ATOP CORONADO PEAK AND A JEEP PICK UP….BUT!!

(Third consecutive night in a row I am too tired to finish the blog before midnight.  Once again, this is Wednesday’s blog despite Thursday’s date)

ATOP CORONADO PEAK LOOKING OVER THE SAN PEDRO VALLEY WITH THE MEXICAN BORDER WALL STRETCHING ACROSS THE DESERT FLOOR FAR BELOW….MEXICO TO THE RIGHT

Don’t exactly know what it is about a cloudy day that just kind of curb’s one enthusiasm a bit. Maybe it’s the subtle grayness.  Maybe it’s the lack of warm sunshine on one’s skin.

Slipped on down to the corrals first thing this morning to check on the Donkeys and give them some hay and make sure the level in their water tank was ok.  Had a couple carrots in my pocket too:))  I always get a kick out of how Pheebs and the Donkey’s touch noses through the fence.

Expected the Farrier around 9:15 but she phoned about an hour later re-scheduling the appointment for next week sometime.  Slipped down to the corral and let the donkeys out into the main pen.

 

We had a full day ahead of us and a few more places to show Jean so we weren’t long in getting on the road.  We knew the new tire for the Jeep wouldn’t be in until early afternoon so we set off in the direction of Sierra Vista.

PHEEBS IS ALWAYS SO SAD TO SEE US LEAVE WITHOUT HER

Our first stop was to meet a couple of likable folks who are in the advanced stages of building a brand new house east of the San Pedro River.  I am going to write a separate post about them and how a set of circumstances led these happy folks to a decision in selling their California house and moving to Arizona’s San Pedro Valley.  A set of coincidences that was first started by none other than the Bayfield Bunch about 4 years ago:))

PAT & NANCY

From Nancy & Pat’s new digs we scooted around Sierra Vista to the southeast & headed ourselves for Ramsey Canyon.  Unfortunately the Visitor’s Center and birding area was closed.  Undaunted we headed the short distance back to the highway and charted a southbound course for the CORONADO NATIONAL MONUMENT.  A quick stop at the Visitor’s Center and we began our ascent to the peak.

 

I guess we had forgot to tell Jean about the hairpin dirt road turns, sheer drop offs and high altitude climb:))  Of course Kelly & I had been up this road a couple times before and I knew it was just fine.  But, I do understand what it is like for a passenger riding in a vehicle.  Only place to be on roads like that is behind the steering wheel in full control of the vehicle.  For me, anywhere else in a vehicle, even on a flat stretch of road on a good day, is a nail biter.  I do not make a good passenger regardless of who’s driving.  I have always been a driver and not a passenger.

 

The views driving up the mountain were just beautiful and in many places we could see evidence of the devastating fires early last summer which had swept over the Huachuca Mountains.  Blackened tree trunks and yellowed hills.  I kept trying to point out the long steel Mexican border fence stretching across the desert far below on the valley floor but the girls wouldn’t look.

 

A few more hairpin turns, a few more grades and a few more great views finally brought us to the parking area on Coronado Peak.   I swear I heard those big sighs of relief again.

 

The Border Patrol was very prominent on the peak today with a lot of curious looking active space age surveillance equipment mounted on a truck.  Three other empty border control vehicles plus a white SUV with Government plates all sat locked and empty.  Not a sole around.  Just a silent movement of high powered cameras slowly sweeping the surrounding landscape.

  

 

The views into Mexico from Coronado Peak are nothing short of spectacular.  At 6,575 feet one can easily see for probably fifty or sixty miles or so on a clear day.  I never tire of the views here.  It is a short walk to the very peak itself but the pathway was closed due to recent fire damage.  The fires had swept right up over the peak blackening all the trees and even some of the wooden guard rails in the parking area.  I remember sitting on that peak a few years ago marveling at the beautiful panoramic views all around me.  My posts about Coronado Peak can be found here at, A WEE HIKE UP TO CORONADO PEAK and DESTINATION....PARKER LAKE and TODAY WE FOUND THE CORONADO CAVE.

 

 

BURNT & BLACKENED TREES DOT CORONADO PEAK

Our drive back down the winding dirt road from Coronado Peak was uneventful.  I think the ladies were getting used to the dizzying heights.  Steep mountain roads were becoming old hat to them.  Yep, I think we are gonna have to consider bungee jumping next time Jean comes out for a visit.

 

Our next stop was the Donovan Jeep dealership in Sierra Vista.  Our Jeep tire repair was done.  Locking wheel nuts had all been removed and a brand new Goodyear Wrangler tire was in place…….. but there was a problem!!  Tire size was fine but the tread pattern was totally different than our other 3 Wrangler tires.  Awwww nuts!!

