End Week Eight 1/24/09

Week Eight

Ended week seven with a social hour/ fish fry sponsored by our neighbors. Was a good time to say our goodbyes and thank everyone for their acquaintance. Then Sunday morning, the 18^th, pulled out and gave “hugs and goodbyes” to other Kino Bay friends. Was really a great stay. Drove Sunday to Santa Ana, Mexico for an overnight stay, split our trip back to the USA to allow for a potential border crossing delay. Nice little “mom & pop” English speaking RV park recommended by Kino Bay friends, only 12 sites. We were only one of two rigs there for the overnight. Nice visit with owners and other RV guest. Other guest was 85 years old, with his wife, have traveled all of Mexico, a professional collector of Mexican “branding irons”, a lost trade. He said there are over 40,000 registered brands, just in the state of Sinora, of which he has 4,000 and no marketable interest, but he doesn’t seem to care. Interesting guy to talk to. Calls himself a museum curator, but in reality, I think he is a “junk collector”. Claims to have his own “ghost town” in Independence, CA. Fun to hear all of his stories.

Off early on Monday the 19^th. Boarder crossing day. Got good directions. Lots of rules regarding what you can and can not bring back, constantly changing. Long lines at boarder, particularly for semi trucks. They redirected us around the trucks for speedier processing. Pulled over for a complete inspection, but not a “total tear down”. Confiscated two “potatoes” out of the frig. Potatoes actually from our garden back home, makes no difference, once in Mexico must stay. Boy, we are a “bad” national threat. Lots of other questions and literally opened every compartment in the 5^th wheel and truck, then sent us on our way, total time 1-1/2 hr. Lunch in Patagonia, AZ, nice to be back in the states, but suddenly the cost of living rose from our Mexican lunches of $6-8 to this one of $18. Oh well! Got our cell phones reconnected now that we’re back in the states, and switched our vehicle insurance back. Traveled to Huachuca, AZ, first to post office trying to catch up with mail, then to our RV park, Quail Ridge. Settled in by 3pm.

Tuesday/ Wednesday the 20^th & 21rst, glued to TV till noon for the inauguration, was pretty special. Then drove to Sierra Vista, breakfast, truck wash, and then shopping. Visa card idle for 6 weeks while in Kino Bay, but it got a work out today. Back to RV for a quiet evening in the states. Wednesday laundry day.

Thursday the 22^nd, rain came in, first in 8 weeks for us. Took a road trip to Bisbee, AZ, a historic copper mining village tucked into the mile high “Mule Mountains”. Founded in 1880. Some mining still continues, but at a much lesser extent now. Typical historical town, full of gift shops, restaurants, etc. Stopped at a local saloon for a beer and popcorn, to get out of the rain, and observed some locals. Enjoyed talking to the lady bartender who originated from MN, living in Bisbee for 30 years. While in saloon, local gal came in out of the rain pulling a “motor bicycle” with her, remember, the ones you’d peddle to start. Well, chatted with her a bit and turns out it was a new replica built right here in Bisbee, “SpookyToothCycles.com”, around $600, 80 mpg. Some really do live like the 1900’s. This is a mountain village, so homes built in “unusual places. Fun! Stopped at the mine center for the “Queen Mine Tour”. Missed the tour, but lots to see in the center. Then drove to an overlook of the entire mine landscape. Back to RV around 5:30pm for fish fry in.

Friday the 23^rd, still rain so decided to do the “Extraordinary Kartchner Cavern” state park cave tour. Well, thinking caves are caves, we became a bit overwhelmed by this one, a real jewel. Discovered in 1974 by two young college “cavers”, found a “sink hole’ that lead to three very large rooms. Stalagtite /stalagmites going back 200,000 years. Incredible findings, skeletons, fossils, going back 86,000 years. Became public knowledge in 1988, but not opened for tours until 1999. A must see if you are in the Benson, AZ area. Sorry, no pictures were allowed in the cave. After cave tour did a little self guided tour of the city of Benson. The much needed rain cleared by 5:00pm.

Saturday the 24^th, rain done nice sunny day. Decided to take in an outdoor activity and went to visit the “San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area”. Lays on the San Pedro River near Sierra Vista, AZ, and is primarily a wildlife refuge with heavy focus on bird watching. Nice hiking trails. Enjoyed a couple mile hike. After a short week here in Huachuca City, Quail Ridge RV Park, preparing to head for Casa Grande tomorrow.

End of week eight