at one of our favorite restaurants in Tucson, Holy Smokin’ Butts. We enjoyed good food and had a wonderful time catching up. They had driven a couple of hours from Apache Junction, AZ to meet up with us. We would have done this earlier but life kept getting in the way. It was time for them to head home as they have animals that needed tending to.
Nancy and I decided that tonight we would celebrate our anniversary by going back to Casino Del Sol. We again set our limits. We had to raise them a little as the minimum went from $5 to $10. The upped the ante. :) We played 3-card poker. It is a relatively fast paced game. Again, we played for 2 or 3 hours. This time we came out about $150 ahead of the game. We had a very good hot streak going and then they changed dealers. Then we started to lose a little. Then when the cards went cold we said, adios!. We did take some of our winnings to the fancy restaurant in the hotel and we had desert. I had a chocolate lava cake and Nancy had an almond cake of some sorts. Both very good. We left the casino and Tucson as tomorrow is pack up day. Going to be a long day.
April 12, 2023
HAPPY 48TH ANNIVERSARY!!! HAPPY 1ST ANNIVERSARY! Today marks 48 years of marriage. Today also means that we have been full - time living in our RV for one year. One year ago today we left our home in North Carolina to work camp our way across America to fulfill as many items as we could on our Bucket List. We are going on a date tomorrow night to celebrate but today we have different plans. Ron and I are going to the Pima County Air and Space Museum. It is my second day.
Nancy and Sallie are going to go out as well, to Sierra Vista for craft stuff. Nancy is needing more stuffing material for the Victory Junction Bears. While out she found me a really cool piece of yard art. A metal road runner. That was my anniversary gift. Beep! Beep!
Ron and I walked around Hangar 1 for quite some time. I focused on the A-10A Thunderbolt II, A.K.A. The Wart Hog. There was an ancillary display depicting a typical base camp. The stories were very interesting. We finally decided it was time to move on. The weather was warm and sunny so it was time to grab a bottle of water and sit and relax for a few. After our rest period, we went to the Dorothy Finley Space Museum. As usual some very interesting displays. Like the Mars Phoenix Lander.
After the Space Museum, we wandered around the outdoor exhibits for a while as we made our way to the 390th Memorial Museum, Home of the B-17 Flying Fortress. The museum was great. It told the story of how important the B-17 was to the American war effort. The museum also detailed the history of one particular B-17, the I’ll Be Around and talked about each position on the aircraft. We found out that on certain days a couple of volunteers came in and would tell stories. These men were actually in War World II and flew on B-17s. One was a POW but somehow survived the German Stalags. I wished we knew this ahead of time.
It was time to leave and get something to eat and a cold beer. We decided to to try Fire Truck Brewing. We found the closest one. It has only been open for a few months. We scanned the menu. We decided the cost was a little high and the only real food was pizza. We opted for a couple of appetizers. Ron ordered a beer he had had before. I ordered a flight of four. I sampled the Hero Dunkel, 1811 Desert Blonde, Heatwave Hefeweizen, and Coldshot IPL. The Blonde was pretty cold. After finishing our snack, Ron suggested we try another place with good beer and good food.
We headed to Sonoita to the Copper Brothel Brewery. Ron was correct. I opted for the enchiladas and a glass of Maggie Mae, a pale ale. It was very good. Once we finished we headed home.
PIMA COUNTY AIR AND SPACE PICTURES
April 11, 2023
We still have a couple of items left on our list of To Do in Arizona. The plan for today is to go to Tombstone. The first stop is Boot Hill Cemetery. It is an actual cemetery where some historic figures are buried. A prime example are the graves of Bill Clanton, Frank McLaury, and Tom McLaury. These are the three Cowboys that lost the gunfight at the OK Corral on October 26, 1881. According to their grave marker, they were “murdered”. All of the headstones (or wood) are reconstructed based on the actual item. Except one. Here is the link to the website which has the history and tells who is buried there. Boot Hill Cemetery.
An interesting item about Arizona is that for law enforcement officers and firefighters who die in the line of duty, The Fallen Heroes Wreath Program places a wreath on the graves of these public servants. There were two wreathes in Boot Hill. One was Sheriff John Gillespie who was shot in 1882 while investigating a shooting. The second one was Tombstone Marshal Fred White. He was shot by Curly Bill Brocius who was intoxicated. Watch the movie “Tombstone”.
Additionally there are graves with coins on them. The coins indicate that the person who is buried here is a veteran. The coins are an indication of respect. The coins are collected and donated to charity.
