The traveling Optimist!

[golden optimist]

fter spending 3 days at http://ironwoodpigsanctuary.com/ You may have heard me talk about Lester, our pot bellied pig we had. This sanctuary had about 600 of them. I hit the road today. My obvective was Biosphere2. I took the tour and it is something to be seen if you are in the area. The area is Oracle Junction between Phoenix and Tucson. I left about 1:00 and headed east on I-10. I didn't make it far before my leg and hip started bothering me and I started thinking about a couple of Evan Williams sour mash whiskey and a cigar. I made it to Bowie Arizona. There was a RV Camping sign on the interstate so I pulled off. Bowie looks like it has a couple hundred residents. I may be wrong as I didn't make it into the town. The RV spot had 35 spots with abot 3 of them filled. I asked the owner what it cost for a on hookup spot as I'm totally self contained with my tent trailer. He said "if you don't need anything it's free". You can't beat that!

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As I looked around what did I see but this!

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I went over and introduced myself and it was 2 prospectors. They ae working around here but didn't seem willing to include me on any of their workings. I can understand that.

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I will look around and maybe stay a day or so if there is something to see here before I continue along.

Traveling Optimist.

[russau]

Thanks for the tag-a-long! Well if we cant go with you,atleast we can share it with you in your pictures and post.Leonard it looks like you got your moneys worth out of that Ranger pickup! it sure has racked up some miles on it for you! maybe if you trade it in on another Ford product theyd cut you a deal for the story behind it! and it keeps on ticking!

[golden optimist]

Todays going to be a goof-off day. I'm too lazy to take down the tent trailer and pack up so I'll spend another day here. I'm in Bowie, Az at the Mountainview RV Park.

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I got a key to the toilet/shower room for $5.00 a day so I can quit offending everyone within smelling distance. Since I'm not using any other of the hookups, they aren't charging me anything to park. One heck of a deal. One thing I didn't notice yesterday is there are railroad tracks about 100 yards from the trailer. It's a main line between the docks at Los Angeles and the mid-east and a train goes by about evert 15 minutes day and night. They don't wake me up but it's interesting to lay awake and listen to them going by. I'll shoot a drive-by video later today and post it.

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My plans for the day include a trip to the historic Fort Bwie remains. I'll post more about that after I return this afternoon.

Leonard

[russau]

isnt that trommel device a old "jitter bug" thats no longer made? (Dixie Doddlebug)

[golden optimist]

One of them he said was a trommel with a drywasher.

I spent the day on a 3 mile hike to historic Fort Bowie. It was on the Butterfield Stage line. I took a lot of pictures and I'll post them later. I'll spend an easy day tomorrow recovering from the hike and visit the local hot springs/sand dunes.

Tuesday I may head to Bisbee for a couple of days and then maybe come back to Bowie for the local thanksgiveing feast at the firehouse. Where from there I don't know yet. If the warm weather holds out here I may be good for a week or so more on this fun filled trip.

Leonard

[russau]

Thanksgiving on the road? that aint no fun! its only a hop/skip/and a jump over to my house,your always welcome, esspeccially for Thanksgiving dinner and a snort after !

[Hoser John]

YAHOO you sure nailed that dixie doodlebug Russau. Good machine but takes quite a bit a water. Thanx for the call Leonard and sure am glad your posting pix of your wanderings. FREE parking amazing,absolutely amazing bud. Turkey day at Russau casa and wild turkey shots sounds like a sweeeeeeeeeeet deal too!!! I truly believe that ol'ford will outlive us all drive careful,be safe and hope you have a great turkey day wherever you land-tons a au 2 u 2 -John

[golden optimist]

I'm sitting in Bowie drinking my morning coffee with a light rain coming down.I think I'll take the day and go into the big city of Stafford. I need a few things and they aren't avaiable here. I've decided to stay here for thanksgiving and partake of the community meal at the local firestation. Then friday head off to Bisbee for a couple of days.

Russ, you are more than a little distance from here. Thanks for the offer though. One of tese days.

Leonard

[bobber_2]

Check out the Lavender pit and do the Queen mine tour when in Bisbee - both very cool...

http://www.bisbeeturquoise.com/Images/B ... derPit.jpg

[golden optimist]

I'll do that.

I'm right across the street from http://www.fortbowievineyards.com/catalog/index.php nut orchards. I drove by the vineyards yesterday. I just stopped in and bought a bottle of wine and a pound of pistachios that was grown and processed here.

Thanksgiving is all covered. I stopped at the firestation and volunteered. I'll be on the serving line. They said about 200 people show up.

I made a trip to Safford, about 40 miles from here and stocked on all the essentials. A big bottle of whiskey! Actually, I also bought more groceries and a small electric heater. If it cools off here now I can pay a little and plug in to power.

I will start to work on some more picture postings and will post them as available.

It's kind of sunny and kind of windy today. It's sweatshirt weather, not tee shirt like yesterday.

Leonardn