Part IV: The conclusion of our "2022 winter road trip" exploring the Lower Colorado River took us to the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, the famous town of Ajo Arizona, and then east to Tucson Arizona to visit our younger son and daughter-in-law at the University of Arizona.
Then our trip back home to Southern Utah took us on a side trip via Prescott Arizona, Montezuma Castle National Monument, Fort Verde State Park, then through Indian country from Flagstaff Arizona north to Cameron on the Little Colorado River, and Bitter Springs on the Navajo Indian Reservation.
Part V: This section will cover the areas traveled on US-89 from Flagstaff to Bitter Springs, and then US-89A to sights such as the marvelous feat of engineering over the Colorado River--Navajo Bridge. On the way we saw beautiful scenery such as Echo Cliffs, Lee's Ferry, Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, the LeFebre Grand Staircase Overlook, and finally overnighted in Fredonia Arizona. The final day saw us go through Kanab Utah to Mt Carmel Junction at the eastern entrance to Zion National Park and to our home on the Virgin River in Rockville Utah--within sight of Zion. Following are some pictorial highlights of this last part of our winter road trip.
Thanks for coming along on our trip. Remember, I have many more pictures on my Facebook and Instagram accounts.
February 21-22 - Ajo Arizona and the unique town of "Why" near the entrance to the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.
The historic district of Ajo Arizona - once a major "company town" focused on mining Copper.
The wealth was used to create one of the world's best examples of Spanish Revival Architecture
in its public spaces, e.g. churches, town square, houses, etc. See some pictures below.
The wealth was used to create one of the world's best examples of Spanish Revival Architecture
in its public spaces, e.g. churches, town square, houses, etc. See some pictures below.
(Left) Abandoned railroad tracks leading to its station and the giant copper mine
which was the source of its wealth in the 1890-1930s. Now it's just a huge tailings pile
which was the source of its wealth in the 1890-1930s. Now it's just a huge tailings pile
and pit with an overlook worth seeing.
(Left) The beautiful arcades of the town square in Ajo and (Right) a view of the great Curley School.
The Ajo Curley School was once a place where Indian and Mexican children were housed
and taken from their families to "teach them to be Anglos"...a truly dark past!! Today it
is a wonderful high school specializing in fine arts.
and taken from their families to "teach them to be Anglos"...a truly dark past!! Today it
is a wonderful high school specializing in fine arts.
(Above) Some of the unique and artistic welcome signs for the town of Ajo.
Below - some of the great public art now found all over Ajo Arizona.
National Monument and the US/Mexico Border at Lukeville Arizona. Below (right) the fun little
store in Why called "Why Not"!!
The infamous US-Mexico Border Wall near Lukeville Arizona.
February 22-24 - Visit to the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument - a truly spectacular place!!
The Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument Twin Peaks Campground >
a truly wonderful site: quiet, calm, serene!
a truly wonderful site: quiet, calm, serene!
February 24-26 - Travel to Tucson Arizona to meet our kids and take a great hike in the nearby Sweetwater Preserve in northwest Tucson near Old Tucson. On the way see the famous Kitts Peak National Observatory and visit a farmer's market run by the "Papago" (Tohono O'odham) Indian
Nation tribal center in Sells Arizona.
Nation tribal center in Sells Arizona.
Our headquarters in Tucson while visiting our kids - LazyDays KOA RV Resort!
The Baboquivari Mountain Wilderness near Kitt Peak.
The tribal headquarters and farmer's market of the Tohono O'odham Nation in Sells Arizona.
Part V: February 27-28 will cover our trip home to Utah via Prescott and Fort Verde Arizona including visits to the sights along US-89A such as Vermilion Cliffs and Navajo Bridge.
No comments:
Post a Comment