Monday, April 30, 2018
89 miles today to and from Chiricahua National Monument from Willcox, AZ. What an amazing place that neither of us had heard of before this trip. Fantastic park with miles of incredible volcanic rock pillars. The road from the visitors center to the top of the park rose 1400 ear popping feet; grassland at the start through tree filled valley to windy mountaintop!
Dad noticed in the visitors center wild animal log that someone saw a mountain lion cross the road just 2 days ago. Words don't do justice to the place, you have to see the photos. These last two days have been a real highlight of the trip.
On the way to the park we stopped on the road to let a big spinning dust devil go past in front of us. On the way back we saw large dust clouds of salt blowing off the playas south of town.
Two weeks into the road trip so far. Time flies. Off to Tombstone and the OK corral tomorrow.
Dad noticed in the visitors center wild animal log that someone saw a mountain lion cross the road just 2 days ago. Words don't do justice to the place, you have to see the photos. These last two days have been a real highlight of the trip.
On the way to the park we stopped on the road to let a big spinning dust devil go past in front of us. On the way back we saw large dust clouds of salt blowing off the playas south of town.
Two weeks into the road trip so far. Time flies. Off to Tombstone and the OK corral tomorrow.
Sunday, April 29, 2018
Today was 161 miles from Deming NM to Willcox AZ but with a HUGE & AMAZING stop at Bowie AZ 25 miles east of Willcox. Just 13 miles from Bowie into the mountains is Fort Bowie National Historic Site. Fort Bowie, most active in the 1860s and later years, was the site of numerous conflicts between the Apache Indians and U.S. Military. In fact, it's where the iconic Apache Chief, Cochise, led battles against the soldiers who were trying to find a young boy who had been kidnapped by the Apaches, and also some stolen horses. Numerous lives on both sides were lost in the battles. But Fort Bowie is also where the legendary Apache Chief, Geronimo, was imprisoned before being sent to a prison in Florida. Fort Bowie, in other words, is iconic in the lore of Apache - U.S. conflicts.
Here's the thing...when you finally arrive at the parking lot for Fort Bowie, at an elevation of 5,000 feet, there is nothing there...except for a sign telling you that the ruins of the fort, and the visitor center, are 1.5 miles up a rough trail further into the mountains. We grabbed 4 water bottles from the jeep and launched our mile and a half hike, in thin air and temperature at 91 F in full Arizona sun. In about an hour and a half we huffed and puffed into the visitor center. But amazingly, we really had no problem with the rugged hike, even though it turned out to be 1.75 miles rather than 1.5.
But after about 30 minutes at the visitor center, and when we decided to go back down, we made a poor decision. Instead of going back on the same trail, we elected to take another which ran along a high ridge top before heading down. Not only did we first have to climb up to the ridge, but we had to do it on a very rough goat-type trail strewn with big, jagged rocks. That went on for about a grueling mile or more before we eventually descended innumerable switchbacks into the canyon where we finally met up with the trail we had used to go up. By now we were pretty bushed and my repaired hip was barking like a hyena in heat. Finally, FINALLY, we got to within about 20 yards of the jeep,up the final steep slope, and bottomed out. That close but we first had to sit on some boulders for ten minutes, drink some water, and eating an old bagel, before going the final 20 yards to the jeep and its airconditioning. My FitBit indicated that in total we had tallied over 14,000 steps, 6.8 miles.
But now we know EXACTLY what it was like in Apache country and that is pretty thrilling.
Here's the thing...when you finally arrive at the parking lot for Fort Bowie, at an elevation of 5,000 feet, there is nothing there...except for a sign telling you that the ruins of the fort, and the visitor center, are 1.5 miles up a rough trail further into the mountains. We grabbed 4 water bottles from the jeep and launched our mile and a half hike, in thin air and temperature at 91 F in full Arizona sun. In about an hour and a half we huffed and puffed into the visitor center. But amazingly, we really had no problem with the rugged hike, even though it turned out to be 1.75 miles rather than 1.5.
But after about 30 minutes at the visitor center, and when we decided to go back down, we made a poor decision. Instead of going back on the same trail, we elected to take another which ran along a high ridge top before heading down. Not only did we first have to climb up to the ridge, but we had to do it on a very rough goat-type trail strewn with big, jagged rocks. That went on for about a grueling mile or more before we eventually descended innumerable switchbacks into the canyon where we finally met up with the trail we had used to go up. By now we were pretty bushed and my repaired hip was barking like a hyena in heat. Finally, FINALLY, we got to within about 20 yards of the jeep,up the final steep slope, and bottomed out. That close but we first had to sit on some boulders for ten minutes, drink some water, and eating an old bagel, before going the final 20 yards to the jeep and its airconditioning. My FitBit indicated that in total we had tallied over 14,000 steps, 6.8 miles.
