Monday, April 14, 2008

we're located halfway between tucson and tombstone/bisbee and will be sightseeing in both areas.  this seemed like a good base to stage out of.  we're going to see a minuteman missle silo/museum tomorrow.  also have trips to tombstone, bisbee, the sornora desert museum and the air force boneyard planned. 
 
waiting on parts for the jeep...at least they've figured out what needs to be replaced.  the mechanic was able to reproduce the problem.  it's the shifter mechanism and the parts ought to be in tomorrow or wednesday.  in the meantime he showed me how to release it manually should it lock up on us again. 
 
the desert may look like scrub land but with the mountains providing the backdrop the desert is truly magnificent.  and as i write this there is a tumbleweed blowing through the campground. 
 
Benson has a small general aviation airport.  once i learned that you know i had to go see it.  yup, pretty small.  but as we rounded the bend into the airport property what was the first thing we saw...an old DC-3.  i didn't have the camera with us so no photos but i may go back to snap one...and maybe find out if they give rides.  speaking of rides...the Commemorative Air Force (CAF..formerly known as the Confederate Air Force) was giving rides on a B-17 when we were back in mesa.  i was tempted but the $450 per ride price tag was just too steep.
 
speaking of the 60's...there's a couple in a class c motorhome (those are the ones that have the pickup truck front end with the cab-over sleeper area).  what stands out is the large blue and white peace symbol flag they have flying on the rear of their camper.  they've got a smaller decal version on the front of their camper.
 
as i sit here writing this and watching the tumbleweed (it's been very windy here since we pulled in.  there is a high wind advisory in effect for tomorrow and wednesday when gusts are forcasted to top 40mph with sustained winds of 25+ mph) i'm listening to the local police on the radio.  they just received a report of a vehicle driving through a dry wash not too far from the campground and near where i was walking this morning.  the vehicle was located and the occupants turned over to the border patrol.  we've seen lots of border patrol vehicles since we've been in arizona.  well, we're not all that far from the mexican border and when we head down to tombstone and bisbee i expect to see, and hear, more of this.