Tubac Revisited

Bob and I drove down to Tubac this morning.  We have been coming to this small town, about 1,000 people, for about 25 years.  Tubac is an art community.  The Art Colony of Tubac was established in 1752 as a Spanish presidio (fort).  Working artists' studios now surround the grounds which once served as home for a Spanish military garrison.  

Tubac Presidio State Historic Park is located in the village's Old Town, this is Arizona's First State Park.

This is St Ann's Church, still in use today.

We started out our day by having lunch at Shelby's Bistro.  This is our view.  Shelby's is over the bridge behind the Crow's Nest.  It used to be next to Karin Newby's Gallery but KNG has moved and is opening a new large gallery down the street.

This is the walkway over to Karin's new gallery.  It was not open yet.  Was scheduled to open November 5th, during the Fall Art Walk.

The front yard of the gallery had a large sculpture garden.  One of the sculptures was of my favorite animal in Tucson the Antelope Jackrabbit.  We see them nightly at Catalina State Park where we are staying.  I just love them!

Creative Coyote is my favorite store in Tubac.  Over the years, I have bought a lot of jewelry here.  It has been in two different locations. Moving it to it's own building in 1989.

This is La Paloma and another favorite.  It has lots of pots.

Some of the profits go to an orphanage in Central America.
I call this Tubac revisited because it has been several years since Bob and I have been down here.  It used to be a regular stop before the Christmas on visits to Moms.  Now that mom has passed away and we are in the process of selling her condo, I don't know if we will be back again.  Maybe I'm wrong but I wanted to document a few memories.

Kayaking the Verde River

All summer, Bob and I have been talking about kayaking.  Several of our friends who full-time have inflatable kayaks and I have been wanting to try floating the river.  Several years ago, when Bob and I were in Hawaii, I wanted to kayak and he told me I was too old and it was too strenuous.  Well, that was about 5 years ago and I finally talked him into a float.

It was an hour drive to the Verde River.  On the way, we drove down Salt Mine Rd.

Have you ever seen salt like this?  We hadn't.  At one point there were 400 people working at this Salt Mine. 

We made it to the river and were transported by van to the spot where we took off.

Hat, sun glasses, sun screen, crackers and water and we were set to go.

There were twelve in our group.  We were the oldest by at least twenty years. Two families from Scottsdale and four young college students from Georgetown University.

Here is proof that I can go down the river in a straight line.  Now, this didn't happen all the time.

I spent time spinning, in the weeds and under trees.

Bob had the camera, so I finally got it and took a shot of him.  He did very well.  I wanted to get a tandem kayak, so Bob could paddle and I could float.  He said if I wanted to Kayak, I needed my own Kayak.  I did notice that the college students had tandem kayka's.  I commented that they must not be married because they still shared.  And of course I was right.  Really great group to float with down the river.

We both really had a great time.  Toward the end, we were both tired and glad that we didn't have to deflate the kayak and pack up.  We just drug ourselves up to our car and drove home for a well deserved nap.

Thought you'd like a current picture of my grandchildren.  They were at the pumpkin patch!

Only 25 days till we are with them.

Montezuma National Park

Today, Pralines had to go to the groomers.  She was very dirty.  I should have taken a before and after picture, but I know it would embarrass her for me to photographer in this condition.  While she was getting her bath, Bob and I went to Montezuma National Park.  Our driver on the wine tour told us that we would like this park.  Since we had never heard of it and didn't plan a stop there, we decided to check it out.

First we went to Montezuma Well, where the legacy of the Sinagua culture surrounded us.  This constant supply of warm, 74 degree water was the life-blood of the people who made their home here.

Cliff dwellings are perched along the rim of Montezuma Well.

Another view from across the well.

Large Pueblo homes have their ruins here also.

This home had 10 to 14 rooms and approximately 35 people would live here.

