Wednesday, March 23
First things first. While packing up, disconnecting, battening down all the hatches for our trip to SE Arizona, Duffy found his Swiss Army Knife. It was right where I always say my lost things are, right where he left it (only my lost things are right generally where I left them). Hallelujah, we're not losing our marbles, or if we are we're, losing them while we're fully equipped!
Up and at 'em bright and early, or at least as early as I can be on a day when I'm not trying to get up at o'dark-thirty and leave by six in the morning. We did pull out of the campsite before 11am, when check out time is supposed to be (2pm at the latest is allowed). We made a couple of side trips, including Safeway to get some last minute supplies and our cup of Starbucks. After dillydallying around for long enough in Tucson and environs, we got on the road for the long, long trip of 70 miles to Benson, Arizona and the Kartchner Caverns.
Arriving at about 4pm, we lucked out in finding a campsite among the six that are still available. We didn't know much about these caverns until we read a brochure on the southeast area of Arizona. Discovered in 1974 by two young spelunkers on a couple's ranch (their explorations over a long period of time unbeknownst to the rancher-owners) the land was explored and the caves opened in 1978 or later. Now there is a beautiful state park and visitor center here with lovely cactus gardens surrounding the building. The caves are supposed to be quite remarkable, colorful, and filled with many and varied formations created over tens of thousands of years or more. Evidence of a prehistoric, giant ground sloth has been found in the caves among other creature's having once inhabited this once inland sea. With luck we'll be able to tour the caves before we leave the area. Our plan is to stay here until Sunday, when we plan to do a bit of birding in the Chiracahua Mountains east of here on our way to New Mexico.
Tonight, we're being lazy. Reading and writing this blog. Tomorrow we'll go on the hunt for bird species living in these parts.
Until next time,
Pam
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