Tombstone, The Town Too Tough To Die!
That is its favourite mission statement, you see it everywhere.
This weekend they had a celebration (also St Patricks Day) of the USO, American Armed Forces with all sorts of activities and demonstrations on Saturday but culminating in a parade down Allan Street on Sunday morning. Not wanting to miss w parade we hitched up the trailer, took a lawn chair and found ourselves a nice place at the side of the road, just outside Big Nose Kates Saloon Bar and settle in to wait for the parade.
At 11.00 a rendition of the National Anthem was sung and the parade started. It consisted mostly of motor cycles driven by ex service men, some people riding ponies and a number of locals dressed in 1880's costumes. There was also a monster truck and the local fire department brought up the rear with all lights blazing.
It was great fun to watch (though not in the same league as the Dade City Christmas parade) and this left us in good humour to move on.
We drove a short distance to Sierra Vista, where we stopped for food at Fry's and lunch at Denny's. Sierra Vista is the town which is beside Fort Huachaca, still an army base. However it dates back to the 1860's when the U.S. was at war with the Cochise Indians, this is the era of the Apaches and Geronimo. From Tombstone you could look to the North across the prairy to Cochise Stronghold where Geronimo held out against the army for many years. You could also look South West to Fort Huachaca, where the Army were based and could easily imagine how the two forces would watch each other. The cavalry too strong for Geronimo to defeat. The Indians mountain fortress too impregnable to be taken - stalemate. Finally ended when the honourable and respectable army took all the indian women and children into captivity and held them hostage until the Indians surrendered. Three cheers for the good guys.
We then drove up into the mountains to find the lovely Patagonia Lake State Park, just near the border with Mexico. Very peaceful, even though it is full with families on Spring Break Vacation.
Monday, March 18, 2013
March 16th - Bisbee
Now there is a name for a town - Bisbee!
It was named after a judge in the 1880's, though he never set foot in the town!
What an amazing place, possibly one of the most fascinating places we have visited (and we have visited a few). We drove the short 26 miles from Tombstone on Saturday, not quite knowing what to expect.
This was a real frontier town, it is built at the confluence of a couple of narrow canyons. Houses were crowded into the narrow gulches and built right up the sides of the mountains, the only access was, and still is, by steps, hundreds of them). It's origins are based in the discovery of copper, huge amounts of it, both high grade ore, which was dug out using mines, 2000 miles of mining tunnels are beneath Bisbee and low grade ore which was removed with huge open cast quarries, one of them is deep enough that you could invert Roseberry Topping and place it in there and it still would not fill it. The Copper Queen Mine being the most famous and though it is now quiet though by no means a ghost, town it once had a population of 100,000. Because of the many fires they have had the main streets are now mostly brick built and show Edwardian, but western, architecture.
The gulches are dry except in the rainy season (July August), when the main streets used to become rivers (now have slightly better drainage, though locals do not park their cars on the street in the wet season as they tend to float off down the road during storms).
Its wealth was based on Copper, Wooden houses were tightly packed on terraces where they clung to the mountain sides. Town burning was almost as regular as town flooding! The flooding was a mixed blessing as there was no drainage system, so waste (yes I mean all waste) would be just chucked and allowed to dissipate. The local hotels and bars, of which there were many as much of the population were single miners, used a system whereby they would dump all waste under the building in like a basement. When the rain came they removed the lowest side wall and allowed nature to remove the years sewage. Worked OK with a really good flood, but not so good in drier years. Another problem was the cemetery which was up the canyon affectionately known as Brewery Gulch, nothing wrong with a cemetery problem came with the storms as not only did the water wash away the dirt it also washed away the bodies down the main street.
Once the copper gave out in the 1970's the town nearly died and became almost empty, but was taken over by hippies, many from California, who claimed squatters rights and renovated the buildings and sold them. The hippy atmosphere still remains and is now a arty crafty/antiquey with nice coffee shops and organic food. It is the southern most mile high town in USA and when they talk about being high, they really mean it.