After Boot Hill we decided to get something to eat. I had heard someone rave about the burgers at the Longhorn Saloon located on Allen Street. While driving to Longhorn we passed the Old Tombstone Engine Co. 1 house, which is now the Senior Center. We ordered our burgers and we were not impressed with them. To me they seemed like they were frozen patties. Not tasty at all. Very disappointed. After lunch we headed to Tombstone Brewing. I had to try some local brew before we leave. I had a 4 beer flight. I tried their Raspberry Berliner, Fanfare for the Common Man, Patersbier, and Miner’s Mild. They were okay but none of them knocked my socks off. A very interesting thing did occur while we were relaxing on the patio. As I was sipping on one of my beers a deer went bounding up the street toward town. It was neat.
On the way home we pass by The Trump Store. I have spotted the store months ago and decided I had to go check it out. I found several items that I found funny. Not for everyone but … It was time to go home. We needed a little rest for tonight.
Ron and Sallie came over tonight and we had one last evening of playing Euchre. As usual we had a great time even though Nancy and I lost 2 out of 3 games. It has been very nice to meet new friends during our time here in Arizona.
April 10, 2023
The pack up has started. The expected weather this week is sunny and 90 today thru Wednesday. Yee Haw! I did take the propane tank off of the fire pit and stored the fire pit in the carry bag. I also restocked my coffee inside. I was in a mood so I inventoried our freezer so we could plan meals. We have enough food to carry us to Colorado and then some. I also decided to clean and reorganize a couple of the kitchen cabinets. This was all precipitated with having to put some items away. The big packing day will probably be Friday. That is when we will be playing Tetris with our stuff to fit it all in the belly or basement. There really is a logical approach to packing. What are we likely to need for the road for the next couple of weeks until we get to Colorado. A prime example is our generators. Right now they are kind of buried in the basement. We have 3 Harvest Hosts stays scheduled so we will need better access to the generators as there are no hook ups.
During our nightly round we stopped and talked with Ron and Sallie. Ron invited us up to their place for Happy Hour!. So at 6:30PM we headed back up the hills to their site. We had a great time just sitting and talking and sipping our beverages. Hard to believe we only have 4 more days here.
April 9, 2023
Happy Easter friends!! We are in our final week here at the beautiful Lakes at Saint David RV Resort. This week we will be tying up loose ends and packing to get ready to move. We have made many friends while here and our departure will be bitter/sweet.
One of our friends is Lowell and his two fur kids, Grace (Great Dane) and Mercy (German Shepard). We invited Lowell to Easter dinner. The weather was gorgeous. I fixed a BBQ Smoked Spiral Ham and homemade stove top mac and cheese. We also had a salad. We dined outside at our picnic table and had a wonderful time. The dogs, including Bree, were laying close by but being well behaved. Once we finished dinner, Lowell had to leave to visit some local friends. We made plans for him to come back for dessert, whenever he was available.
This gap allowed us to clean things up and package left-overs. We had sat and relaxed for a while when Lowell came back. We had bought an apple crumb pie from Apple Annies. We were expecting a lot. The pie was good but Nancy and I both agreed that my homemade apple crumb pie is better. Lowell also said that the pie had that store bought taste due to preservatives. Grace and Mercy stayed home this time as it was their dinner time.
April 8, 2023
And yet another busy day today at the Lakes. From 8:00AM until noon there is another yard sale. We have nothing for sale and are not really going to do anything. So we got up and headed to Tombstone. Today is the Tombstone Rose Festival. We could not find any time postings for the parade or other events so we just took a ride. We arrived in Tombstone around 10:30AM and as we thought parking was not easy to find. We finally found a spot on Fremont St. and walked 3 or 4 blocks to Allen St. Amazingly we found an empty bench and decided to sit and try to figure things out. We overheard someone say that the parade should start at 11:00AM. We saw several groups assembling when we walked up but we were unsure if they were forming or preparing to leave.
The parade was short but neat. Of course it was awesome to see all of the folks dressed in period clothing. After the parade we walked down Allen St. and looked into a few shops. We have been there several times so we were looking for something new. We walked down to City Park and decided to get some lunch. I saw a sign on the OK Cafe that they served buffalo burgers. Our lunch decision was made. We each had a buffalo burger. They were very, very good. After lunch we walked back to the truck. It took us past City Park where just a couple of weeks ago, a bronze statue of Edward Schieffelin was unveiled. The artist lives in St. David. Ed Schieffelin was the founding father of Tombstone as he discovered silver in 1877 and 1878 in the area.
