Seeing the sites near Tucson, and a broken roof vent

Old Settler town buildings at Fairbanks.

 

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SASS shooting range and livery

 

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  Town of Tombstone

I loved the old stagecoaches.

 

Just look at those big feet on the horses!!

The old frontier town

Street to Boot Hill

We went shopping at Tombstone in the quaint little shops. We especially like the jewelry shops. By the time we were ready to get something to eat, the restaurants were closed . But this was on Christmas Eve, so I guess it was to be expected.

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On Wednesday, the day after Christmas, we went to to the courthouse to apply for my passport as we are planning a trip to Nogales soon. I paid the extra to get it sooner ...... 2-4 weeks :-/

At least that is done and out of the way.

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Today after church we drove to Camper World to pick up a couple small things I needed for repair for the RV. Those plastic covers for the bumper ends where you store the blackwater hose needed replaced, and some hooks to attach the bottom of the miniblinds that had broken off. I looked for a knob that holds my shower curtain closed but no luck there. I could have stayed and looked more but  needed to get back to the fur-babies. We also drove around a couple rv sales lots just looking....

 

Good thing we got home when we did as I had left the top vents open a ways to make sure the dogs were cool enough. Well apparently the wind had been blowing and the roof vent over the driver area was blown clear off and broken. As rain was threatening I had just time enough to duct-tape plastic to the inside in a funnel shape, and poke a hole in the middle of it to hopefully drain the water into a bucket on the floor underneath it for the night. I will see about getting it fixed in the morning.

 

Going to get cozy and listen to the raindrops, which I hope are not too loud nor too close together :)

Aww...... Beautiful but Cold .... Arizona!

I am enjoying my time here with my brother and his wife, catching up and reviewing our childhoods and some of the crazy things we used to do. Still doing some crazy things..."cowboying" around; however the type of "horses" has changed.

(Just got back from a romp into the desert a couple blocks from their home)

He usually smiles, but I caught him offguard, haha!

He goes by "Deaf Ranger" on fb and just for some background, he and wife Carol spent many long years in and being an administrator of a YWAM base in (Youth With A Mission) in Titusville PA, and then many years in Deaf World Ministries. For nearly all their lives they gave of themselves, doing with little. They were, and are, really blessed to be able to retire to Arizona after their numerous years of ministry.

They still work with the deaf and some of the homeless as opportunity presents itself.

 

 

This is Ron and Carol with their beautiful little orange tree.

Some of Carol's flowers....

And Ron's cacti gardens.....

These were taken at different times of day/evening.

 



And  a beautiful sunset to end the day!

More of our adventures later....

Merry Christmas! Greetings from sunny Tucson, AZ!

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a very blessed New Year!

Last Day in Big Bend Nat'l Park

Dec 17th, Monday

I have been seeing some beautiful places here in the park! I am just awed by the ever-changing mountains and land forms. I left the Cottonwood campground near Castolon, and headed for Santa Elena Canyon. (long distance photo)

I stopped along the way at the old Grand Canyon farm, own for years by the Sublett family.

It was very interesting to me to find that alot of the area, now grown up in mesquite,  in the early 1900's was once valuable cropland.

These are the main house ruins behind the brush growth.



How many feet walked in and out of these doorways; how many hot meals awaited Mr Sublett, after a long hard days work............. I can picture him coming in tired, sweaty, and hungry.

If these walls could tell us of the happy times and hardships these settlers knew.......

Back on the road to Santa Elena Canyon...

Rules say no dogs on the trail, so I had to leave Izzy and Joe in the RV.

and so I started down the path...

The Canyon walls are gorgeous!

 There are sections of board walk down to the river.

 I went for quite a way ..... snapped the best picture I could,

then remembered I had forgotten to lock the RV, so back I went.

It was interesting but you cannot see much though the opening as it seems to curve, and the law forbids any crossing of the river. Still worth the visit, realizing Mexico was near enough to reach out and touch.

Heading back toward Castolon, and the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive (because vehicles over 24' are not recommended to take the dirt base Old Maverick Road) I stopped to get photos of the Tuff Canyon.

 

I was standing on the edge of a "cliff" in this lower picture , which is quite bold for me :)

Continuing on back to Castolon I spotted these free-ranging horses near the side of the road.

This tri-axle truck came barreling down the road just as they were about to cross. Fortunately they turned and weht back.

I was able to get several photos before I, and they, had to be on out way.

Three beautiful horses!

I felt very blessed to experience all of this in one day!

the beautiful mountains, the vast open spaces, the history of this valley,

 and the spirit of freedom displayed by these horses.

 

I drove  northward and picked up RT 118 at Maverick Junction. leaving the  BBNP. I turned west on RT 170,  and headed for the BB State Park. Iwanted to fo;;ow the border as far as I could.....

But that's another post......

 

Big Bend National Park 2 and Javelinas

Dec. 16th, Sunday . (This post is picture heavy.... for my kids and grands)

 As I left Boquillas Canyon, I headed back towards Panther Junction. Here is the tunnel you have to go through on the road between Panther Junction and Rio Grande Village. I didn't get a picture of it going in so I was sure to get one going out.

Getting back to Panther Junction I then took the road to Cottonwoods campgrounds.

Here are some scenic pictures of the mountains along the route.

 

Fins of Fire rock chain....

You can see a large "fin" to the left in the photo above.

See the "mule ears" to the right of the sign.

and here....

Another traveler.. they were hiking over to get a better look at the "ears". Check out their website.

I haven't had time yet but intend to...

I decided this was as good a place as any to eat lunch. That granola bar I'd had fro breakfast was way past gone! My h-m bread with tuna salad and a Roma tomato with green olives on the side.

Then on down into the valley below.

More interesting mountain shapes....

 

The different colored layers of  rock formations are especially intriging to me.

I stopped at the Cottonswoods store and information building. I failed to get a picture of it but theses old buildings were near there.

I didn't stay long, just wanted to get to the campgrounds and set for the night.

As I went to walk the pups, I saw this herd of Javelinas across the drive. Whoa, I better wait a bit...

Interesting creatures, but I had been warned about them, so stayed my distance,

They will eat your dog!

Lowering sun glowing on the mountain at the end of the campground.

Tonight, we sleep under the beautiful cottonwoods!

and more to come tomorrow!