AWWWW NUTS, WRONG TREAD PATTERN!!!!

Donovan’s service manager explained the problem saying Goodyear informed him they had discontinued the particular tire and tread pattern of our other 3 tires.  Like I said, Awwwww nuts!!  Nothing we could do so off we went with our one mismatched tread design tire.  I’m sure I saw people pointing at us as we headed down the road with our mismatchment.  My how things have changed over the years.  I remember driving old wrecks that were lucky if they even had tread on the tires and if a couple of tires didn’t match, well who cared anyway.

TRYING TO SORT OUT THE TIRE PROBLEM

From the garage we headed into the afternoon traffic with Jean & I leading the way in the Jeep and Kelly following in Jeanie & Ray’s truck.  Jean had a hankering for Pizza so it didn’t take us long to sniff out a Pizza Hut.  A large Super Supreme Pizza hit the spot for all of us. (except I do not like black olives…or any kind of olives because yuk, they’re horrible!!)

With the sun rapidly sinking into the west Kelly jumped into the truck & headed for the Ranch with a short stop in Tombstone to pick up a pair of Cowboy boots.  Jean & I finished up the Pizza and hustled ourselves over to a nearby Walmart.  Jean needed some new sunglasses and we needed some apples, cranberry juice, ginger ale and a big bag of dog food for Pearce & Gleason.  We didn’t waste any time getting our stuff and were soon eastward bound along the Charleston road making fast tracks for the Ranch.  It was all but dark when we rolled through the gates.  Kelly was busy doing the chores & I was grateful for that.  She was also busy picking up half a dozen items Pheebs had dragged out of the Motorhome and scattered around the laneway.

Whew, it was another long day but what great memories we have created this past week since Jean’s arrival.  It is the first time Jean & I have ever spent any quality time together since I was born.  We sure had a lot of ‘in person’ catching up to do.  Thanks to the computer age, Jean & I have been in constant contact for over 10 years now through literally thousands of emails.  Yep, she’s a pretty special Aunt alright and it will be a pretty sad day Thursday as we drive Jean back to the Tucson Airport for her return trip to Sarasota Florida:((

SUNSET OVER THE RANCH’S LITTLE POND

Tonight we welcome PAPOOJACK'S WORLD as our latest Blog Follower.  Looks like Papoojack has himself one of those efficiently cute little Casita travel trailers:))

GROANER’S CORNER:((  What is a baby:
A soft pink thing that makes a lot of noise at one end and has no sense of responsibility at the other.

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-Tourists see the world, travelers  experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
BAYFIELD BUNCH PHOTO ALBUMS https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295
The only thing better than right now  will someday be the memories of
right  now...AL.

WE COULD SEE ALL THE WAY TO NEW MEXICO

(AGAIN,  I AM LATE GETTING TO THE COMPUTER SO THIS IS ACTUALLY TUESDAY’S BLOG DESPITE TO-DAY’S DATE)

 

OVERLOOKING THE TOWN OF BISBEE FAR BELOW

Our mission this sun filled morning had us heading for Sierra Vista to retrieve our Jeep.  But, one phone call to the Jeep dealer thwarted our plans.  Seems our flat tire was ruined and to get a matching tire they would have to send to Phoenix for it.  Estimated time of arrival for new tire….Wednesday:((  So that was it for our Coronado Peak and Ramsey Canyon plans today.

Quickly activated plan 2.  High atop the Mule mountains north of Bisbee there stands a cluster of communication towers that Kelly & I had driven up to last winter.  Spectacular views and we wanted Jean to see them.  A quick stop for gas in San Jose to fill up Jeanie and Ray’s truck and then back around through and past the Alpine look alike old mining town of Bisbee.

 

NERVOUSLY PERCHED AT THE CLIFF’S EDGE

Heading north on highway 80 we entered a quarter mile long lighted straight tunnel.  A half mile or so beyond that we we hooked a hairpin turn to the right on a climbing dirt road.  And, it was a ‘climbing’ dirt road alright with steep drop offs and great views.  Green Pinion Pines and Juniper along with Mesquite and a multitude of other trees and shrubs festooned the steep hillsides and rocky grades of the red soiled mountain setting.

WE ARE HEADED FOR THOSE COMMUNICATION TOWERS HIGH ATOP THE MOUNTAIN

  

Ever higher we climbed on the tight twisting road.  The girls were a little queasy with the sheer drop offs but the views were too beautiful to turn around.  Besides, we had been up here before and I remembered the road as being just fine…and it was.

