2014-09-23 Cleator, AZ - James P. Cleator General Store, and the Cleator Bar and Yacht Club

2014-09-23 Cleator, AZ - James P. Cleator General Store, and the Cleator Bar and Yacht Club

James P. Cleator General Store
 https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cleator-Arizona/113736115303547?ref=br_rs
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleator,_Arizona

Cleator Bar and Yacht Club
 https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cleator-Bar-Yacht-Club/328400117315230
 http://www.yelp.com/biz/cleator-bar-cleator

Cleator, population 9, was established as Turkey in 1864, and renamed 

as Cleator in 1925 by the new owner, James P. Cleator.

Our love of the out of the way and obscure gems in America

has brought us to many fine and educating places, and this

one is near the top of the heap! DO NOT MISS THIS GEM!

Tim McDowell is the owner, and Sherry Drew is the lovely barkeep!

 

 Quoting a few of the reviews of Cleator:

If this place did not exist someone would have to invent it!!

 If you stop by and don't have a ball check your pulse...

Anybody who visits us  will be taken here...

this is what Arizona is about...  

father time was the decorator and he did one hell of a job.

Just pack water in the jeep for your trip out to be safe...

 The Bar and Yacht Club, and the General Store

 Across the street is the rest of Cleator!

In the bar, it is comfortable and unique, complete with

dollar bills nailed to about everything (ala Oatman AZ)

 

In the rear of the Store (left) and Bar, is the Yacht Club, 

complete with jet-skis! They WILL rent them, but you gotta

find yer own water!

It is said that the joint JUMPS every weekend, and

JUMPS a little higher on holidays!

The Cleator General Store is owned by Darlene Rhodes.

 Darlene is extremely knowledgeable about Cleator and

the history of the area, and loves to talk about it!.

Her store is loaded with many artifacts of the era, and some pieces

are for sale. She has a photo history book (blue book in her hand)

The clock above Darlene used to be in the train depot.

2014-04-08 Saguaro National Park East

2014-04-08 Saguaro National Park East

http://www.nps.gov/sagu/index.htm

We had been to this fine place several times, but before we left AZ for the season, the desert was blooming! Some of the cacti were in full bloom, and we had not seen the Prickly Pear, Cholla, and Ocotillo so full before.

There is a superb driving loop that takes you through a variety of landscapes and ecosystems.
Nola and I call these relaxing tours "our attitude adjustment drives"!

 Ocotillo (oh-co-tee-oh)

Native Americans used them for building fences.

The roots and blossoms are a food source also.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fouquieria_splendens#Uses

Um...yellow flowers?

Saguaro (sah-war-oh) in bloom!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saguaro

Gila Woodpecker on a saguaro

Cholla (Choy-ah)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cylindropuntia

Prickly Pear

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opuntia

Cholla

Cholla

Prickly Pear

Cholla

 Cholla fruit

No bikers or bicycles were harmed in the making of this blog entry

Javelinas ("J" is an "H" Sound)

This pic is evidence that they had a snack from a prickly pear

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peccary

These two Desert Spiny Lizards were hunting near our picnic table

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiny_lizard

Even the Velvet Mesquite has pretty seed fronds

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosopis_velutina

2014-04-04 Cochise Stronghold, Coronado National Forest, AZ

2014-04-04 Cochise Stronghold, Coronado National Forest, AZ

http://www.cochisestronghold.com/

This rugged natural fortress was, for some 15 years, the home and base of operations for the famed Chiricahua Apache Chief, Cochise.  Cochise and about 1,000 of his followers, of whom some 250 were warriors, located here.  Sentinels, constantly on watch from the towering pinnacles of rock, could spot their enemies in the valley below and sweep down without warning in destructive raids.  No man, woman or child within a hundred miles was safe from these attacks.(YIKES)

Within the Stronghold is a hiking/equestrian trail that goes from the East Cochise Stronghold Campground, over the "Stronghold Divide" and down into the West Stronghold Canyon.  This trail was originally an Indian trail and is approximately 4 miles long one way.

The Interpretive Trail consists of a short loop trail approximately 0.1 of a mile long with information along the way about the Stronghold, Cochise and his descendants.   It is a beautiful, leisurely walk among the oaks and junipers.  

The Nature Trail, is about 0.4 mile long. There are benches strategically placed, so you can sit and listen to the whispers of those from long ago and enjoy the superb views of the canyon.

Near the end of the trail, ironically, there was an indian paintbrush waiting to be seen!

Another day, another nice walk with grand scenery! It's a tough job, but......

 

2014-04-01 Chiricahua National Monument, Wilcox, AZ

2014-04-01 Chiricahua National Monument, Wilcox, AZ

Chiricahua National Monument is truly one of the National Park Service secret treasures. If you are willing to drive the 37 miles off I-10, you will be surprised to discover a mountain wonderland of trees, wild animals, and the amazing balanced rock and pinnacles that make this place so unique.

• If you have only a couple hours, stop by the visitor center and watch the 8-minute park movie then enjoy the views at Massai Point, the end of the 8-mile scenic drive.

• If you have half a day, hike one of the trails; Echo Canyon Loop, Sugarloaf Mountain, or Natural Bridge. Explore the Faraway Ranch Historic District.

• If you have all day, head to the Heart of Rocks area and see the most unusual named formations; Duck on a Rock, Punch & Judy, Kissing Rocks, and Big Balanced Rock, or do the Big Loop.

We had a thoroughly enjoyable day here.  The drive and a few hikes (and the al-tee-tude) made for a REALLY good night of sleep!

http://www.nps.gov/chir/index.htm

2014-04-17 Gammons Gulch Movie Set and Museum

2014-04-17 Gammons Gulch Movie Set and Museum

http://www.gammonsgulch.com/

We have been to Old Tucson western movie set twice. It was great fun!

But last Spring, we found Gammons Gulch, an absolute GEM of a place to visit,

and a museum and movie set that has a whole nuther flavor and character to it.

This "must see" place is close to Benson, AZ, and VERY affordable!!!!

I think this is one of those times when I should not "cut my own cheese", as it can 

end up uneven. Sometimes it is best to bring it straight from the source, 

know what I mean?

 “Step back into time as founder Jay Gammons has and enjoy the fond memories

 of days gone by. Imagine yourself stepping back in time, walking down the main

 street of an old west town. In the distance you hear sounds of a honky-tonk 

piano slip in and out of the still, eerie silence as you walk past the saloon.

At any moment you expect to see a cowboy step out of the doorway, or hear the 

pounding of a blacksmith’s hammer. Or maybe feel the rumble of driven horses as

 the stagecoach churns up the dust as it rolls into town.

The place is real; a little imagination is all you need to complete your authentic 

and memorable “step back in time” experience."

"Come visit our Old Western Town and Mining Camp which is a mix of the 1880’s to

 our 1930’s side street. Gammons Gulch has a collection of Antiques and Old Cars.

Movie Memorabilia such as Jays pictures and stories of the days his father and 

him worked security for the movie with such stars as John Wayne, Ava Gardner, 

Andy Griffith and many more."

Make sure to click on their website link, eh?

Lots of nifty pics to see there, and much more info!

Happy Trails!

From the jail window, the hangman's noose!

The gold mine