(Where We Are) Catch Up Post (Chris Leaves a Day Early)

Wednesday, March 11, 2020

We are spending the night in a Texas Safety Rest Area near Eastland, Texas as we slowly make our way to South Carolina and the Atlantic Ocean. There will be several catch up posts, I am over two weeks behind. Since, this is a diary of our adventures/travels that is what I will be doing for several days. I have a feeling we will be through Louisiana before I get into real time.

I missed seeing tonight's sunset but I caught this color out
our door looking towards the South. 

Catching Up.


Chris had been checking the weather on and off it looks like there is a winter storm heading into Wisconsin along Lake Michigan. The storm will impact Milwaukee where she will be landing and north of there where she lives. Last year on her way home she spent a long day in the Denver Airport because there was a storm in Milwaukee and she did not want to repeat that "fun" in Houston this year. Not long after we got back from our day over at Tombstone Chris received a message from the airlines offering her the opportunity to change her flight due to the  predicted winter storm. After some thought she decided to leave a day early before the winter storm was due to hit the area. This meant she would be leaving Monday instead of Tuesday. Going online she was able to re-book  her flight for the same time on Monday as she would have flown out on Tuesday. Tom and I were sad that she had to leave a day early but understood her concerns.

Monday, February 24, 2020

Today's plan was to visit the Saguaro National Park both the East and West Districts. From there we planned on stopping at Mission San Xavier del Bac in Tucson. We knew we would not be able to do what we planned but decided to leave early on Monday and at least drive into the visitor center at the East District, Rincon Mountain District, of the Saguaro National Park. This stop was on the way to the airport and having been there before we knew there were paths we could walk to see several of the different plants and cactus the Sonoran Desert has to offer. The nice part is they are labelled so you know what you are looking at. There is an 8 mile loop through this part of the park which is a nice ride but wanting to make sure Chris was at the airport on time we will save it for next time.

A selfie before we get in the Jeep and head towards Tucson.

First stop was for gas at the Chevron Station just down the road.

Going under I-10 just before turning East on the interstate.

Making sure you stay where they want you!

The next group of pictures I took at the Rincon Mountain visitor center and are self explanatory. (Clicking on the pictures should open them larger in a new window.)

Tom caught Chris and I chatting.

Dropping Chris off at the airport in Tucson.
A sculpture in the median as we left the airport.

Mission San Xavier del Bac

(We first visited the Mission on December 8, 2015, which is the feast day of The Immaculate Conception, on that day we attended Mass here. Below is what I wrote about the Mission. Today there were no candles on the ledges.

Today we visited the Mission at San Xavier del Bac, a National Historic Landmark, founded as a Catholic mission by Fr. Eusebio Kino in 1692. (He is the same priest that established Tumacacori as a mission in 1691. We visited Tumacacori this past Saturday, December 5th.) Construction of this current church began in 1783 and was completed in 1797. It is the oldest intact European structure in Arizona and the mission continues to serve the residents of the San Xavier Reservation. Often called the “white dove of the desert,” the mission is located in the San Xavier Reservation, part of the Tohono O’odham nation, southwest of Tucson in Pima County, Arizona.

The inside of the church, which they are slowly renovating as funds are available, is filled with original statuary and mural paintings. The ceilings are beautiful and when you look up you notice a ledge surrounding the interior filled with lit candles. There is so much to look at it is impossible to take it all in. As we sat there during mass I leaned over and whispered to Tom, we could not have taken the kids here for mass when they were small their heads would have never stopped turning. I had trouble keeping my concentration.

The last time we visited this mission  we sat here, 
bottom left picture, for Mass.

Heading south on I-19 we can see a lot of Saguaros and
Cholla Cacti  in the distance.

On Sahuarita Road heading east.

Several lovely Saguaros along here and this is probably the
last time we will see Saguaros this year.

Our views as we drive south on AZ-83

Coming into Sonoita.

We are know on AZ-82.

Almost back to Quail Ridge RV Park.

It was somewhat of a bittersweet day. We did get to make a short visit to the Saguaro National Park and Tom and I made a quick visit to the Mission San Xavier Del Bac both beautiful stops. At the same time we were sad to see Chris leave and do so a day early. It seemed like we had just picked her up at the airport and here we were dropping her off.  I did hear from her several times during the day and everything went smoothly with her transfer in Dallas and her husband, Perry, was in Milwaukee to pick her up. The roads were clear and they made it home safe and sound. It was really special to have her come out and spend time with us. Already looking forward to next year when we hope she will get to come again.

We are glad you stopped by!

