San Antonio TX

Februsry 26 - March 5, 2011





We stayed at an RV park at Elmendorf, TX...just about 10 miles south of downtown San Antonio. Were able to get the front levelers fixed on the RV...and saved enough time to go to downtown San Antonio. Everyone says "You just have to do the River Walk"...so we did. And we also took the boat trip around the loop...within the past few years it is now a continuous loop. What a neat place. Shops...hotels...restaurants. Amazing!

We had to stop for lunch, of course. So many places to eat...We chose Rita's...they had TEXAS margaritas.
And Mariachi music.

And of course you cannot go to San Antonio without a visit to the ALAMO.

Ft. Stockton, TX

February 25, 2011

We found a neat little RV park that was called HILLTOP in Ft. Stockton, TX. They had a "gathering place" with a fire pit (which we didn't need, as it was warmer than Benson.) The view across the road looks like real cowboys...but it just metal stand up figures. The sunset from the gathering place was awesome, as you can see. We understand why they chose that spot for an RV park.

Short stay...but we're headed for San Antonio. It's a whole lot warmer...and we're looking at a week in one spot again for a change.

Bisbee & Queen Mine Tour

February 23, 2011

Discovery of copper in Bisbee AZ made it one of the largest towns between St Louis and San Diego...they had their own stock exchange for some time. Nestled in the hills of southern Arizona...it is no longer an active mining town, but rather a center for arts such as glass blowing...not the real crafty stuff that "everyone" does...but the skilled arts...painting, sculpting, etc.

We went on a tour of the Queen Mine...similar process to what we saw in the iron mines at Chisholm, MN...but, also, different in many respects.

As with all mines back in the late 1800's and early 1900's...there were NO workers who came away from their job "healthy"...the residue from blasting, and the lack of "fresh" air paid a toll on the health of all of the mine workers.

We were properly suited for the ride. Hard hats, lights, and all.

We rode a train back into the mine...about 1/2-2/3 mile.

It's difficult to pick the "colors" on the first "rock picture"...but copper ore is GREEN. :-)
Drilling and blasting into the mountain was depicted.

And then, as everyone must wonder...Where's the potty????

Surely someone would have a need if they worked a 12 hour shift.

We took several shots of the scenery between Benson, AZ [where we were staying] and Bisbee.
The scenery was so strikingly different than anything that we had seen anywhere else in the state. There are definitely many different versions of "desert."

Next stop...NEW MEXICO.

Tombstone

February 23, 2011



OK...there are shootouts...and there are Shootouts...but none compare with a REAL shootout in Tombstone, Arizona.



We started with Lunch at the Crystal Palace Saloon. [Of course]

After lunch there was a ruccus on the street in front of the Theater. Wyatt Earp wasn't at all happy that the "gang" of cowboys...Ike Clanton, Billy Claiborne, and the McLaury Brothers hadn't checked their guns when they came to town. The 4 stood in a circle and passed their guns around to each other and said..."They look good to us...we checked 'em out."

Wyatt was the law abiding controller of Tombstone at that time, and said their guns will have to be taken away...deciding on using guns to settle the argument, the Cowboys headed off to the OK Corral to get this thing done with. The Earp brothers in pursuit.

Doc Holliday just sort of hung around and watched what was happening...[got the distinct impression that he spent a lot of time ingesting "spirits"]

They spent quite a bit of time discussin'...

But, to no avail. One of the great Wyatt Earp adventures.

Fender bender

February 8, 2011

I guess we can blame our bad golf game during the tournament on this!!! Parking lot disaster!!! Nasty!!!! Covered 100% by the insurance of the guy who backed out of his parking spot into our car. They had to replace the whole front bumper - which goes from wheel to wheel...plus the left front headlight. We were supposed to leave on the 13th...but had to wait for the car repair to be completed. Big ole Honda Odessey.

Fun at Rovers Roost

February 7-12, 2011

This was to be our last week at Rover's Roost in Casa Grande, AZ...and it was a special week, indeed. I think it was called February Follies...and was a combination of Skits, contests, meals in the community center, and the annual meeting for the leaseholders of the co-op. The "Miss Piggy" contest was a hoot...the 6 contestants all scripted their own parts and made their own costumes, and Jean was lucky enough to be selected one of the judges. It's really difficult to keep an eye on each of the contestants while wiping away tears of laughter. Jean was on the winning team for the Beanbag Baseball Tournament. Neither of us did too well in the Golf Tournament. Jean's team came in last.

Tom was a neighbor down the row...and was responsible for delivering some of the craziest stories during Happy Hour.

Everyone shows up for Happy Hour...we all got our energizing belly laughs for the day on M-F each week. [In this case Happy Hour has nothing to do with libations...just a lot of fun and a lot of laughs - every week...not just during the follies.]

One of the many meals of the Folly week.

The community center...where most activities take place.

We went to Yuma...and across the border to Algodones to get some dental work done...spent an evening with Pokorny's who had just gotten down to Mesa...We left Casa Grande on the 22nd of February...and headed South for Benson, AZ. We were there almost 2-1/2 months...will miss the friends we made...and Jean will miss the line dancing. We may return next year.