Arizona - tombstone, Kartchner Caverns, and McDowell mtn Park

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After leaving New Mexico we headed to Tombstone, AZ, for 4 days. We stayed at Wells Fargo RV Park right in the middle of old Tombstone on historic Allen Street. This is quite a tourist town, as you might imagine. They don’t do the gunfights on the main street anymore, but the stage coach rides came by our campsite every 15-30 minutes. Our plan was to have a beer in every saloon during our stay, but we ran out of time.


Our favorite saloon was Big Nose Kate's Saloon. They had live entertainment and lots of old timey stuff. The most historic building, which is in original condition (including the dust), is the Bird Cage Theatre. It was famous for 8 years from 1881-1889 as a Honky Tonk. In those 9 years it never closed its doors 24 hours a day. It was named for the 14 'bird cages' suspended from the ceiling overhanging the gambling and dance hall. The 'ladies' entertained their gentlemen friends in these rooms. The Boothill Cemetery was a bit of a disappointment; it looked so well kept that it seemed artificial .



We took one day to go to Kartchner Caverns. The only way to see the cavern is as part of a tour - $25 per person! Impressive - especially the lengths they are going through to preserve the cave system. On the way in everyone walks through a misting area so that visitors don’t suck the moisture out of the cavern and also don’t drop lint from their clothes. Our favorite Caverns are still the ones at Carlsbad which is a World Heritage Site. There you can be part of a tour or go by yourself and take as long as you like .The size is also immense, with a whole cafeteria in one of the rooms below ground.


Another day was a hike through Ramsey Canyon. A very well known birding place at certain times of the year - not February, though. A beautiful walk that takes you right out of the desert for a while. We did get a life bird - the Painted Red Start.


Currently we are in McDowell Mountain Park between Scottsdale and Fountain Hills, one of our favorite parks. The day after we arrived a winter storm hit the area again. We only got rain and wind in the campground, but the surrounding mountains were covered with snow. Since then it has been perfect weather . Sun everyday and temps in the 70's during the day. This park is great for bike riding -

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Photos

Stagecoach on Allen Street
Dave squirmed under the couch every time a stagecoach came by - every 15 - 30 minutes all day long.

Tombstone
Lots of people all day long wandering around in costumes

Birdcage
7 birdcages on each side over the dancehall

Birdcage
the oldest hearst around

Live entertainment
Big Nose Kate's Saloon

Ramsey Canyon Trail
An original log cabin built in 1901

Eye in the sky
A border patrol blimp

McDowell Mtns
The view from our back window after the storm. Snow levels were down to 2,000 feet so we only got rain.

Granite Trail
At the end of Granite Trail are a jumble of boulders. After a rain there is a water fall here

Bluff Trail
There is a drop off to the valley floor right behind Ron