We arrived back at The Lakes in time to get Bree and our chairs to attend the afternoon concert. The band was Kiri Mariposa Band. We started sitting around the koi pond but the weather was sunny and hot for the afternoon show. Several of us found some shade and while sipping on our favorite beverage, we enjoyed the music. Michael, one of the Lakes managers, even regaled us with a tune or two. This will be our last patio show here. They have all been great.
April 7, 2023
Nancy gets a much needed vacation today. I am going to take a trip to Tucson to the Pima County Air and Space Museum. It is very large and they sell a two-day ticket. At one time you could tour the “Boneyard” also. Due to Air Force security changes, those tours are no longer available. The Boneyard is where you will find hundreds of older aircraft that can be used for parts, displays, etc. From the roads it looks awesome.
I arrived at the museum around 10:30 AM. As I entered and saw more of what was there I decided to go with a two-day ticket. I also opted for the 1:00PM Tram Tour. After I made my purchases you enter directly into Hangar One. You get a two-sided map/guide. You need it! There are acres of aircraft. There are four hangars, a 309th AMARG (Aerospace Maintenance And Regeneration Group) museum, a space gallery, and over 150 aircraft outside sitting on the 80 acre site. Generally there are aircraft from all of the US armed forces and from many other countries and from enemies from previous wars with the US. It is truly an amazing and awesome collection. It is second to only the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.
In the photos I have included the map that I was given. Between my phone and my Nikon I took over 200 photos. The museum is not all airplanes and helicopters either. There were ship models and displays regarding uniforms, historical battles. They provided multiple items for children also or the child at heart. There were videos playing in various areas and the aircraft were just not on the floor of the hangars but many were suspended from the ceilings. A very overwhelming place. I have been to several air museums and hopefully see many more!
I planned out my day in my head. I had about an 1 1/2 hours before my tram tour so I decided to roam through Hangar 1 and then see about time. When I had wandered through Hangar 1 I still had some time so I walked over to Hangar 3. Hangars 3, 4, & 5 are smaller than 1. I made my circuit through Hangar 3 and decided it was time for some water and a snack. The Flight Grill is in the same area where you board the tram so it worked out.
The Tram Tour takes about 45 minutes and winds 1.5 miles through the outdoor exhibits. It stops briefly to explain certain aircraft, their significance, etc. The grounds are organized into sections. They are US Air Force fighters and others, commercial and civil aircraft, transport and utility aircraft, tankers, electronic aircraft, NASA aircraft, Presidential and VIP aircraft, bombers, trainers, helicopters, early US and foreign fighters, US Navy fighters, fire fighters, and miscellaneous.
After the tour I decided I needed some nourishment. After I ate my lunch I continued my tour to Hangars 4 and 5. The museum closes at 5:00PM. It was now about 3:45PM and I was about done for the day. I definitely got my steps in for the day. So I decided to head home and come back next weeks to finish up my tour.
So what was Nancy doing all this time? Glad you asked. For Christmas Santa Claus brought her a travel size quilting/sewing machine. She missed sewing and wanted to do some projects for Victory Junction. Victory Junction is a special needs camp about a mile from our house. It was started by the Petty Family in honor of Adam Petty, who lost his life in a New Hampshire accident. NASCAR is a huge sponsor. Adam was Kyle’s son and Richard’s grandson. Each camper receives a stuffed teddy bear and a blanket. She got the pattern from Victory Junction and a lot of fabric from Joanne’s. For a while now she has been cutting out the patterns and today she did a lot of sewing. She enjoys doing this and we both have been involved with Victory Junction in some capacity since we moved in. Great cause.
April 3, 2023
We had a great day today. We drove to Tucson for a couple of errands and while there with a little extra time, we decided to play a little. We ventured to Casino Del Sol. We arrived and spoke with a security person. She suggested we enroll in the Club Del Sol and as a new comer we would get $10 free cash. We did just that. The $10 is on a card. We walked around a little and scoped out the place. We were getting hungry so we walked into Mosby’s for a bite to eat. Nancy had the California Turkey Wrap and I had the Philly Cheesesteak with a Dos Equis. After lunch we found ourselves in the Video Poker Room. We played for several minutes and we didn’t loose all of our money.
We then ventured into another part of the casino. We found the 3-card poker table. At first Nancy sat and played. She was holding her own. It looked like a lot of fun so I found a seat and decided to play. We went back and forth as far as winning and losing. We had to leave by 2:00 PM to get back in time for work. We had a great time and after we cashed out we determined that we were up about $40. Not a bad day! And had a good time.
