Southern Arizona Adventure

 

Arizona in February was definitely an ideal place to be over the past week of our adventure.  Cloudless blue skies, sunshine and warm breezes made our week in the Cochise County area of southern Arizona wonderful.  

Once we got over our ‘truck’ lag, we decided it was time to stretch those bike pedaling muscles that had been hibernating since last summer.  A relaxing cycle tour around the campground introduced us to a number of new friends and to one local resident who was to become our arch nemesis during our stay in Benson.  You see, Valley Vista was the perfect habitat for the proliferation of the nasty Tribulus terrestris.  This wicked little fellow was responsible for three flat tires on our bikes shortly after our very first ride. We were informed that Slime, from the local Walmart would help to keep the dreaded ‘Goat’s Head’ at bay, at least for the sake of our bike tires.  The thorns were constantly stuck in our shoes and outdoor mats, which would allow them a ride in to the trailer, where they would lay in wait of an unsuspecting sock clad foot. Ouch!

               

Just south of our home base was the historic mining town of Tombstone known as ‘the town too tough to die’ and home of the infamous gunfight at the OK Corral.  Visits to the historic American west buildings and walking the same streets that Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday had in the 1880s was like a trip back to the old west. Strapping on a six-shooter and donning a cowboy hat would’ve been most appropriate, but instead we settled for sipping a margarita at the Six Gun City gunfight. 

 

A short drive through the mountains to the south leads to the city of Bisbee, once known as “the Queen of the Copper Camps”.  Founded in 1880, this mining camp was one of the richest mineral sites in the world. Bisbee was a thriving mining town until the 1970s when mining became unprofitable. Now the town has been revitalized by artisans, craftsmen, and retirees who fell for its charm.  Restored Victorian and European style homes and buildings, built in to the hillsides now house cafes, boutiques, galleries, studios and unique accommodations.  Our stroll through Bisbee was a delightful way to spend an afternoon.

 

Another day another tour, and this time it was to Tucson’s Pima Air & Space Museum and the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) , also known as the “Boneyard”. After spending a couple of hours touring the museum exhibits, including boarding Kennedy’s Air Force One, it was time for our trip to AMARG.  After a security check and passport verification we were on our way to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.  Seeing over 4,400 military aircraft and aerospace vehicles parked in the desert awaiting regeneration or disposal was amazing.

 

Gammons Gulch is an old west town, movie set and museum set in the high desert, at Pomerene.  Founder, Jay Gammon, was more than happy to take us on a personally guided tour through the town that he has built.  We were entertained by his stories of: how he acquired the cars and other historical items; movies and videos filmed there; and of his father who was John Wayne’s bodyguard.

 

On our last day in this area of Arizona, there was one more place that we knew we shouldn’t miss – Chiricahua National Monument.  The forecast was for rain, but the sky was still blue as we headed out on our trip to higher elevations.  Would the weather hold off long enough for us to visit this natural wonder?  Snow was on the roadsides as we made the 8-mile scenic winding drive to Massai Point (elevation 6870 ft/2094 m), the top of what is referred to as a ’sky island’.  Russ will tell you that the views of the pinnacles or standing up rocks were incredible from above.  But if you ask me, I will say the view is even better from below, when you can fully appreciate the magnitude of their height and size (and you don’t have to venture out on a cliff to see them).  As we drove back to our campsite the skies turned dark over the Chiricahuas, and rain and snow began to fall – our timing had been perfect for our visit.