Over 1.5 million gallons of water flows into the Well every day, a rate that has not fluctuated measurably despite recent droughts throughout the state of Arizona. The water from the well enters a "swallet" near the end of the trail into the Well and flows through over 150 feet of limestone before re-emerging from the outlet into an irrigation ditch on the other side.  This is that ditch and it dates back over 1,000 years. (This is the only picture of the swallet Bob took. I know it hard to see, it is on the left between two trees.)

The shaded forest along the trail near the swallet ruin and the outlet provides welcome relief from the hot sun. The temperature difference at the outlet can be up to 20 degrees cooler than along the rim of the Well. (This is the Beaver Creek where the swallet flows into from the Well.)

It is easy to imagine the people of the Sinagua culture spending the hot summer days by the Beaver Creek, in this tranquil setting.  Next we headed down 11 miles to Montezuma Castle.

Montezuma Castle is one of the best preserved cliff dwellings in North America.  It has 4 stories and 20 rooms and is nestled into a towering limestone cliff.

Montezuma Castle is the story of the Sinagua people.  They lived here for over 300 years ago between 1000 and 1425 BC.

Castle A is not as well preserved but is a neighbor to Montezuma Castle.

This the Beaver Creek where the Sinagua's got their water while living in these cliff dwellings.  The Sinagua people disappeared and still is a mystery today why.  There are no descendants of the Sinagua people today.

This is Pralines after being groomed.  She is under the table because the groomer put those silly orange Halloween bows in her hair.  Don't you love her!!

A Day in Sedona

We took a hike to get a better view of Cathedral Rock.  I had read on the internet of a 0.6 mile walk, that went up 600 ft. and was moderate to hike.  Views were to be spectacular.

I think the good Lord knew we couldn't make it and we ended up at Cresent Moon Recreational Area and Red Rock Crossing.

We hiked along the river and enjoyed the beauty of the park and the great views of Cathedral Rock.

You could cross the river by these stepping stones.

We passed this water wheel.

These flat stones are said to be a Vortex. In Sedona Vortexes are created, not by wind or water, but from spiraling spiritual energy.  The vortexes of Sedona are named because they believe to be spiritual locations where the energy is right to facilitate prayer, mediation and healing.  Vortex sites are believed to be locations having energy flow that exists on multiple dimensions.  The energy of the vortexes interacts with a person's inner self. For me it was a great place to rest.

We also came across Buddha Beach, which had these piles of rocks.

It was a beautiful walk.  Wide path and pretty level.

Next we headed to the Chapel of the Holy Cross.  This chapel was inspired and commissioned by sculptor Marguerite Brunswig Staude.  It was built in 18 months at a cost of $300,000.  The chapel was completed in 1956.

It was truly beautiful!

Simple structure.

What a view.  Could you concentrate on a sermon?

You don't know where to look because there is beauty from back to front.

Views from the Chapel.

We are getting really good at asking strangers to take our pictures.  Retirement is tough!!!

Bob's visit to Jerome, AZ

Bob can sight see everyday and never needs a down day.  I, on the other hand, need a day to just veg occasionally.  We had been to the Balloon Fiesta, the Meteor Crater, the Grand Canyon and now we were in Sedona and I was on sight seeing overload.  So I stayed home, enjoying a new book, "Grand Canyon Women lives shaped by landscape."  It is a wonderful book, each chapter a story of a different women who lived and worked in the Grand Canyon.  I enjoyed sitting in the sun, reading to my hearts content.

Bob went to Jerome. Jerome was a mining town established on the side of Cleopatra Hill in 1883.  We had taken a wine tasting tour the day before and our driver told us about Jerome and the 200 old trucks that was at the Ghost Town.

This is the Hotel Conner in downtown Jerome.  Bob said it had a spirit room.  There is a lot of New Age things here and in Sedona.

This is the entrance to the Ghost Town.

Bob says, "This is an old GM truck."

This is a Dodge truck.

Ever heard of an Oshkosh truck?  I thought they were overalls.

Trucks galore.  Ghost town or graveyard?

A painless dentist.

What do you think??

This picture is for Addie and Asher.  It is a Matter tow truck.

A working saw mill.

A thirsty burro.

Studebackers.

We both had a great day:)