We learned a lot of this history by taking the trolley bus tour, which was excellent value at $6.00 and gave us a real insight into the town.
I must say that I loved this town and would perhaps vote it as one of my favourites, even more so than perhaps Santa Fe in NM.
It was named after a judge in the 1880's, though he never set foot in the town!
What an amazing place, possibly one of the most fascinating places we have visited (and we have visited a few). We drove the short 26 miles from Tombstone on Saturday, not quite knowing what to expect.
This was a real frontier town, it is built at the confluence of a couple of narrow canyons. Houses were crowded into the narrow gulches and built right up the sides of the mountains, the only access was, and still is, by steps, hundreds of them). It's origins are based in the discovery of copper, huge amounts of it, both high grade ore, which was dug out using mines, 2000 miles of mining tunnels are beneath Bisbee and low grade ore which was removed with huge open cast quarries, one of them is deep enough that you could invert Roseberry Topping and place it in there and it still would not fill it. The Copper Queen Mine being the most famous and though it is now quiet though by no means a ghost, town it once had a population of 100,000. Because of the many fires they have had the main streets are now mostly brick built and show Edwardian, but western, architecture.
The gulches are dry except in the rainy season (July August), when the main streets used to become rivers (now have slightly better drainage, though locals do not park their cars on the street in the wet season as they tend to float off down the road during storms).
Its wealth was based on Copper, Wooden houses were tightly packed on terraces where they clung to the mountain sides. Town burning was almost as regular as town flooding! The flooding was a mixed blessing as there was no drainage system, so waste (yes I mean all waste) would be just chucked and allowed to dissipate. The local hotels and bars, of which there were many as much of the population were single miners, used a system whereby they would dump all waste under the building in like a basement. When the rain came they removed the lowest side wall and allowed nature to remove the years sewage. Worked OK with a really good flood, but not so good in drier years. Another problem was the cemetery which was up the canyon affectionately known as Brewery Gulch, nothing wrong with a cemetery problem came with the storms as not only did the water wash away the dirt it also washed away the bodies down the main street.
Once the copper gave out in the 1970's the town nearly died and became almost empty, but was taken over by hippies, many from California, who claimed squatters rights and renovated the buildings and sold them. The hippy atmosphere still remains and is now a arty crafty/antiquey with nice coffee shops and organic food. It is the southern most mile high town in USA and when they talk about being high, they really mean it.
We learned a lot of this history by taking the trolley bus tour, which was excellent value at $6.00 and gave us a real insight into the town.
I must say that I loved this town and would perhaps vote it as one of my favourites, even more so than perhaps Santa Fe in NM.
Tombstone 2
Having surveyed the town of Tombstone we then used Friday seeing the sights there. First of all we took a ride on the Old Butterfield Stage, which was originally used to travel between Tombstone and Yuma, via Nogales. This gave us a gentle tour round the streets of Tombstone and an insight into its history.
Following this we stopped in at the Gunfight At The O.K. Corral for their 12.00 performance. It was fun, though I have seen better acting.
From there we went for lunch at the Longhorn Restaurant again.
The last major stop was to Boot Hill, just out of town. (Dead centre of town). Vry interesting to see the many graves of the 1880's with simple epitaphs like; Died, Murdered, Killed on their head boards (mostly wooden and probably more recent than 1880's).
We returned to our trailer and put our feet up for an hour or two before having a quiet tea.
I have now worked out that Android/Ipad readers can use the link 'View All' to go to the Picasa Albums site to view photos as a slide show.
Following this we stopped in at the Gunfight At The O.K. Corral for their 12.00 performance. It was fun, though I have seen better acting.
From there we went for lunch at the Longhorn Restaurant again.
The last major stop was to Boot Hill, just out of town. (Dead centre of town). Vry interesting to see the many graves of the 1880's with simple epitaphs like; Died, Murdered, Killed on their head boards (mostly wooden and probably more recent than 1880's).
We returned to our trailer and put our feet up for an hour or two before having a quiet tea.
I have now worked out that Android/Ipad readers can use the link 'View All' to go to the Picasa Albums site to view photos as a slide show.
