Our Winter Vacation '05 Highlights - Page 3
From Vegas, we headed toward our objective destination of St. David, Arizona, but with a few stops along the way. One stop is becoming a favorite of ours, Quartzite, Arizona, where we again found a parking place out in the desert (as seen in the picture here). We really enjoy this part of RVing where we can get off the road and into natural surroundings with scenic vistas all around. We are all self contained so that we can stay for several days like this and have water (for showers), electricity (with generator), toilet, TV (from satellite signal), and a comfortable queen size bed to slumber in; all the comforts of home. This may not sound like camping, but we do not have to concern ourselves with rainy weather, frost or snow on the tent, and all the other things that we used to "enjoy" and put up with. And, nature's "great outdoors" is only a doorstep away.
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The Western Horizons RV Resort at St. David, Arizona is about 50 miles east of Tucson. This is where we made base camp for about three weeks, except for an intervening stay with our friends Don and Jeanne, for about 5 days, at their place northwest of Tucson.
While in Tucson, Don and Jeanne were gracious hosts and showed us around the area. They took us to Sabino Canyon where we rode a tram up a steep paved path nearly four miles into this beautiful canyon and then we hiked part way down. It was fun looking at the rock formations and the many varieties of vegetation, including some really tall grass that Diana stood next to for a picture. The stream in the canyon was flowing heavier than normal (as seen in the picture behind Diana), and the water was overflowing the low bridges where the tram crossed the stream.
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Don and Jeanne also took us to the Pima Air & Space Museum near Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. This museum features over 200 aircraft, has five large hangers of exhibit space, and 65 acres of display area. Here, there are many airplane relics of various vintages, including President Eisenhower's Constellation "Columbine", and President Kennedy's C-118 (DC6) "Air Force One". This particular prop plane took Kennedy to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, a week before he took the "other plane" to Dallas. We strolled past the many Air Force planes that were displayed including an SR-71 Blackbird spy plane (the fastest plane in the world), and also saw a moon rock in the space exhibit building. Diana and Jeanne also had a wild time pretending to be pilots in one of the cockpit trainers that was on display.
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On one Sunday morning, we joined Don and Jeanne and a few of their friends for catholic worship at St Augustine Cathedral in downtown Tucson. This was a special treat as a mariachi band is featured and accompanies the Spanish mass with singers. After the service, we all went to have brunch at a Mexican restaurant where we again were entertained by another mariachi band. After leaving there, we spotted a traffic signal that was for bicycles only, which we thought was quite unique.
Of course, southern Arizona is where some of those who are retired decide to come to get away from the winter cold, and Don and Jeanne were able to show us where some of those people who are in their 50s (and older) reside. We were treated to a first hand review of the community of Sun City and of all the amenities that is offered. We toured the close knit residential area with neatly manicured landscapes, and we saw the parks, golf courses, and community centers with swimming pools and tennis courts. It looked like an area of nice living and fun. The community center offered almost anything a person would want in the form of clubs, crafts, and activities. Don is especially fond of woodworking and he showed us the shop he helps to manage where people come to create their various projects. We then took a long soak in the center's large hot tub and went for a swim in the Olympic sized pool. Although the community appears to be separated from the nearby flora and fauna of the desert in a somewhat sterile environment, it seems that the fauna do not observe the boundaries. Quite often, javelins are seen wandering about between the homes or down the street, especially in the evening or early morning hours. And, bobcats are often seen, sometimes herding bunny rabbits down the street. Sounds exciting!
Another community we went to was SaddleBrook. Here, we toured numerous new furnished model homes that were located together on a street where you could decide on the particular floor plan, exterior look, and options for the home that you can have built on the lot of your choice. It was all so tempting, but we refrained from getting too enthusiastic. We still have more traveling to do, and we are not quite ready to get settled in a new location just yet.
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A few days after we left Don and Jeanne, they came down to St. David and stayed with us for a couple of days in our motor home. On the day they arrived, we took them to Fort Bowie. Fort Bowie was established in 1862 near Apache Pass to protect settlers, the stagecoach line, and the pony express from Cochise and his marauding band of Indians. It is necessary to take a trail 1.5 miles into the mountains to reach the ruins of Fort Bowie. On the way you pass the old Butterfield stage route and the ruins of the old station house. Further on, you pass the Fort Bowie cemetery, ruins of the old Indian agency, and then Apache Springs. Apache Springs was the important water resource to both the indians and the all the others who came through this area. Cochese finally made peace here after many years, and a renegade named Geronimo was sent into exile (to Florida) from here.
It is quite dramatic to hike up this trail to Fort Bowie and to learn of all the history that took place here. After hiking about half way up the trail, you can see a large American flag flying in the distance on a small plateau between mountain peaks It is flying from the same spot where it once flew in the parade grounds of the fort. Near the ruins of the fort are a ranger station and a small museum where you can learn all the historic details of the fort and the area. Also, a ranger who is well connected with the history is stationed here year around.
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On the next day, we took a trip to Bisbee, Arizona where we took a tour through the Queen Mine. This was really an interesting experience as we road a mine train into the mountainside and our tour director, who had actually been a miner here, explained every detail about extracting the copper ore that lay buried here. We learned that mules were used early on (when the mine opened in 1877) to haul out the ore. The mules lived in the mine and seldom saw the light of day. We were able to get off our transportation at a couple of places and walk to areas of interest to see various kinds of drilling machinery, ore cars, and other things. In one larger room, we could shine our lights about and see various colors of sparkling minerals where miners had been working in certain hot spots. This mine became one of the richest copper mines in history and also produced silver, gold, zinc and manganese.
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After the mine tour, we went into the town of Bisbee, had lunch, and then browsed through the town. This town was Arizona's largest in 1908, at over 20,000 people, and was known as the liveliest spot between El Paso and San Francisco. But, it became virtually deserted in the mid-1970s after mining operations were shut down. Retirees and hippies who were able to find cheap real estate then resurrected it. Now, it is known as an artist's community whose architectural and historic heritage has been preserved. We found all kinds of interesting shops and galleries here, including antique stores, rock shops, and eating-places. We entered the old Copper Queen Hotel, an elegant 4-story Victorian building built in 1902 that has been a visiting place for the social elite, including Teddy Roosevelt. This and other buildings around town bring back a certain charm of a bygone era and make it appealing to visitors such as us.
