"It is in the wild places, where the edge of the earth meets the corners of the sky, the human spirit is fed." Art Wolf


Monday, February 18, 2019

Out and About Benson, AZ

I made it to the Benson Escapee Co-op park on Saturday without mishap and with easy traffic past both Phoenix and Tucson.   I have only been to three other parks in the Escapee's system but this one is by far the nicest.   The views of the mountains aren't bad either.   

Sunday, Ginger, a friend of both Beth's and Liz's, picked Beth and I up to take us to a wonderful spot in the Coronado National Memorial that runs along the Mexican and US border.  The road becomes gravel and takes a few switch backs past the Visitor's Center.   Ginger drove and had a handle on where most of the small pull offs were because it was wide enough for a one way road.





But the view from Montezuma's Pass was worth the dust.


That faint straight line in the distance is the Mexican/US border. I noticed no hoards pushing their way across the boarder.


Okay, there may actually be a wall down there but not the across the entire space.  In the distance on the left it appears to change into just a road.  But yes, it is a wall on the right.


Ginger, our driver and tour guide for the day.






The National Park was created to memorialize what historians feel was the path Coronado took out of Mexico in his explorations.



The dogs are going to wonder why I don't want to walk as far this afternoon.


When you are Coronado, I am guessing that you had people to provide for your comforts.




Always more views up each little rise or around the last bend.



Are they having a hissing conversation?






Our "tour guide"  made a quick stop along the route back.   


Ginger and Beth in front of the small waterfall.





Another stop on the way back to Benson was a visit to the Brown Ranch.  Ginger left the Brown Canyon Hike for another day.    Of in the field next to the ranch site sat the large dirigible that apparently is a known feature in the neighbor sky on days that are dirigible friendly.  We were guessing the unpredictable gusting winds probably influenced the decision to sit this afternoon out.








Beth and Ty.




One of the canyons near the ranch.











Todays adventures out were to Kartchner Caverns.   The cavern were discovered on private property in 1974 and secretly explored for a couple of years before the property owners were informed.  The importance of the find was recognized immediately.   The property owners, the Kartchners, approached the state and a deal was made.  What sets the caverns apart was that the engineers set out to learn from what had been done or not done to explore, develop and showcase the beauty of other known cavern systems.   They were able to learn from the past mistakes of others and were able to build in design features that worked to minimized the effect of millions of humans.  They also built in air locks and came up with rules for the visiting public that again would minimize the human impact on the fragile environments within the caverns.  No cameras, no backpacks, purses or anything loose that would have a potential to bump into walls or be dropped over handrails. Since the temperature inside that caverns is around 70 degrees and very humid I left me coat in the car. It was chilly on the trolley ride up the the entrance but it was one less layer to peel and carefully wrap around my waist with no floppy ends to come into contact with anything. 

Having visited other famous large caverns that were developed long ago and wear the damage of humans over time, it was as interesting to see how Kartchner Caverns is trying incorporate what studies have shown is healthier for the beautiful rock formations inside, as it was to see the formations.  And yes the formations in side were awesome.

Walking back to the parking lot I had to retrieve the camera and return to these beauties. 




On my way back to Benson, I followed Ginger's example from the day before and took a brief side trip through Tombstone.  I visited 5 years ago so just did a quick walk up and down the street.  Maybe it was the cooler temperatures today but everything appeared tired and the empty store fronts struck me a reflection of maybe the economy and of the tourist traffic coming through.  I found a piece of home made Carmel apple pie and decided on that over a burger for lunch so it was definitely a salad for dinner night.

Rain started about 4 pm and their might be snow before morning but with tomorrows temperatures going up into the 40's I expect it to be gone by the time  want to head out anywhere.   As of now I expect to stay put until Friday.  I think it is expected to rain on Friday but that looked better than the gusty winds that are currently predicted for Thursday.    Now if I could only find a self serve dog wash.... Shhhh, don't tell Audrey.  She may end up in the rig shower again.

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