Thursday, March 14, 2013
March 14th - Tombstone
Thursday 14th March
On Tuesday evening we flew into Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix, picked up a rental car and were reunited with our truck and trailer. Once I had jump started the truck we had power and everything seemed fine. No Bugs, no water, no worries (a bit of mold in the Fridge, as we had forgotten to leave it open). A good nights sleep and we were ready for the off. Wednesday morning we packed up in Phoenix, returned the rental car and by 10.30 we were passing the campground I had picked out for our first night, however because we were so well up on time we pressed on to our first big destination - Tombstone. Tombstone is out in the desert, right out in the desert, like Bodie in California, if it wasn't for silver mining no one in there right mind would want to live here. It has that unreal quality about it that makes you think you really are in a film, stage coaches coming past, cowboys on the street, street fighting (though we haven't seen that yet, maybe tomorrow), all those names of cowboys that we know from films, but they were really here, really shooting each other. We toured the courthouse and read the story of the O.K. Corral, great fun. we stopped in for lunch at the Longhorn Restaurant and then visited the famous Bird Cage Theatre. we have included some of the pictures. Tomorrow I think we will take a ride on the Butterfield Stage and go see the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.
Here is a link for mobile phones:
On Tuesday evening we flew into Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix, picked up a rental car and were reunited with our truck and trailer. Once I had jump started the truck we had power and everything seemed fine. No Bugs, no water, no worries (a bit of mold in the Fridge, as we had forgotten to leave it open). A good nights sleep and we were ready for the off. Wednesday morning we packed up in Phoenix, returned the rental car and by 10.30 we were passing the campground I had picked out for our first night, however because we were so well up on time we pressed on to our first big destination - Tombstone. Tombstone is out in the desert, right out in the desert, like Bodie in California, if it wasn't for silver mining no one in there right mind would want to live here. It has that unreal quality about it that makes you think you really are in a film, stage coaches coming past, cowboys on the street, street fighting (though we haven't seen that yet, maybe tomorrow), all those names of cowboys that we know from films, but they were really here, really shooting each other. We toured the courthouse and read the story of the O.K. Corral, great fun. we stopped in for lunch at the Longhorn Restaurant and then visited the famous Bird Cage Theatre. we have included some of the pictures. Tomorrow I think we will take a ride on the Butterfield Stage and go see the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.
Here is a link for mobile phones:
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| Tombstone |
Monday, March 11, 2013
Ma\rch 11th - Harpers Hideaway
Monday Morning and the party is now just about over, just a few friends left to help finish the clearing away. Wednesday we ate baby back ribs at the Oakwood with about 30 friends (at this point the diet went right out of the window ). When we came back we sat in Connie's front room to jam, because it was too cold outside. Thursday we took our side trip to Rainbow Springs, by the time we returned the numbers of people rolling in had increased. Thursday night we took refuge in the kitchen to jam, to cold outside still, though warming up Friday we got into full swing as the main bulk of people arrived. On the evening we had the Band Scramble, for a change I was in the very last group to perform, so we were able to take a leisurely hour or so to practice together. The set went really well, making a great finale to the evening, with Paul (who had arrived that evening from New Jersey) finishing off with Foggy mountain Breakdown. Saturday was fun with groups performing on the stage all day, we were able to relax in the sun and listen, though I spent sometime playing. the evening was taken up with the more organised events. This summer Connie and Jim celebrate their 50th anniversary, so wanted to share it by renewing their vows, so we had a special time, with Larry presiding, while they restated their vows, talked a little abut their life together and then sung some songs with the Crooked Halos. It was very touching. This was followed by the Paaty Poopers, the all man/lady band who have entertained us in their inimitable style over the last few years. This year the 'Theme' was the Outhouse, based on 7 Old Ladies Stuck in mthe Lavatory. Very funny, but I guess you had to be there. At last it was warm enough to sit out and jam, we had a really nice jam by the stage until 2.00, then realised that the clocks also go forward, so it was really 3.00 before I got to bed, still good fun. Sunday Morning Brunch was a very relaxed affair as we sat in the sunshine. This followed by a very pleasant Gospel Hour (or two), people had steadily drifted off home and so in the afternoon we were able to do some clearing up. In the evening we sat and jammed to some good old hit songs, good fun.and I find myself sat in Connie's Kitchen with the Party over That brings us to today, Monday, with only one traditional activity left to undertake - Beal's Double Points Senior Citizen Monday Sale scrum down, yes we hit the shops to find bargains in Beal's Outlet shops. Tomorrow we drive back down to Orlando and resume our journey to Phoenix to pick up the trailer.
