History, art, stairs, architecture, mining, breakfast - it's all in Bisbee, and we are looking forward to our first visit.
Back in the truck Friday morning, we learn more about this beautiful area and enjoy the nice drive to Bisbee. This is also Donnie's commute - two days a week since he "retired" over a year ago.
First stop is the BBC for breakfast. Good, not fabulous. The highlight is two darling children celebrating their being adopted that morning - Tessa has lots of kisses for them both :-)
 |
| Checking another one off the bucket list |
Anna and I walk Erie Street. A bit of nostalgia for most who come to this quirky location, but for Anna it holds an important piece of family history. Her parents married at the Justice Office, then at the church.
 |
| Looking much the same as when the young couple started their new life together |
 |
| Lots of auto history |
 |
| Keeping a classic alive |
 |
| Mom and I had malts at our local SoCal "five and dime" many years ago |
We drive by Donnie's office and then on to the small border town of Naco. I'm surprised to see the Wall is made of recycled metal panels from the military base. It looks like someone slapped it together with baling wire - not at all what I pictured. Check out the RV park near the 18-hole golf course and head back to Bisbee.
 |
| This is the best we could do? |
 |
| Well kept secret with access to nearby adventures |
Several people have stayed at the RV park above the Lavendar Pit in the center of Bisbee. Our guides point out the large crack in the hill above the park, explain that it has grown wider in the last year, and make us promise we will never stay there. So I pass on this warning to you as well!
 |
| Lavender Pit - pretty name, ugly pit |
 |
| Whipping winds throughout the day |
 |
| RV park below and to the left of this expanding crack |
In Bisbee the guys drop Anna and I off to explore the main street architecture and shops while they drive the higher streets above town.
 |
| Love the old storefront displays |
 |
| Detailed older signs |
 |
| Funky newer art |
 |
| Wonderful exterior architecture |
 |
| Lovely interiors |
 |
| Dozens of galleries |
 |
| A thousand stairs |
 |
| Climbed by hundreds of hikers every October |
 |
| Well known theater |
 |
| Little known old morgue building |
 |
| Our limo comes to pick us up |
 |
| Goodbye to Bisbee for now |
Dinner in downtown Tombstone at the Longhorn Saloon is exceptional and Donnie and Anna know (literally) every person who comes in the door - and all the staff!
Friday night brings high winds and low temps, and it is just over 40 degrees as we head out to the Wonderland of Rocks in the morning.
The storms surround us as we cross the plains.
We climb as we enter the Chiricahua National Monument, and soon there is snow on both sides of the road and into the hills. The rock formations are spectacular with the added white. Our hosts are really outdoing themselves with this winter show!
The small VC is very welcoming and warm - just the walk across the parking is freezing. We enjoy the displays and holiday goodies, and learn the road is closed past the campground. Still, seeing the unique beauty is a real treat and we are not disappointed.
With a birthday party to go to, we make our way back on a different route with a few historical stops. The skies switch from bright sunshine to dumping heavy snow.
 |
| Pierce, AZ |
 |
| Former Gleeson Jail |
A quick stop by the house shows us the storm has already been here.
Can't remember the last time we went to a little girl's birthday party and it is delightful. She and little brother had a great time - with the wrapping paper of course. And the new little sister is just five weeks old.
 |
| Happy birthday girl |
 |
| Happy Nana |
With only 15 amps I didn't want to run the heater so we piled on the blankets. This morning the sun makes it warmer outside than inside.
 |
| Brrrrrrrr...... |
I am really looking forward to returning to Bisbee. We are hoping to take our daughter over Christmas so we can do the 1000 steps again. That was so much fun and took us to the quirkiest places:)
ReplyDeleteChiricahua NM is an amazingly beautiful place with awesome rock formations and a killer 11 mile loop hike! fun time:)
I didn't realize that you got snow at the MH!!! I thought you were out at higher elevations. That is a crazy inside temp!!! Time to move on:)
Down to 26 last night so we're very glad to have hook-ups in Tucson tonight! I'm already looking forward to going back to Bisbee, it is such a fun town. And I was really surprised that Naco is a full 18-hole course!
DeleteThat is really chilly for Arizona. Evidently, December isn't the month you want to be there though.
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely unusual, but Tombstone is at 4600 feet so colder than Phoenix for sure.
Deletetoo cold for us... I love Chiricahua NM but was saddened last year when we visited as much of it was devastated by a large fire on the east side
ReplyDeleteAccess to the east side was closed so we only saw a tiny bit of it. Our friends' son fought that fire, said it was so hard because of the terrain :-( We're glad to be moving on to Ajo and Yuma this week although it's only in the mid-50's there too.
DeleteOoooooh I sure would like to see Chiricahua in the snow! Thanks for the warning about the Bisbee RV park!
ReplyDeleteIt was a special treat!! Absolutely! Hope they close it before there's a real mess - it looks pretty dangerous :-(
DeleteA fun town I haven't explored, yet. Nice to have local tour guides but I could do without the snow, which I'm looking at right now. I often find it warmer outside than inside the RV during cold yet sunny days.
ReplyDeleteWith on 15 amp we didn't run the heater so it was definitely chilly inside - glad to have it on this afternoon :-)
DeleteWow looks so cool! But cold!! Hope pops has a lot of beenie's for that bald head of his! :)
ReplyDeleteHe does but so far just throws his hoodie up - big tough guy :-))) It's not gotten above 50 in a couple days :-(
DeleteDavid would love Bisbee with those pld cars but not your current temperatures. Sunshine directly to snow seems pretty bizarre.
ReplyDeleteDavid would love Bisbee with those pld cars but not your current temperatures. Sunshine directly to snow seems pretty bizarre.
ReplyDeleteIt was bizarre traveling that valley and going in and out of the snow showers - and cold even in the sunshine! The old cars really are pretty cool - and the old buildings make that short street really fun.
DeleteLooks like you're having a great time exploring southeast Arizona with your friends! We love the quirkiness of Bisbee and all of the "artistic" expression. We always stay in the Queen Mine RV park -- it's such a great location for walking into town. We didn't notice that crack in the mountain when we were there last January. Bummer!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like the whole side of that mountain would land on the RV park if it goes :-(. The street art is as wonderful as all the galleries - definitely a lot of quirky, which we love too :-)
DeleteWish we all could have personal tour guides....what a real treat for all of you to share this time together!
ReplyDeleteThe snow is beautiful! And Bisbee looks like a neat ( and quirky) little town I would enjoy.
Definitely great to have the personal touch! If you love quirky you'll love Bisbee.
DeleteWe lived outside of Bisbee for 20 years, just sold the house and are full timing now. I'm sorry you didn't really like the BBC it is one of our favorite breakfast spots. Turquise Valley is one of the oldest golf courses in the state. It was only a 9 hole course until the 1990s when a fellow who won the Canadian Lottery bought it and added the back 9. He recently sold the course to a couple of fellows from Bisbee.
ReplyDeleteBisbee is a great collision of old mining and new age hippies/artists.
www.arizonalizards.com
Everybody raves about the BBC, including our local friends, so I know my "okay" omelette was not the norm :-) I'll definitely give them another try. I love that Bisbee has managed to avoid the touristy feel, instead it is very much a historical and artist burg! Lucky you to be there so long :-))))
Delete