San Pedro House - San Pedro National Riparian Conservation Area AZ

Feb 2014
During my stay in Benson AZ I made a couple of trips to the San Pedro House located in the San Pedro National Riparian Conservation Area.

Pyrrhuloxia - San Pedro House AZ

Gila Woodpecker - San Pedro House AZ

Gila Woodpecker - San Pedro House AZ

Green-tailed Towhee - San Pedro House AZ

House Finch - San Pedro House AZ

Inca Dove - San Pedro House AZ

Red-winged Blackbird Female - San Pedro House AZ

White-crowned Sparrow - San Pedro House AZ

Yellow-headed Blackbird - San Pedro House AZ

Fort Hauchuca - Amerind Museum

Feb 12 2014
I decided to stay in Benson until the Olympics are over. I have cable TV in the park where I am staying and they carry all three NBC stations. YIPEE!!!
So during my stay I visited the Cochise Stronghold National Park, the Amerind Museum, and Fort Huachuca. If you are ever in the area I highly recommend visiting Fort Hauchuca. It is rich in the history of the original Buffalo Soldiers who served their country. This fort was also used as a detention camp for German prisoners of war. When they showed movies on saturday night the white German pisoners sat up front and the black soldiers sat in the back.

Load'er up. Picnic area at the Amerind Museum AZ

Sign at the picnic area of the Amerind Museum AZ

A memorial to the men and women who have lost their lives serving their country in a capacity that sometimes doesn't exist on paper.

A statue to commemorate the Indian scouts that helped the US Calvary. Old original fort barracks in the background.
Fort Hauchuca AZ

View from a hill at Fort Hauchuca AZ

Visited Friends at Patagonia State Park AZ

Feb 11 2014
Drove over to Patagonia Lake State Park today to visit with Mary Brumfield and her daughter. They are camping there for a couple of days. We sat by the lake for quite awhile, but I only managed to catch a couple of Eared Grebes that swam by and posed for me.

Mary Brumfield and Daughter - Patagonia Lake SP AZ

Eared Grebe Winter

Eared Grebe Winter

Saguaro National Park - AZ

Feb 4 2014
Saguaro National Park is devided into two sections. One is east of Tucson AZ and one is west of Tucson. Several years ago I visited the section west of Tucson. Today I visited the section west of Tucson. These two parks were established to protect the giant Saguaro cactus, but they are home to many variaties of cactus and other desert plants and animals. I highly recommend a visit to either or both of these parks if you are in the Tucson AZ area. http://www.nps.gov/sagu/index.htm

Saguaros grow branches after they are about 75 years old

Giant Saguaro with Santa Catalina Mountains in the back ground

Cactus garden in the desert

By 100 years old Saguaro reach about 25 feet tall

Saguaro NM - AZ

Saguaros that make it ot 150 years or more can reach hights of 50 feet or more and weigh as much as 16,000 pounds

Saguaro NP - AZ

Other desert plants help protect the young Segauros from the elements and hungry animals

Teddy Bear Cholla and Ocotillo - Saguaro NP - AZ

Black-throated Sparrow - Saquaro NP - AZ

Harris's Antelope Squirrel - Saquaro NP - AZ

Harris's Antelope Squirrel - Saguaro NP - AZ

Chiricahua National Monument

Jan 30 2014
Today I drove up to the Chiricahua National Monument AZ. The park is full of Native American history and early white settler history as well as some wonderful geologic features.

View from Bonita Canyon Drive

View from Massai Point

Wouldn't want to be here during an earthquake

Mexican Jay - Chiricahua NM

White-tailed Deer - Chiricahua NM

Tombstone AZ

Jan 24 2014
Drove to Benson AZ to check out a couple of wildlife refuges. While there, I moseyed on down to Tombstone for a little history lesson.

The Earps taking a stroll in Tombstone AZ

Tombstone AZ Founder

Big Nose Kate was Doc Holidays Lady Friend
Had a nice burger for lunch here

Drink Menue at Big Nose Kates Bar
I just had a sarsaparilla

The Famous Bird Cage Theatre
If walls could talk

Portrait of Fatima from the Bird Cage Theatre

Old Crystal Palace

Wonder what goes on in there

You can take a Stagecoach tour of the town

Reflection in a stained glass window

I had a nice conversation with this bones player. He gave me some good tips.

Hanging out with the Earps in Tombstone AZ

Here comes trouble

The Earps and Doc Holiday
at a reenactment of the shoot-out at the OK Corral

The Clanton Gang
at a reenactment of the shoot-out at the OK Corral

The Earps were left standing, but many folks felt they were to blame for the fight. They left town for their own safety.
Pictured is a  reenactment of the shoot-out at the OK Corral

Sign at the entrance to Boothill cemetery. Tombstone AZ.

Grave in the Boothill Cemetery - Tombstone AZ

Bought a stolen horse. Oops.

Killed by the Earps during the OK Corral shoot-out.

Sign in town - Tombstone AZ