Trip home–Black Hills Back Country Byway

On our way home from Clifton we decided to do something different.  Fred’s mom has this thing when she traveled she did not like to go home the same way she came so a different route was in order.  OMG!!! 

Had I know what I was in for we would have  taken the same route home, (not really but don’t tell Fred lol).  The Black Hills Byway is a 21 mile “road” through the Black Hills, which is the northern end of the Peloncillo Mountain.  The road was build by prisoners between 1914 and 1920 and along the way there are grave sites where prisoners died or were killed trying to escape.  There are a number of ranchers that still have cattle along the route and you will see them lying beside the road, on the road or you stop to look at a sight turn around and will have a cow standing beside you.  It was really a treat at times and others a shock.  They tell you at the kiosk  that the road will take you back into time and to image yourself as one of the rugged pioneers of those times.  They tell you to allow at least two hours driving time one way, not including any stops you may make, to have enough gas, water and other provision for your trip as there is no services along the way.  Oh yea and the average speed limit is 20 mph.  Guess I should have taken my first clue from that – lol   This area also will lead you in the Gila Box Canyon down to the Gila River.

The first sites we see were just wonderful so we decided to continue the trip before we knew it we were to far along to turn back.  From here we were looking back toward Clifton, Morenci, and the mine off in the distance.  As you can see the road is a dirt/gravel road and is so the entire 21 miles.

Pictures just cannot do justice to the beauty that you see everywhere you look as things were just incredible plus it was as great clear day with the sun shining so you could see for miles. 

As we traveled along off in the distance you could see an old railroad trestle.  This is an abandoned railroad trestle from the Morenci Southern Railroad, which no longer exist.  This track was used in the 1900 to transport passengers and freight between Guthrie and Morenci until 1922.

The first stop we came to was near the Old Safford Bridge and a primitive camping area know as Owl Creek Campground.  This area is over the Gila River there is a picnic area where you can launch raft, kayaks and such on the Gila River to go to the Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area.  This Bridge is also on the National Register of Historic Place.

The CCC through the years have completed repairs and additions along the Byway to preserve and protect it.  Note you will see rock spreader dikes that form a network of walls to help prevent erosion of the steep hillside.  We saw these all along the way and they were really neat to see.  In some places there were wildlife sitting on the walls but of course as I got ready to take the picture they would disappear.

 

 

The next major stop you came to had you looking back over the Morenci Mine.  Here there are exhibits that explained the area to you and development of the mine.

The drive to this point has been fairly easy and has been enjoyable.  The road itself at time is very steep and maybe only one to one and one-half car widths but luckily we have not encountered any cars coming from the other direction.  We finally reached the top, and I really don’t know what the elevation was as I did not find anything that shown it nor anything that state what it was. 

At the top is Guthrie Peak Rd and towers that belong the the FAA that boost high frequency signals allowing pilots to speak with communication facility in Prescott.  It also provides navigational aid for pilots flying between Phoenix and Albuquerque so we were fairly high I would say – lol.

The way down to the Safford area was just simply scary, the road was a lot of hair-pin curves and switch backs.  There were no rails on the side of the road and it was just simply a straight drop off down the side of the mountain.  Needless to say I had white knuckles and was holding on for dear life.  The drive was beautiful when you looked out but at times I was just scared.  It was a fun drive and one that I will not forget that is for sure.  Glad we took it but have not desire to take it again – lol.

Here are some other pictures I took of the drive and a video of some of the easy part of the drive.  Hope you enjoy our fun drive.

Black Hill Back Country Byway VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Black Hills Back Country Byway

Clifton and Morenci, AZ

Now you talk about an exciting beautiful mountain roads – well today was the day!!!  The weather was really nice and we drove Hwy 191 – not a road to take your rig on but a beautiful drive.

 

The major employer in both Morenci and Clifton is Freeport-McMoRan, the owner of the Morenci Mine.  This mine is the largest copper mining operation in North America and one of the largest copper mines in the world.  The mine area is a large open-pit north of the town.  Morenci is a company owned town and all the houses in the area are stilled owned by the mining company.

Clifton sits near the valley of the mining area and is the county seat.  It is an old railroad town and is full of history itself.  The original train depot still exist and is now the location of the Chamber of Commerce. 

 

Clifton is the birthplace of Geronimo and is built along the San Francisco River.  Gold was first discovered in the area but never really amount to much and then copper was discovered.  

 

 

 

 

 

The town still has a lot of it original Territorial architecture from the day of it being a wild mining boom town.  It is full of old saloons and boarding houses, some of which are still being used today. 

Clifton, AZ VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

From Clifton, you drive up the mountain to Morenci, which is really a neat drive as it switches back and forth and you see the mining area in front of you.  The mine is one of the nations’ leading copper producers and is American second larges open pit copper  mine.  The town is one of last of the “company” type of towns left in the US and has everything one would need or want.  There is a major grocery store, shopping, movie theater, and lots of place to eat out.  The housing range from single family houses to apartments.

The mine itself is really cool looking and is an open pit.  We did not make it all the way up to be able to look down into the pit but do have plans to do that another day.  What we did see was really impressive.

Morenci Mine VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Looking back down from the mine headquarters to Clifton was really some great views of Clifton and the road travelled.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now the drive home is a story to itself and I will have to describe it in another chapter.  Fred decided to try me on this one and sat there laughing all the way home. . . . .

Trip to Globe, AZ

Wow what a day and a very interesting day.  This is a place we are going to have to return to as it cannot be seen in one day.  The weather was not the best either as the cold and “rain/snow” was all around us.  The town is an historical wild west mining town; first mining silver and then copper.