But now we know EXACTLY what it was like in Apache country and that is pretty thrilling.
Here is an addendum to yesterday's blog post regarding our visit to Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. Recall that we went to Fort Bliss in order to see the house where Alice's parents and 3 siblings lived for 6 months in the 1940s while her father was an Army radar officer. The house, now home of the base's Commanding General, is pretty spectacular, as you saw in the pictures.
But getting into Fort Bliss was an interesting experience! First, just finding an available entry gate involved a fair bit of driving. After we finally found it we entered a guard post and were told to fill out a form. That form entitled us to fill out another, very detailed, form that asked for lots of personal information. We sat in a waiting room while that form, one for each of us, was reviewed. Next, we were called forward to have our pictures taken. Finally, we were approved to drive to the next guard post where we showed copies of our approved forms, and drivers licenses, and were waved in. It's a hassle to visit Fort Bliss but at the same time it's good to see that the government takes care to protect the Army's premier Tank Division installation, all 1.12 million acres.
But getting into Fort Bliss was an interesting experience! First, just finding an available entry gate involved a fair bit of driving. After we finally found it we entered a guard post and were told to fill out a form. That form entitled us to fill out another, very detailed, form that asked for lots of personal information. We sat in a waiting room while that form, one for each of us, was reviewed. Next, we were called forward to have our pictures taken. Finally, we were approved to drive to the next guard post where we showed copies of our approved forms, and drivers licenses, and were waved in. It's a hassle to visit Fort Bliss but at the same time it's good to see that the government takes care to protect the Army's premier Tank Division installation, all 1.12 million acres.
Saturday, April 28, 2018
123 miles today from El Paso, TX to Deming, NM. We spent the morning making several stops on base at Ft Bliss. Much of Ft Bliss is like a city. It covers 1.12 million acres and, if you can imagine this, it has over 20,000 archaeological sites within its borders. First we had to find a gate open for visitor screening which took two tries. Then we both filled out information forms and had a short background check before receiving a one day pass. We visited the Ironsides Museum that featured mostly armored vehicles (lots of tanks) but also some history on the Fort that goes back to the 1830s (6 different locations in the area over the years). El Camino Real, the road from Mexico City to Santa Fe in Spanish times went through here.
Then we stopped to see the General Pershing house that is the base commander's home. Pershing lived in it from 1914 to 1917 when he was base commander during WWI. Alice ' s parents and three older siblings lived in the house during the summer and fall of 1944 when Major Jorgensen was senior radar officer on base.
The traffic was horrible. As we left El Paso, the opposite side of I-10 was backed up over 5 miles. We were so glad to leave.
The area is very dry and barren except the Rio Grande River Valley where pistachio tree farms are numerous. Lots of signs on the interstate warning of what to do if caught by a dust storm. Our room overlooks the train tracks to Tuscon as well as the desert so no complaints here. Heading west again tomorrow. Lunch at Burger King; dinner at Casa Microwave.
Then we stopped to see the General Pershing house that is the base commander's home. Pershing lived in it from 1914 to 1917 when he was base commander during WWI. Alice ' s parents and three older siblings lived in the house during the summer and fall of 1944 when Major Jorgensen was senior radar officer on base.
The traffic was horrible. As we left El Paso, the opposite side of I-10 was backed up over 5 miles. We were so glad to leave.
The area is very dry and barren except the Rio Grande River Valley where pistachio tree farms are numerous. Lots of signs on the interstate warning of what to do if caught by a dust storm. Our room overlooks the train tracks to Tuscon as well as the desert so no complaints here. Heading west again tomorrow. Lunch at Burger King; dinner at Casa Microwave.
Friday, April 27, 2018
Dad wrote a great blog for today but it mysteriously disappeared. So here's a shorter version. Drove 250 miles today on good roads from Roswell to El Paso, TX (yes we drove through NM to get back to TX). We took a side trip to White Sands National Monument. Pure white sands with interesting, unique plant life. Dad saw a lizzard too. Jets from a nearby airbase flew overhead as a nice touch to the visit. Once or twice a week apparently, the area is closed for an hour for missile testing!
El Paso is very busy, too much so. We have decided that after visiting Ft Bliss tomorrow we will move on to the Hampton Inn in Deming, NM.