 

Jean was totally awed by what she was seeing as we approached the top where Bisbee’s towers were located.  Last year we drove right up to the base of the towers but this year a chain between a couple of posts prevented us from doing that.  No problem, we were able to find a scenic viewpoint close by.

 

The view looking east down Tombstone Canyon towards Bisbee and beyond to the Sulphur Springs Valley with further distant mountain ranges as far as the eye could see was nothing short of awe inspiring.  We were probably seeing as far as southwestern New Mexico.

 

Jean is not fond of heights but we managed to coax her up to the edge of a steep rock cliff.  We easily could have joined hands and floated off that rock just like Wendy, John, and Michael did when Peter Pan led them out into the night through that bedroom window.  Hills of green trees lay before us with cars and trucks on highway 80 below looking like little toy tinker cars.  A clear blue sky blended seamlessly with hazy mountain tops as pinion pine shrubs grew out of the hardened granite rocks at our feet.  It will remain as a special moment for all of us.

   

We walked around the rocky surface a bit remarking how lucky we were to have such a fine day happening.  Warm sun, no wind and no time frame.  But, whatever goes up must come down and after a bit of exploring around we began wending our way back down the steep hilled mountainside.  First with the steep drop offs on my side, then their side, and then my side, and so it went until we reached the bottom and solid pavement again.  Say, was that a couple of big nervous sighs of relief I just heard:))

 

Back through the tunnel we went and turned off the highway at the north end of Tombstone Canyon which just happens to be the north end of Bisbee’s main street.  A slow leisurely winding drive right on down through the heart of Bisbee took us through some of the greatest architecture and bright colors the southwest has to offer.

  

 

MAIN STREET BISBEE 

A quick spin through the QUEEN MINE RV PARK.

 

Breezed past the big open Lavender Pit mine and around the corner to the BBC.  The BISBEE BREAKFAST CLUB is always one of our favorite spots.  Luckily not crowded and we were able to get a quiet table in the lower right section.  Salmon Chowder soup for Kelly and Jean.  Kelly also followed that with a big plate of Huevos Rancheros.  I played it safe and stuck with a ‘Bert Omelet’.  Yes Bert, not burnt.  Probably one of the best Omelets' I have ever had.  Came with hash browns and toast.

HEADING INTO THE BBC

 

CHATTING IT UP WITH THE WAITER 

From the BBC it was back to the Ranch for a relaxing afternoon.  Jeanie emailed to say the Ferrier was coming in the morning to do the Donkey’s hooves.  I helped with this 3 years ago one time.  Jean & I headed down to the corrals to round us up Poncho and Sarah who were far out in a distant field.  Donkeys, being the clever fellows they are, watched as I opened up a gate to the main corral.  They knew something was up and I could see them making fast tracks heading our way.

 

Quickly got some hay into a smaller corral for them and awaited their arrival.  Clip clop clip clop in they came for a big feed of hay as I quietly closed the corral gate behind them.  When the Ferrier arrives in the morning the Donkeys will be contentedly awaiting their soothing manicures.  Oh how I wish I was a Donkey sometimes.  Yes yes I know I have been called an Ass before but that is something different:))

 

Like myself, Aunt Jean loves the starry night sky so Kelly built a campfire after supper and we awaited the darkening skies.  Just before moonrise the night was dark enough for a host of twinkling stars in a cold night air.  Living in the bright lights city of Sarasota, Florida Jean rarely gets to see any stars at all.  It was a real treat for her tonight as we all huddled under our bundles of clothes against the cold desert air.

STARGAZERS

  

The night sky slowly brightened over the south end of the Swiss Helm mountains as a soft glow cast a subdued light on a thin cloud cover.  And then……..there it was.  A thin bright yellow orange slightly curved line at first.  A 99.9% full moon rising in all it’s terrestrial magnificence.  How great it was for us to be here with Aunt Jean on this special star filled night complete with a huge round cheese colored moon rising over the distant Swiss Helm mountains:))  We sure are going to miss her when she leaves in a couple days…:((

GROANER’S CORNER:(( It was Halloween and three vampires went into a saloon and bellied up to the bar. "
What will you have?" the bartender asked.
"I'll have a glass of blood," the first replied.
"I'll have a glass of blood, too, please," said the second.
"I'll have a glass of plasma," said the third.
"OK, let me get this straight," the bartender said. "That'll be two bloods and a blood light?"

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
BAYFIELD BUNCH PHOTO ALBUMS https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295
The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of
right now...AL.