Cowboys and Indians, and Cacti

Heading into Apache territory, we took a 3 mile hike to visit Fort Bowie, built in the 1860s to defend settlers against the Indians, and site of Geronimo's surrender. 

These Southern Arizona mountains are also home to the Chiracahua National Park, where the girls were surprisingly enthusiastic about yet another trek in the hills. 

 

South towards the Mexican border we visited the Victorian mining town of Bisbee. By now, we were paying the price of the "big freeze" in Gila, with a broken loo. However, a trip down the old copper mines gave us cause to be grateful for what we have...

As we arrived in Tombstone, the stiffening breeze lent authenticity to the Wild West atmosphere, rolling tumbleweed down the streets. The picture was completed by locals dressed in period costumes, complete with six-shooters, chatting on the boardwalks.  We all felt as if we were on a movie set and that at any moment John Wayne would step through the saloon doors and gallop off into the sunset.

We spent a couple of nights on the air base in Tucson, getting the various ailments of the van sorted out.  The thousands of old aircraft lined up there, in retirement, were quite a sight - as were the hundreds of RV Parks in the vicinity, seemingly home to half of America's retired population.

We bypassed the bright city lights and set out for the Saguaro National Park and Ironwood Forest, where we thoroughly enjoyed a couple of nights camping alone in the midst of these giant cacti.

The highlight for the girls was an enforced second night in the back country after 20 miles of dirt road ended in an unfordable ford. Thankfully there was still beer in the fridge!