We are so we excited to announce that grandson Ben will follow in his Mom's footsteps when he becomes a Freshman at MSU in the fall. And we are so proud of his Mom, Erin, who was voted by her fellow nurses as Nurse of the Year on the maternity ward at St Joseph Mercy hospital in Ypsilanti, MI.
El Paso is very busy, too much so. We have decided that after visiting Ft Bliss tomorrow we will move on to the Hampton Inn in Deming, NM.
We are so we excited to announce that grandson Ben will follow in his Mom's footsteps when he becomes a Freshman at MSU in the fall. And we are so proud of his Mom, Erin, who was voted by her fellow nurses as Nurse of the Year on the maternity ward at St Joseph Mercy hospital in Ypsilanti, MI.
Thursday, April 26, 2018
Day-10 on the road! Today we drove 223 miles from Amarillo TX to Roswell New Mexico where we are for one night. Roswell, home of UFO conspiritists. In fact, we spent an hour this afternoon at the International UFO Museum here in town. It has many exhibits very convincing of former alien invasions. NOT! The museum is hoky but sort of fun.
Lunch was at a Panda Express. Dinner will be at the local microwave, a short walk across the room.
Although we're in New Mexico now we're not done with Texas. Tomorrow we head to El Paso for two nights.
Amarillo was nice but we experienced some of the craziest driving yet with the widespread road construction adding to the mayhem. The other day, as we were walking along the service road from the hotel to the Big Texan Steak Ranch, a semi went flying by at warp speed and barely missed ramming another semi that was entering the roadway from a driveway. The speeding truck then backed up to cut off the guy he almost rammed, jumped out of his cab, and ran back screaming and waving his arms in a threatening manner at the other driver who was smart enough to stay in his truck. True road rage. We didn't hang around to see how it ended.
Fortunately, the trip has so far gone smoothly for us. And we look forward to a little more Texas tomorrow and Saturday. We've visited virtually all parts of the Lone Star State during trips in 2014, 2016 and this year. It really is a great state and our friends Glenn and Karen Kroh who live in Fort Worth add immeasurably to the fun
That's it for now!
Lunch was at a Panda Express. Dinner will be at the local microwave, a short walk across the room.
Although we're in New Mexico now we're not done with Texas. Tomorrow we head to El Paso for two nights.
Amarillo was nice but we experienced some of the craziest driving yet with the widespread road construction adding to the mayhem. The other day, as we were walking along the service road from the hotel to the Big Texan Steak Ranch, a semi went flying by at warp speed and barely missed ramming another semi that was entering the roadway from a driveway. The speeding truck then backed up to cut off the guy he almost rammed, jumped out of his cab, and ran back screaming and waving his arms in a threatening manner at the other driver who was smart enough to stay in his truck. True road rage. We didn't hang around to see how it ended.
Fortunately, the trip has so far gone smoothly for us. And we look forward to a little more Texas tomorrow and Saturday. We've visited virtually all parts of the Lone Star State during trips in 2014, 2016 and this year. It really is a great state and our friends Glenn and Karen Kroh who live in Fort Worth add immeasurably to the fun
That's it for now!
Wednesday, April 25, 2018
Still in Amarillo (for one more night). Today we tacked on another 72 miles visiting Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument about 35 miles north of Amarillo. It's a remote area that as far back as 13,000 years ago supported Native Americans who dug many hundreds of pits, 6 or 7 feet deep, to harvest beautiful flint rock of many colors. Using the flint they knapped tools and weapons of all kinds, many of which were beautiful works of functional art. While at the Monument we hiked a nature trail.
After driving back to the hotel we again hiked over to THE BIG TEXAN STEAK RANCH. This time we both ordered a full rack of ribs with sides of Cowboy Beans and salad. Each rack was the size of a full-grown Michigan possum and absolutely delicious. Will send a pic.
The day started out cold, wet and windy but became beautiful by early afternoon.
Tomorrow we head down to Roswell NM, famous for all the alien sightings and visitations.
That'll do it for now. Hope you're all well.
After driving back to the hotel we again hiked over to THE BIG TEXAN STEAK RANCH. This time we both ordered a full rack of ribs with sides of Cowboy Beans and salad. Each rack was the size of a full-grown Michigan possum and absolutely delicious. Will send a pic.
The day started out cold, wet and windy but became beautiful by early afternoon.
Tomorrow we head down to Roswell NM, famous for all the alien sightings and visitations.
That'll do it for now. Hope you're all well.
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