March 2017

Tim had to work, and was off for weekend, and scheduled knee surgery on Monday. so will spend the weekend with him and his family, and then help in any way after his surgery.

His pre-teen daughter and twin preschool age daughters were so much fun and a lot of work too. Was nice to spend time with him and his family. After his surgery received news that Denzil's dad was in hospital, so left New Mexico to go to Arkansas.

Denzil was surprised that Brenda asked for a rock hammer for her birthday. So we picked up on in Phoenix, and used it at Rock Hound State Park in New Mexico. it's only $14/night with electric and showers so a great bargain. Also they allow you to go in the parks mountains and find and keep up to 5 pounds of rocks. They have jasper, agates, and some opals, and thundereggs. Only found Jasper and some agates, but had a fun time also waiting until Tim was free on weekend to visit him.

Think we saved the hardest for last. Chiricahua is very remote. and have to take an even more remote road through mountains to get to the Fort. And then you park, and walk, yes walk, 1.5 miles each way to the Visitors Center to get the sticker and park stamp. Hard to get, but now finished seeing all National Parks and Monuments in AZ state. So Denzil is happy! New Mexico here we come.

In the Chiricahua Mountains of far southeast Arizona, Fort Bowie was the staging post for attacks in the late nineteenth century by the US military on the native Chiricahua Apache, a campaign completed in 1886 after surrender of the last Indian leader (Geronimo). The fort was abandoned in 1894 and became a National Historic Site in 1960. Access is by an unpaved road followed by a 1.5 mile hike, along an easy trail that passes other historic relics including an old cemetery.

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Even though this is extremely 'remote' we got the last campsite in the park. Go figure

Chiricahua National Monument covers a small area of the remote Chiricahua Mountains in far southeast Arizona, home to an unusually wide variety of plant and animal species, and containing large expanses of eroded volcanic rocks that form pinnacles, hoodoos and narrow canyons. The distant location and limited access mean that relatively few people visit, so the place is peaceful and unspoilt.

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On drive near N. AZ. several rocks from other cars hit the windshield. Two made cracks, one larger, near driver side. Called in Phoenix area since near there and a big town. They saw and said too rusted at top and bottom to seal correctly. So said it would still be fine to drive a while.

Meanwhile stopped back again to see Ann and Ron at Ron's place 1 last time before heading out of AZ.