Nature in the Desert 2013

Last week I showed you a picture of these mountains as illuminated by the sunset.  This morning the sun came up at 5:15 and gave us this display.  The Dragoon Mountains are 45 miles east of us.  They are the location of Cochise's Stronghold.  It is a narrow gully surrounded by high rock cliffs where Cochise spent his last 15 years while evading the US Army that pursued his band relentlessly.  The redoubt allowed his band to raid and plunder at will, in the end it became his tomb.

My reading {more like studying}  of Lone Star: A History of Texas and The Texans by TR Fehrenbach caused me to want to see this site.  The Indian Wars are glossed over in our American history classes in the interest of being Politically Correct.  Ruthless and Vicious are the operative adjectives when the Apaches and Cherokees come up as a subject.

So, we took a daytrip and were pleasantly surprised.  Of course before we could enter the area we had to assure that we were carrying potable water and had left out Bow & Arrows at home.

At the end of the road we found a very pleasant wilderness campground.  It had spaces delineated for 25’ campers.  I would not consider bring in anything larger than a pop up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We’re not sure which of our government’s departments is responsible for stacking boulders, the folks in commend at this location are doing a wonderful job.  These are a few of the orphan rocks we saw on the 5 mile (washboard & dirt} road into the Stronghold.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The landscape here matches much of the west as it seems to consist of random stacks of huge boulders.  It will no doubt take a few Bazzilion years before they can build golf courses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Than-you again Arizona for adding about 5% to the cost of your highway program and decorating you bridges and interchanges.

And now, a word from our sponsor.  in the East, you folks have the South of the Border to entertain you as you travel north and south on I-95.  In Arizona, They have 247 billboards admonishing you to visit: ‘THE THING’

I did not buy a Souvenir, T-shirt or any Jewelry.  You will have to let your mind wander as to how great this was.

Couldn’t close without wish a Happy Anniversary to Grace & Wayne Rettburg.  This is a favorite picture from last year’s 25th celebration when they renewed their vows.