Stuart's "Lets Go for a Drive" Day

Last Monday the puppers and I were still hanging around Benson enjoying the warm weather.  Lyn and Karen took a down day for reading and laundry and Nikki headed over to Deming a day early to get away from the sounds of the main drag.  Stuart thought to himself, "The gray haired lady will either get her clippers out and groom us .....or maybe I can talk her into a nice drive."   You can see that Stuart's suggestions won the day.  When Dawn had driven up the evening before she spoke about how beautiful the valley looked as she drove back south on 90 towards Sierra Vista.  She talked about looking out over the valley and "seeing" Cochise and his warriors chasing around the soldiers. Or was it the soldiers chasing Cochise and he disappearing back into the Dragoon Mountains and his "Stronghold" where they could never quite find him.

Stuart said he wanted to see this land.

It is a very nice drive.   And as long as we were heading towards Sierra Vista, I figured, hey, lets go see Fort Huachuca and the museum on the Army base where Dawn is staying this winter.   As Dawn had told us the evening before, flash your id and you get on the base.   They didn't ask to see Stuart's ID.   I had tried to call Dawn to get better directions of where on base to find the museum.  That place is very large.   What I could have also found out with a little research was that the museum was closed on Mondays.....and it was President's Day.   Being retired means that folks don't always think about what day of the week it is.....sigh.    The hills on base look like the Buffalo Soldiers could ride past anytime.

With some back tracking, Stuart and I were able to find the grounds of the old fort.  I recognized the structures from some of the old forts we visited on our way to Alaska.  These guys were just causing havoc for different Indians in the Southwest.

This building was located at the very top of the field, maybe the important commander's quarters.  Across from the cavalry's quarters were the usually officer's houses similar to those we saw in  Alaska.

Officer's housing.   I met a young couple enjoying the gazebo on the parade grounds and the young man said that the houses host an open house once a year. His mother always goes. Though the houses aren't filled with period pieces.  They are filled with things that the officers and thier family have collected from being stationed around the world. 

Not coming from an army background I found the buildings fascinating not just because they were historical structures but because on this base the buildings were all still being used and had signage signifying just a small sample of the different services that make up army life.

hen as I turned around a corner, I heard a horn honking.  "Oh, no," said Stuart, "I told you driving around an army base taking pictures on a beautiful day might get you in trouble! They have security for folks like you."

Then I noticed that the car was a familiar small blue one with a smiling woman waving at us!   Dawn had gotten my phone message and given the time frame had called be back but also headed out in her car....just in case she could catch me.   "No, officer, she wasn't taking any secret photos." said Stuart.

(Dawn did say that this facility worked with intelligence and technology including the drones, etc.)

I don't know how old this structure is but liked the stone work.

I got to see Dawn's Thor ACE in person and the wonderful view of the mountains from her spot in the campground.  And then it was off to find the Chinese Buffet.  There was plenty of options to chose from.    Stuart got to wait in the car in the shade.....

After getting our strength back, Dawn suggested a drive to explore a nearby historic townsite, Fairbank, which was located on the San Pedro River.   Fairbank was were the trains came through and the departure point for folks making their was to Tombstone and the silver mines.  The trains never went to Tombstone directly until 1903  The first train came through Fairbank in 1881.  Some of the buildings including the hotel were destroyed when highway 82 was built.   The school closed in the early 40's. The town had a few people still living in it in the 50's but by the 70's only a road side store with a gas pump remained.   The original wooden school house had burned down and was rebuilt from stone blocks in the twenties.

The store, post office, etc.....

A short walk from town was the San Pedro River.  I think this river has seen a lot of lives cross it back and forth and seeking its life giving waters in such a dry land....

Crossing through these western states it is easy to imagine the stories of early settlers and Native Americans.   Then it hits me that all our states have these stories, they all had their original First Nation peoples that were pushed out of their own lands as the European Settlers and new Americans spread out across the nation.  Next time I drive across Ohio I will have to look for them with my imagination better.....

Tuesday, it was drive day, as Karen and I were heading off to Silver City. Nikki was going to drive over and meet us.   It was time to say our goodbyes to Lyn (SoCalGal).  She was planning to hang out in Benson a couple more days and then meet up with a couple of her friends in one of the state parks just west of Tucson.   When you have a history of being a "fulltimer" for 16 years as Lyn has, it is not surprising that she can catch up with friends most anywhere in the USA.   

Lyn reading in the sunshine.  Casey whispers, "That wiggly puppy Audrey isn't coming back over, is she?  I like her but I only visit with her in shifts and my shift is over and it's rest time, now."

Decorative iron work on one of the interstate bridges. (Taken from the Burger King parking lot.)

From I-10 it wasn't too long until we made it over to a two lane road for a more relaxed trip to Silver City.
Without that silly traffic, you can stop and take a picture most anywhere!

The next post will be about Silver City or at least Gila Cliff Dwellers....or maybe about how Nikki found herself a cowboy!