April 2, 2023
Robert has spoken of our neighbor Lowell. He lives in a house behind our site that is landlocked by the campground. He has a rescue Great Dane that I have walked for him on days that he is going to be away from home for extended periods of time. Both his son and mother have come to visit him while we have been here. One of the common events is going 4wheeling in the mountains. Having never done such I asked if he would take me on an adventure. Well today was my day. He had bought a brandy new one that we got to break in today.
He loaded the 4wheeler into his truck and off we went. We went to the Dragoon Mountains which are on the east side of St. David and in the Coronado National Forest. We drove the truck down the dirt road to the entrance of the CNF. He unloaded the 4wheeler and off we went. Ten miles further on the dirt road….. and then…. trails. They were a combination of rocky, narrow, wet, high incline….. On the motorcycles we are used to leaning with the bike… well here we had to lean in the opposite direction to counter balance to avoid going down the cliff. We passed areas that people have camped leaving behind their rock fire pits. What an awesome place to watch the sunset and wake up to a magnificent sunrise.
Much mining was done in these mountains. This mine was founded in 1895 and worked off and on until the 1950’s. It was known for copper, zinc, silver, gold, lead molybdenum and tungsten.
Once we got as high as we could on the 4wheeler we reached one of the abandoned mines. The past two times Lowell had been up there he was able to enter the mine. This time there was a good deal of water preventing our entry. There is much evidence left behind to include cables and windmills.
In addition to the history in the mountains the view is priceless. This adventure that Robert and I are on has allowed us to experience this breathtaking country.
Time for the trip back to the truck. As rough as the ride was I am amazed that my back tolerated the roughness with no more pain than usual. Being a brandy new vehicle probably helped. On the way back I thought to myself…. self, this was great fun but I don’t think I would do it on a regular basis. Now as I sit here writing I am totally ready to do it again. Thanks Lowell.
March 31, 2023
Mixed feelings today. Our friends Dennis and Jane are leaving. The good news is that we will see them in September. Before we left for our adventures today, we went up the hill to say adios. They were walking their dogs, Tater and Charlie, and were with Ron and Janice. We all stood in the roadway and talked a while. After a couple of pictures were taken it was time for us to head out for our adventures today.
The first stop is Chiricahua National Monument outside of Wilcox. On the way to Wilcox on Interstate 10 there are some beautiful rock formations around Dragoon Road. Our first stop is the Visitor’s Center. The scenic drive started once you got off the main road. It is a two mile drive to get to the center. On our way we actually saw some wildlife. There were 5 young deer grazing along the road. While at the visitor center we sat and watch a short video on the eco system in the park and how it was formed. It is home to a very diverse flora and fauna populations. Again, we learned a lot.
From the visitor’s center we had another 6.2 miles to get the best views at Massai Point. There you could take a couple of trails to get great pictures. One trail was dog friendly and was all concrete. The views were magnificent. Once we were walked out and pictured out, we got back on the main road and headed to our next destination, Fort Bowie National Historic Site.
We reached the turn off from the main road and according to Apple Maps, we had 10 miles to get to the fort. We that 10 miles was on a dirt road. As dirt roads go, it wasn’t too bad. We finally reached the parking area. The thing is from here you still had a 1.5 mile hike to the Visitor’s Center. We were not going to do that. Since I had read about the park on the National Parks app, I knew that you could get closer. We followed the Handicap Parking signs. That route took us another 5 miles, mostly dirt roads, to a spot where the rangers and maintenance people park. Then you only had to walk, up hill, another 350 yards to get to the Visitor’s Center. We made that hike. We got there just in time to walk around the displays for a few minutes before they closed. We did get the chance to talk to one of the ranger volunteers. He was very knowledgeable. It was cool to see what was left of a fort that was abandoned 150 years ago. When the fort was abandoned, people in the area would come salvage what they needed. The fort never received any maintenance until 1960 when it was declared as a national historic site. Since then the efforts have been to maintain the ruins as is. Wind, rain, harsh sunshine have all played a part in the formation of the ruins. We walked back to the truck and hit the dusty trail. Pun intended!
We stopped in Wilcox for fuel and found the Double S Restaurant for dinner. Dinner was good but not outstanding. As we had the night off from work, we had taken our time today. It was after dark by the time we got back home. Time to rest our weary legs.