The drive from Safford to Globe is through the  San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation.  The Pinal Mountain are just south of Globe and it is really a nice drive.  There are some 6% grades but not really that bad and at points the mountains have the saguaro growing.  It was sprinkling some that day and we saw the most beautiful rainbow; looked as if it ended right on the road and then back around to just this side of the mountain.  Really  neat

 

 

 

 

 

Drive to Globe. AZ VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Once we got to town there was really so much to see we did not know really where to start.  We started walking around the historical part of town and found out they are really up to date on there tours.  The buildings have QR signs around them that you can just use your iPhone and scan the QR reader and learn information about the building.  Globe is also the county seat for Gila County so I had to see if I could find the courthouse.  The one that is used today is really nothing and just a building but the older historical one was something else.  It has been refurnished and turned into The Center for the Arts, with an Art Gallery, Antique Store and a Performing  Art Theater inside.  They have left all the original doors showing what that office was  and it was something to see.  Admission is free and enjoyed taking a walk through it.  It was suppose to be closed as they were doing some remodeling but Fred talked our way in and we got to look around. 

Courthouse VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

The Old County Jail is right behind the courthouse and housed prisoner up until the 1980’s.  There are number of old historical churches and the original railroad depot is a museum. 

Before we left downtown area we found an out of the way place and stopped for lunch.  It was really three Indian ladies that was running the place and just as simple as you can get.  They had a café/bakery shop and made their bread daily.  We both had a hamburger and I must say it was one of the best I have had in a long time.  Simple old fashion cooking with real cut potatoes for fries and very tasty.

After lunch we headed out to Besh-Ba-Gowah Archeologist Park.  It is a 700 year old Salado Culture pueblo and is believe to be a ceremonial, redistribution and food storage complex. The area and use of the place can be dated back to 1150.  Different cultures and Indiana have used the area through the years.  It was really a fascinating place and one that we wish we had more time at.  The weather started catching up to us again and it started raining/snowing so we decided we had better head back to Roper before the weather really got bad.    

 http://www.jqjacobs.net/southwest/besh_ba_gowah.html

Besh-Ba-Gowah VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

One thing I feel I must say is that with all the pictures I am taking I just don’t feel that they are really doing justice to the beauty here.  It is so beautiful here and seeing all the wonders that God created is amazing.  This is semi-dessert land but it is just amazing, seeing the mountains off in the distance and thing driving through them, seeing the wildlife and being able to observe them, and just the sunrises and sunset are amazing.  You really need to observe thing yourself to understand the beauty of this land/world that God created for us to live in.  Please do your share to protect and preserve it for the generations to come.  Will get off my high horse now  - lol  Until next chapter . . . .

First Outing–Willcox, AZ

The weather has not been the best since we got to Arizona, but there was nothing we could go about that so decided we just needed to get out and make the best of it.  The cold front that moved in the first of the year has just seem to hang around and it is cold and wet but off we went to Willcox, AZ which is about an hour drive from Roper Lake.  It is an old railroad town that was established in the 1800.  The area was known as cattle country for years and is still a major agriculture area, but I-10 has now replaced the railroad.  The railroad still runs through town and as we were there we saw Amtrak pass through and many other trains but none stop anymore in the town.

The town has retained it old western look and still use many of the buildings as museums, restaurants and the old movie theater is still in use.

Willcox, AZ VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Willcox is the birthplace of Rex Allen, known as "The Arizona Cowboy", who wrote and recorded many songs, starred in several Westerns during the early 1950s and in the syndicated television series Frontier Doctor.  There is a museum dedicated to him so with the weather wet and cold inside we went. They also has information about his son and how he carried on after his father’s passing.  It was a very interesting museum.

Rex Allen Museum VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

The back room also showed may other “cowboys” that were of note in the area and how they had shaped the area.  There was a room that was dedicated to other western cowboys of the past, many I am sure you will recognize from the pictures.

Other noted Cowboys VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Then we went to the Marty Robinson Museum another known “cowboy” from the area.

Marty Robinson VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

For lunch we went to a place that other park host had told us about in a red caboose.  They make their own hamburger buns and have home cooking.  They are called The Dining Car but show they have big Texas BBQ.  We had burgers and did not try the BBQ this time but will be back to see what it is like.  The food was good and fresh so we have to try the BBQ next time.  It was a neat place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

After lunch we made a visit to the Chiricahua Regional Museum.  What an interesting place.  There is so much history here about the area, the Apache Indians through the Pioneers Days.  I love these sort of museums and really enjoyed it.  The area is where the Chiricahua Apache Indians were so lots of history about them and it chieftains Cochise and Geronimo.  In the area I would highly recommend a visit.

Chiricahua Regional Museum VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Time was catching up with us so it was time to head back to the coach.  We will be making more trips here at this is also the wine country for the area.  There are over 10 different wineries in the area so we have a lot of tasting to do!!!  Until then – on to our next adventure . . . .

Granddaughter update–National Champs!

Have to throw this in as we are so proud of our youngest granddaughter.  She is seven years old and has been doing competitive cheerleading – now in her second year.  Last year her team did really well and won a number of competition. 

This year she is a “flyer” (the one being lifted up all the time) and just loves it.  She was so excited when she got to be a flyer that she practiced everywhere she went – could not take her picture without her posing. 

Last week (January 17-18) her team was in New Orleans for the Mardis Gras National Competition.  This was their first National Competition for the season and they took first place.  We are so excited and proud of her and her team that I just had to share. 

The link above will show you their routine, but I have to share some of her of course.  Needless to say I am a proud grandma!!!

New Orleans VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

She is competing in NCA Nationals in Dallas at the end of February and this time Grandma has already got her airplane ticket to be there!! 

Her Dad (our son), Mom, Nanny, and brother are always there to support her and very proud of our girl also.  She is always looking for sponsors so if anyone is interested let me know and I will send you the paperwork so you can be one of her sponsors!