THE LONG WAY HOME
We were at Wickenburg AZ celebrating my BIG 80 birthday last weekend with my Sister Nancy and her driver Teri Reid - a very kind family member who offered her services as my sis cannot drive that far. Walt and Ruth were on their way home from Newport Beach where they attended a church gathering. Great timing!! We talked, listened, ATE and ATE some more!! The town even offered a free concert in the PARK next to the Library and County Administration Building on my Birthday. So nice of them!! A GOOD TIME was had by all and I was thrilled to have them come to celebrate with Tom and I. Our three kids and two granddaughters were here last month as I was getting out of the hospital, so I knew that I would get phone calls wishing me a HAPPY BIRTHDAY, and that was GREAT!!
So when all were heading out on Saturday morning, WE decided to find the ORGAN PIPE CACTUS National Monument since it was on my "THINGS TO SEE THIS WINTER" LIST!! It was straight south of Wickenburg and only 200 miles!! As full-time RVers, what is 200 miles? It was worth the trip – we drove the 23 miles loop excursion complete with 18 way-points which I read out of the book as Tom drove the dirt/gravel road. As we have said repeatedly, “If we can drive to it or through it, we will see it!” And we were glad we did, even if it meant a long day. It was dark by the time we got back to Salome and our Home on Wheels.
This variety of cactus ONLY GROWS on the southern border of AZ in this particular rocky south facing area!! It migrated from Mexico, where there is a similar National Preserve on their side of the border. It does not like frost and the south facing slopes and rocky terrain provide a perfect environment! We did wonder WHY the Monument was 517 SQUARE MILES / 330,000 acres? There is a large copper mine just 35 miles north in Ajo AZ, one of twenty-seven in AZ, ten of which are in operation. Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument has been a MONUMENT for nearly 100 years so … who knows the politics of THAT time frame.
Fascinating drive past the Barry Goldwater Air Force Base, one of those decommissioned several years ago, now used for Reserve Training. I was AMAZED how busy the road was on a Saturday in February; lots of TOURISTAS. Excellent tacos in the Mexican Café in Ajo located in the town plaza – be sure and stop there should you decide to FIND THOSE UNUSUAL CACTI!! IT isn’t even a “road less traveled!”
