On the road to Tombstone

Today’s adventure was a trip to Tombstone.  We visited Boot Hill Graveyard where the Clantons of OK Corral fame are buried.  The 1880 - 1900 time period in Tombstone was very violent, if you believe the tombstones.  Stabbings, murder, death by wagon wheel running over a skull, poisoning, suicide, mob lynching, legal hanging were some of the reasons for death along with a diptheria outbreak and drownings in the San Pedro River.  We missed the reenactment of the Gunfight at OK Corral but Johnnie, my husband, took some great pictures, especially for my mother.  Her all-time favorite movie is Gunfight at OK Corral.  Johnnie will make great son-in-law points when he gives her these pictures!

The best part of the trip was the drive to Tombstone.  We took Rte. 83 South to Rte. 82 East then Rte. 80 South.  Rte. 82 is listed as a scenic route, which it is.  The road has mountains in the near and far distance with desert meadows — I’m not sure that this is the correct term — with grazing cattle.  I call them desert meadows because they are grasslands with short yellow grass, very few if any trees (except if there is consistent water, which seems to be just along the San Pedro River bed). 

But the drive on Rte. 83 was even better.  We drove through the mountains.  Close.  The road wound around the mountains, up them and through them.  This was the first time that we rode with the Jeep’s top and sides off, so the mountains seemed even nearer since there was no glass separating us.  Johnnie commented on how he felt younger, with the wind blowing through the Jeep as we drove down the road.  I had a smile on my face for most of the trip.  Feeling younger, feeling relaxed.

The sun just set with a glowing pink sky.  Now the nearly full moon has risen, lighting the field of cactus in front of our RV.  Another perfect day in Arizona!