Summer Journey 2019 Is A Wrap

We got into our winter hideaway in Picacho Monday afternoon after visiting Tombstone Territories RV Park in Tombstone, Arizona for a week.  While there in Tombstone we hiked up the top of the Huachuca Mountains in Sierra Vista which was a feat I wanted to accomplish, climbing up over 600 feet in less than a mile.  The trail was not treacherous, just steep.  The folks who maintain this trail (Friends of Ramsey Canyon) were thoughtful and put 9 benches ever 80 feet or so, just to stop and catch your breath.  Going up was hard, not only in the elevation gain but in using leg muscles you forgot you have, but coming down - a bit more harder, very tough on knees.  But we maid it, did not see Border Patrol 'up there' even though a Patrol car was parked in the parking lot.  If we would have continued on one of the 3 trails at the top of the mountain, we would be right up against the border with Mexico which is where I think they were hiding out.

I 10 westbound, near Lordsburg, New Mexico 

Railroad 'bone' yard - they scrap out cars along I 10

Dropping down into Wilcox Valley, westbound I 10, Arizona

Lots of standing water from a couple week's prior storm (we got it while in Amarillo)

Riding a bicycle on I 10 - cars going 80 miles an hour.  Wow. 

19th state we crossed this summer

Another little hike we did while in Tombstone was so visit the San Pedro River Riparian again.  There are miles of trails that go along the San Pedro and we had never hiked along the western bank northward, which we did.  Amazing that the water was still flowing after a very dry summer season.

And back to 'norm' - Check point for Border Patrol

Used the last couple of days while at Tombstone to begin cleaning out and packing up the RV to bring our possessions out.  And to sanitize the holding tanks, clean and wax the exterior, and general enjoy the last couple of days in the RV.  We were lucky in that the weather during the day was perfect - low 70's, but at night a bit chilly - got down to low 40's, had to have the heaters on.  We really enjoy that RV park, this was our 5th time visiting it in 10 years.  And to be serenaded by the coyotes at night, not just once but sometimes 3 or 4 times.  We think their den was right by us, they howled coming out and then going back in.  Many of the other campers did not like it - they all had dogs and the dogs would start up barking if they got too close.

The step-trail up to the top of Huachuca Mountains

Looking down on Mexico - very deep canyon

Trail was rated strenuous - no fooling! 

We always see deer and also wild turkeys while at Ramsey Canyon

Our summer was eventful for a couple of reasons - we put the most mileage in one summer on the RV; we got back to Ohio and saw family and friends and enjoyed a wonderful wedding; we saw new things along the way there as well as when we left and were headed to Arizona for the winter.
And we can say we have camped in all lower 48 states now, picking up Oklahoma as our last state we had not spent any time in.  We are still drawn to the mountains but have a soft spot for water.  When we were in Ohio, specifically along Lake Erie, were were astonished at the high water levels.  Streets flooded where they had not experienced it before, many many homes for sale because of the water encroachment.  Some good real estate buys if you want to deal with swimming in your front yard.

Trail down to San Pedro River

Still water, lots of animal tracks

Cadzillion of these grasshoppers all over

Pretty, very tranquil 

Huh?  Wonder what this was all about?

Lots of erosion

We are also sad we did not get to spend time with many more friends from Ohio - our time we thought we would use to visit them was quickly changed due to health circumstances of family member, helping her get back on her feet and functional again.  But so very glad we were there to help and get her spirits up and getting that positive outlook on life she always had and has again.

So, this is the last post until next time - have a great winter!

Big Boy No. 4014, Union Pacific's Great Race

Last week a friend posted that a huge steam engine was moving eastward on the Union Pacific's railroad, making a tour of the country.  And he showed pics.   So, naturally I looked into it and found that the Big Boy No. 4014 was headed towards New Mexico and that if we wanted to see it up close, we either drove to Lordsburg which is about 50 miles from where we are staying, or wait until this morning when it would stroll through Deming, not stopping for any period of time.  We opted to drive to Lordsburg yesterday and glad we did.

Window of opportunity to see it - very few choices

Comparison of 747, Big Boy, regular engine, bus, car, man

Crowd began to gather - 1 hour before Big Boy scheduled to come in

And here it comes 

The conductor took a break - this is a young man learning with expert behind him

There were 25 Big Boys built exclusively for Union Pacific Railroad during World War II, the first delivered in 1941.  The Big Boy locomotives were 132 feet long and weighed 1.2 million pounds.  Due to their great length, the frames of the Big Boys were hinged or articulated, to allow them to negotiate curves.  They had a 4-8-8-4 wheel arrangement which meant they had 4 wheels in the leading set of pilot wheels which guided the engine, 8 drivers, another set of 8 drivers, and 4 wheels following which supported there rear of the locomotive.  These massive engines typically operated between Ogden, Utah and Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Huge

Support cars behind - sleeping, eating, dignitaries, etc.

That big black thing behind locomotive - filled with diesel fuel

Seven Big Boys are left, and are on display in various locations around the country.  Big Boy 4014 was delivered to the UP in 1941, and retired in 1961. Union Pacific reacquired the locomotive in 2013 and relocated it back to Cheyenne where it began a multi-year restoration process.  In May 2019 it returned to service to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Transcontinental Railroad's Completion.

Folks wanting their picture taken - standing on LIVE tracks, yikes!

Pretty impressive to see up close, and massive.  The whistle when it blew when it came into town to stop was something I will not forget - the sound was very nostalgic.  Also, when it passed the campground this morning and blew its whistle again, how very cool was that.

From our campground, heading east to El Paso, TX

Bye - bye!

Glad we went to see it.  I am kinda a mechanical geek so I really enjoyed seeing the Big Boy.
Big Boy No. 4014 is touring the country and will eventually return to Cheyenne.  It will pass through Utah, Nevada, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado and then return to Wyoming.  Left Cheyenne on May 4th, and will return back to Cheyenne on November 27th.

City of Rocks State Park, New Mexico

We have camped here at Dreamcatchers 4 times and we knew about the state park but never went for whatever reason I can't remember.  So, we drove north of Deming about 30 miles to the state park to visit it and see what everyone talks about.

Not a big park, about 7 1/2 miles of hiking trails

Very different than what we expected to see.  Formed from a volcanic eruption over 35 million years ago, the park now is an informational place as well as hiking trails and camp sites for folks.  The hiking trail we opted for, we kinda made our own trail as we meandered in and around the huge monoliths of stone (pumice).  Being very careful because rattlesnakes are out and about and thankfully we did not encounter any.

Could see the camper tucked into the rocks

Some of the formations looked like animals, some were kinda eerie.  Amazing to see the trees and greenery growing in cracks all along the way.  At one point I scared up about 6 quails from a shadowy place, literally scared the bejayzes out of me as they whooped away.

Weird looking

Drove around the park (loop road) and saw where all the camping is done, either dry camping which is no hookups at all, to electric and water hookups which many folks were utilizing.  Some of the sites were pretty neat, tucked into the rocks which formed a nice shady area for most of the day.  The park is also known for its star gazing and programs are offered to come learn about the sky.

Looks like an ear growing out of the tree on the right

Little slot canyons 

At an observation post looking back, very weird

Nice place, wasn't the wow we were told we would experience.  But our problem is that we have seen so much of the United States and all the different extremes such as badlands, mountains, oceans, beaches, rivers, etc. that because we have exposed ourselves to so much, we did not find the wow factor.  For others that have not seen a lot of the US, this would have been a wow.