If you have time to leave a comment we would enjoy hearing from you.

The Ride To and From Green Valley Market and Thursday

(Clicking on the pictures will open them larger in a new window.)

Wednesday, March 27, 2019

Today's goal is to visit the Green Valley Market and to check out the Green Valley area. At some point down the road, after our house in Escanaba sells, we will want to have another sticks and bricks home and we are thinking we would like that home to be in Arizona. No real plans at this time just looking. Just like when we purchased the Stinger "B" we will know when we have found the right place and the time is right. For now our home is on wheels and we are loving it.

We are headed west on AZ-82.

I think I have mentioned it a couple of times before I do love windmills.

Sonoita, we will be turning right and head north on AZ-83 here.

Another wonderful windmill.

Welcome to Sonoita.for those approaching on AZ-83 going south.

Border Patrol Stop.

I have never seen one like this before.

We are headed down

with lots of curves.

Beautiful scenery on the way down.

Just before our turn left on to Sahuarita Rd.
I am not sure anyone else will see what I see. There is only brush here.

An Ocotillo in the midst of all the Prickly Pears.

The sign says open range but there was fencing on the sides of the road.

Then we saw a Saguaro and I am smiling.

We really had thought we had seen the last of the Saguaros

when we left Tucson behind last week.

Then I saw a crested Saguaro. I usually do not enhance the pictures I take
but because this one was into the sun it was hard to make out the top of it.
Click on it to make it larger and you will see the face at the top.

Then we arrived at the Green Valley Farmers and Artisans Market. What a wonderful stop this was. Beautiful artisan's work for sale. Crafts, food, coffee, pastries, breads, fresh vegetables, plants, clothes, hats, and jewelry just to name of few of the items we saw as we walked through. Yes, some of our cash stayed there. From what I read it is held every Wednesday and if we are in the area we will be back. Thank you, Nancy, Kissack Adventures, for mentioning this place in your blog. We just wish we would have ran into you there. We were looking for you.

After visiting the Market we stopped for lunch then took a ride around the area and looked at the outside of  a couple of houses Tom had seen on the internet. We wanted to see what was available for the price we would spend and if we liked the area.

Arizona does do a nice job of decorating their overpasses

even underneath is nice.

This was on the walls at an exit we took.

One thing we found interesting, on I-19 the signs are in Kilometers not miles. 

We did stop in Tubac and went into a few shops but no purchases today.
This is the only picture we have of the stop.  

We have visited the Tumacacori National Historical Park just south of Tubac. It is a worthwhile stop but not on our agenda today.

We are turning at Nogales, AZ to connect with AZ-82 and make our way back to the Stinger "B".

A "wiggle worm" sign.

When they said there was a narrow bridge ahead they meant it.

There is no water in the Santa Cruz River.

We are on AZ-82.

We stopped at this Historical Marker-John Wade's' Ranch.
There is a close up of the plague below
if you enlarge it you can read about it there.

This was up the hill from the marker.
There is no connection.
This is the Telles Family Shrine.

The plague above the door reads: Telles Family Shrine, Begun 1941, Erected by Juanita and Juan Telles, Based on a Vow to God for the safety of their sons in war, re-dedicated November 18, 1988, The Pimeria Alta Historical Society.

Except for the statue of our Lady of Guadalupe
all the statues are damaged. Either from the
elements or deliberately there is no way to tell.
This statue just may be newer.
Yet you will notice below there is damage on the marker.

As you can see there are bullet holes in this plaque.
This is not the first time we have seen a Historical Marker damaged like this.
It is a shame that some people have such little respect for this type of thing.

We saw a lot of these wild poppies today.

Patagonia

Another Historical Marker

Camp Crittenden

When we leave here we will miss the wide openness of this area.

This grassland area is beautiful.  

 

Thursday, March 28, 2019

We started today with the thought that we would be leaving tomorrow. Since, when we leave here we will be mostly putting miles behind us there are things we wanted to accomplish while we have full hookups. After putting in a load of wash I headed into Sierra Vista to pick up some groceries and Tom said he would get the vacuuming done while I was gone. Then we talked on the phone and decided to stay until Sunday morning. So we are going to take two days and just relax before we start putting miles and the southwest behind us for this adventure. It just was not time to leave yet.

The sun setting on our day.

Today was a day of re-thinking, when we will leave, the route home, and what stops we will make. Tomorrow will be a day to sit out and enjoy the sunshine.

So glad you stopped by for a visit and hope you enjoyed the pictures.

If you have time to leave a comment we would enjoy hearing from you.