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| Party life |
Friday, March 8, 2013
March 7th - Splash Landing
Thursday
Well we are well and truly splashed down. Flew in over enjoying the Florida Cape Canaveral an hour early, which gave us time to take a leisurely drive the 75 miles to Connie and Jim's.
We are now enjoying the Florida sunshine, though feeling v. tired.
We have joined in a couple of really nice jams, but chose yesterday afternoon to take a side trip to one of Florida's most beautiful springs - Rainbow Springs State Park in Dunnellon. It is a wonderful spring, surrounded by trees and Azalea in full bloom, lots of large butterflies floating around, brightly coloured birds flashing through the trees and fish swimming in the crystal clear spring of the Rainbow River, welling out of the ground at its constant 72 degrees F. Enabled us to remember why we think that Florida is such a wonderful state with such diversity of habitat. A relaxingly peaceful afternoon, though we met some really nice family from Minnesota and Indiana and spent an hour or so just chatting, only to find that we had been near their home when we visited Sioux Falls in October and drove past Stonepipe Park.
Well we are well and truly splashed down. Flew in over enjoying the Florida Cape Canaveral an hour early, which gave us time to take a leisurely drive the 75 miles to Connie and Jim's.
We are now enjoying the Florida sunshine, though feeling v. tired.
We have joined in a couple of really nice jams, but chose yesterday afternoon to take a side trip to one of Florida's most beautiful springs - Rainbow Springs State Park in Dunnellon. It is a wonderful spring, surrounded by trees and Azalea in full bloom, lots of large butterflies floating around, brightly coloured birds flashing through the trees and fish swimming in the crystal clear spring of the Rainbow River, welling out of the ground at its constant 72 degrees F. Enabled us to remember why we think that Florida is such a wonderful state with such diversity of habitat. A relaxingly peaceful afternoon, though we met some really nice family from Minnesota and Indiana and spent an hour or so just chatting, only to find that we had been near their home when we visited Sioux Falls in October and drove past Stonepipe Park.
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Last Rush to be Ready
All Trip preparation seems to have a plan shaped like one of those slides at the swimming pool, start gentle, get everything nicely planned, when to do things, so there is no rush. A week before, sat at the top of the slide, we see all below and everything seems to be running smoothly, but moving down, slowly at first, yes we have ticked off the things we need to do, a couple of days on and the feeling in your stomach is more uncertain - there is too much to do to be ready in time.
All the time our departure is rushing up faster and faster and the list of jobs seems to get longer and longer. Things you planned for one day seem to need a bit more time. As we approach our last day at home everything is whizzing by at White Rabbit speed. With the inevitability of the ticking clock, we will be sucked into the last drop of the slide, then be shot out over the water, where all is beyond our control to change (allegorical Atlantic), only to splash down in the bright, warm, clear water of our arrival in Florida , where we hope we can relax and float. Hopefully we will write again and describe the start of our travelling adventure when we have come back up for air.
All the time our departure is rushing up faster and faster and the list of jobs seems to get longer and longer. Things you planned for one day seem to need a bit more time. As we approach our last day at home everything is whizzing by at White Rabbit speed. With the inevitability of the ticking clock, we will be sucked into the last drop of the slide, then be shot out over the water, where all is beyond our control to change (allegorical Atlantic), only to splash down in the bright, warm, clear water of our arrival in Florida , where we hope we can relax and float. Hopefully we will write again and describe the start of our travelling adventure when we have come back up for air.
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