March 29, 2023
We only have a few items left on our list of To Do for Arizona. Today we will be going to Tucson. Our first stop is Saguaro National Park - East. There is another park on the west side of Tucson. If we have a chance we may find our way there but the east park is closest. We arrived at the park and went into the Rincon Mountain Visitor’s Center. We talked to a ranger about what to see and do and picked up a map. We also learned about trails and which ones might be dog friendly. We had Bree with us. We drove the scenic route and found a couple of short hikes. It was a very scenic drive and we drove through the Cactus Forest. It was awesome to see so many saguaro cacti. We also learned a lot too.
SAGUARO NATIONAL PARK PICTURES
We left the park and headed to the Barrio Brewing Company. It produces my favorite local brew, Barrio Tucson Blonde Ale. The great thing is they also serve food. So we thought we would try it. They had outdoor seating so we could take Bree with us on the patio so she wouldn’t have to sit in the truck. Since I knew about the blonde ale, I decided to try different brews. They have a flight of 4 - 5 ounce pours. I chose to try Viva Vienna Lager (seasonal), Belgian Tripel, Copperhead Pale Ale, and Santa Rita Jefeweizen. I can say I enjoyed each of them. So much so I had to pick up a six pack of the Vienna.
As for food, Nancy had a Veg Head Panini which is eggplant, fire-roasted red bell peppers, sweet fried onions, braised spinach, walnut basil pesto, and Havarti Cheese on ciabatta and pressed. For me I wasn’t in the mood for normal bar fare. So I looked at the South of the Border section. I found the Carne Tacos. I added some sour cream and they were absolutely delicious. After lunch it was time to head home as we had to go to work. Another good day in southern Arizona.
March 28, 2023
Today we went with Jane and Dennis to Tombstone. Jane wanted to get a hat and we knew where the stores were. The plan was also to get lunch at Big Nose Kate’s Saloon. The weather was perfect. Dennis drove and we parked by the Bird Cage Theater. We walked Allen Street, stopping in several stores that sold hats. At this point, nothing was purchased at this point. We walked the length of Allen Street and crossed it a couple of times. Nancy and Jane tried on a lot of hats and some looked good on them, and some not so much. This trip was all about the girls. After having gone through the shops once it was time for lunch.
We got seated at Big Nose Kate’s just in time. People were waiting outside. We ordered and Jane and I had a large beer. I had my Arizona normal, Barrio Blonde Ale. Nancy had a Rueben and I had a pastrami sandwich. It was very good. We enjoyed good conversation and good live music. After eating we went down The Shaft to check out the gift shop. The Shaft is in the basement and requires descending a metal spiral staircase. There wasn’t a lot down there and definitely nothing we couldn’t live without but there were a couple of really neat items.
Now the process of returning to the store to possibly make a purchase. The store that was chosen was The Branding Iron. This is the store where I purchased my palm hat when we first arrived in Arizona. Dennis and I found a bench and sat. After several minutes I got up to check on their progress. And by this time Nancy had chosen a nice white summer hat and found a black straw hat on the 50% off rack. I also got a new hat band for my brown leather hat. I paid for everything and rejoined Dennis on the bench. Nancy continue to help Jane find something she was looking for. A few minutes later Jane appeared with her purchases. It was time for a drink and bathroom stop. We went next-door to the Longhorn. Nancy and Jane had a Prickly Pear Margarita. Dennis also ordered the Apple Cobbler. The four of us shared that large dessert. By now it was time to come home as Nancy and I had to work. Jane and Dennis will be leaving Friday so this will probably be the last adventure with them until September. They will be passing through North Carolina then so we’ve made plans to meet up with them in Wilkesboro for a week. Its going to be a lot of fun. We’ll have the chance to show them around the area.
March 25, 2023
Busy, busy day. The day started with a Yard Sale here at the park. The sale went from 8:00AM until 12:00 noon. Nancy played hostess, greeting people as they entered the park and directed them to other levels of the park where people had items for sale. April and Karl also had set up a breakfast menu for sale. Nancy found a couple of cacti to purchase. I was going to help Nancy but I wasn’t needed.
After the yard sale, the rock / blues trio The Black Hole, was back. We listened to their music on the patio from 1:30 PM until 3:00 PM. They put on a great show again. The weather turned out to be fabulous. Sunny with a slight breeze and temperatures in the upper 60s. After the show we made our rounds and I proceeded to smoke and cook the shotgun shells for the evening’s activity.
