January 2023 – The First Week

Let it be known that the editor of this series is becoming a bit tired of these articles.   “Here is where Flynn and Ollie went, this is what they saw” over and over again, all similar.  If I were a faithful reader, I would be bored stiff.   Unless you have a vested interest in their travels, how interesting is it really?  Yes, it is a good summary for future reference of the adventure, but meh.  So, feedback would be nice because there is a fair chance the content may be changing in the near future to more creative license content regarding living on the road.   This means snarky, funny in the editor eyes, possibly fictional… who knows not yet decided.  Do not mistake this for boredom with the lifestyle, however.  It is just the posts that become routine.  

Onto the routine.  Monday (the ‘official Federal holiday for the new year), F&O headed out for a long day of exploration.   The first stop was the Empire Ranch in the Las Cienegas NCA.    This is a very nicely maintained (unstaffed that day) historic ranch house and outbuildings which is now listed on the National Historic Register.    It has a section of Heritage trail about a half mile or so, and the Very Important Bird area designation.   The Empire Ranch is now managed/owned by BLM,  and the entire area of the NCA/BLM area here is still used to graze cows.

Upon leaving the ranch house historic area, F&O continued on to explore the designated camping areas on the BLM land at Las Cienegas.  Just seven weeks on the road F&O have learned that it is not just a matter of pulling into a bare spot of land and pulling out the barbeque.    Most of the BLM land that is 100% free to utilize for camping is not really viable, especially for our monstrous heavy rolling-condo.     Terrain, turn-around, leveling all have to be taken into account.   BLM has kindly marked sections for camping, which have quasi-spots making it easier for rigs to get in & out, but even these designated camping areas (mapped, marked) are often not feasible for Bebop.   The first designated camping area they checked out was a clear no-go, but the 2^nd one, near the middle of the NCA, and up on a grassy plateau of sorts was absolutely perfect.   Huge, level spots, not many others there, and navigable.  This is definitely on the F&O list when they get back to the area and need a place to hang out for a few days.  

A couple of days later, Flynn and Ollie headed out to the Kartchner Caverns State Park.  Not being oblivious critters, they had obtained their tickets to the Big Room Cave tour a week in advance (and even then there was only 2 spots left!).   They got there several hours earlier than the tour time and did a quick (ha) 2 mile hike in the park before hitting the tour.   Sorry, but no phones, cameras, packs, nothing, nada allowed in the caves, so there are no pictures except the one lame one below. The cost of admission for this tour was remarkably affordable, considering how awesome it is.   Would do it again in a heartbeat.  Coolest thing to see, great staff.  Did we mention very, very cool?  The funny part about it was all the warnings given on the website, the tickets, the lecture before going into the caves was how hot and *humid* it was going to be – so dress appropriately.   Snort.   Flynn didn’t even notice it, coming from always humid WA.    These SW folk have no clue what humid is.  

Saturday was the chosen day to hit up Tombstone, which is under 30 minutes from the current camp.  F&O decided to go on a weekend, as there would be more tourism that day, therefore more activities, sights, and shopkeepers open.   They had been there once before, about 10 years ago, during a downpour – so they didn’t really get to stick around or see much.   This time they spent 6 hours wandering the town admiring the staff, residents, and visitors dressed in costume (it is apparently a ‘thing’ to dress in period piece as a tourist – F&O did not – even though they remembered this from the last trip).   There are numerous museums, historical buildings, leather shops, western stores, and saloons to wander through.  The town has several horse and carriage tours if walking about isn’t your thing, and plenty of benches to sit on when one gets tired of looking at hats and boots.   On this Saturday there were three separate enterprises hawking their gunfight shows.   Flynn and Ollie opted for only one of them, the one that encompassed the real OK Corral site.   It was very well done, funny, and a good value for the money.   As per the norm F&O had packed their own lunch, but they did succumb to getting ice-cones prior to leaving for the day.  They bought a souvenir from the AZ Ranger museum, and another from The Birdcage Theatre. Photos in Tombstone are encouraged, so here you go folks:

Which brings us to today, football and writing day.  The editor is rooting for the 49ers even though they are in AZ.   For the record, let it be known that 100 G of 4G does not allow for unlimited streaming over a month’s time.  Grrrrr. Gonna have to find another hobby in the evenings to cut down on screen time. Thinking of those adult coloring books. Has to be something that does not take up much room, not heavy, and doesn’t cost much.   This editor is open to suggestions.

BTW, 3rd quarter of the game. Can’t help but feel sorry for the Cards right now.

Fin

Flynn