Tucson – here we come!

23rd – 24th Feb

We set off Saturday morning back onto the I-10 to take us into Arizona.  We originally thought to head up into the mountains to visit Gilla Cliff Dwellings.  We were advised to check with the National Park first and when they said the snow-ploughs had cleared the twisty mountainous roads we decided to give this one a miss.  So we headed towards Tucson, Arizona.

We went through a town called Hatch which was just a tiny ‘dot’ on the map and would normally be passed by on the Interstate.  It looked like the Centre for Chilli Peppers!  There were dried chilli peppers everywhere in shop windows and hanging on stalls in the streets.

We had an overnight stop in Bowie – with the railroad at the bottom of the campsite!

Chiricahua Mountains (with snow on top)

 

Next day, Sunday, we continued along the I-10 with strong winds creating a challenge for Paul with the steering wheel.  We passed the Chiricahua Mountains with a sprinkling of snow on their tops and also the Dragoon Mountains which was the stronghold for the Apache Chief Cochise, during 1861 -72.  He was buried there in a secret place in 1874. 

 

Dragoon Mountains