The boys, John and Chris, were throwing a party at their place. We attended one when we first arrived here at the park. Nancy went to the party and I stayed home finishing up the shotgun shells. Once they were done, I went to the party. Most people had departed as they stopped on their way home. A couple of people stayed just because they wanted my shotgun shells. I made two varieties, one mild and one I tried to get spicy. To me they had a little spice but not much. They went over very well. I sat down and had a little to eat and talked with some folks. A long but enjoyable day.
March 23, 2023
Good day all! Our adventure today is to visit the town of Bisbee. About a mile south of Bisbee is a little ghost town of Lowell. It was actually incorporated into Bisbee several years ago. Our first stop is the Bisbee Breakfast Club. It is in Lowell. Lowell looks like a town from the 1950s. I think the only business open in Lowell is the Bisbee Breakfast Club. We had a very good breakfast and walked around town for a few minutes. Last night we decided to make reservations for the Bisbee Queen Mine Tour and we had some time until we needed to get there. We left Lowell and headed into Historic Bisbee. We were actually looking for a small haberdashery called the Desert Diva. Historic Bisbee is small with small parking areas with small parking spaces. Not made for a one ton long bed 4X4 pickup. It was tight but we found a spot. We found the store and they had some great hats. It was a good thing too. I had spotted a nice hat band and a nice leather top hat.
We arrived at the Queen Mine and they also had a small parking lot. It was actually still in operation until 1975. They mined silver, gold, and copper. Silver and gold were discovered there in 1877. Bisbee at one time was the largest town west of the Mississippi River. What was really cool was that our guide was a former miner in that very mine. We checked in and received a red metal tag. It was part of their accountability system. There were several people waiting and the group was divided into the red group and the blue group. They called the groups to gather around for a brief safety talk. Then you were to pick up a vest and walk around the counter to get your hard hat and then down the line to get a light. The tour actually takes you into the mine on a rail car that you straddle like a bike. They take you in about 150 feet and stop. This gives your eyes a chance to adjust and if anyone is not feeling like they can continue, the assistant can take them out. We did not lose anyone from our train. You continue on until you get into the mine about 700 feet. You are actually on level 3 with 2 levels below you and 4 above you. The passageway is just wide enough for people to travel in with about a foot on either side. The next stop you have to get off the train and climb several stairs. At the top of the stairs you are in a wide open room. They explained how they mined the ore and what to look for. One example of rock you could see the silver, the gold, and the cooper ores. We were in that room about 20 minutes.
Neal was very knowledgeable as he actually mined there. Then you got back on the train and went about a thousand feet further into the mine. Again, you got off and walked but no stairs. Along the way they showed you the mining equipment from various eras and told how they would get the ore out of the mine. It was very interesting. You walked further into an area and you could see an elevator of sorts and even the potty car. Once you were at work, you stayed there for your 10 hour shift. You used a special two seat car. Some unlucky fool had to empty and clean it at some point. You even ate in the mine. The goal was to earn money and to do so, you had a minimum tonnage to meet the company’s goal and then you received bonuses for anything above that. Once that part of the tour was done you got back on the train after depositing your metal accountability tag in a coffee can the assistant had and rode out of the mine. You then reversed your path and returned all the equipment. It was a very cool tour.
After the tour we went to the Old Bisbee Brewing Company. Nancy had a root beer but did not care for it much. Had a little sarsaparilla taste to it. Yuck! I had to have a taste of everything. Most were very good. I had 3 ounces of Classic Pilsner, Cooper City Ale, Double Hopped IPA, Mayan Stout, Salut, Celebration Pale Ale, El Trigo, and Bisbee Blue Gin. The one that I could not finish was the Mayan Stout. I could taste too much of the coffee and chocolate. Did not care for that. The one that truly surprised me was the IPA. It was very good. I’m not normally an IPA drinker but this one did not have that bitter hoppy flavor. So after my tasting, I gave the key to Nancy and she drove us home. Another good day of adventure.
March 21, 2023
This afternoon, Michael and Christ are hosting a work camper pizza party in the clubhouse. This would be the last get together as most of us are leaving in the next few weeks. Some will be returning next winter. We will not be. Michael and Christi provided soft drinks, pizza, and salad. Michael and Christi gave us an update on the progress of things in the park. They relayed all the positive comments people have told them about the park and thanked everyone for all the work put into making the park what it is. We have met and worked with several great people. It has been a good winter. Despite the cold weather. They gave each couple a couple of chocolate bunnies and a card. Inside the card was a gift card for Love’s Truck Stops in the amount of $100. Awesome gift.