Damsel and I never get tired of seeing the Grand Canyon. December of 2008 was the first time we went there together in the winter to enjoy the same views accentuated with a touch of snow. This image was taken from Grand Canyon Village looking toward Bright Angel Canyon. Click the image below to see full-sized panorama.
We have been up and down US 60 between Wickenburg and the Phoenix Metro area a lot since the new house project started. Earlier this month, we passed the first train we have seen on the BNSF rails that parallel the road. This one was hauling rolls of sheet metal and some other big metal products. I sure like the paint job on the locomotives. Photo credit Damsel – click to enlarge.
We said goodbye to my favorite flowers, the Pride of Barbados a.k.a. Red Bird of Paradise last night. We stopped at the Arizona border last night to rest before driving home today after a very productive visit to our new home.
This picture was snapped just as the sun set in the west at Ehrenberg, AZ. By the time we return to Arizona, these flowers will be gone until next spring when they will again be as beautiful. The next pictures I post of these beautiful flowers, I hope, will be taken in my new rock garden at our new Arizona house. Click on the image to enlarge.
We decided to visit several tourist attractions in our new town today. One of the stops on the self-guided historic walking tour of the old downtown area is The Jail Tree.
This is one of several sculptures in the old downtown area. Damsel and I were both amazed at the realistic appearance of the shackled outlaw sculpture. Click on her photo to the right to enlarge.
The sign says “The Jail Tree – from 1863 to 1890 outlaws were chained to this tree for lack of a Hoosegow – escapes were unknown.”
The tree wasn’t actually a jail according to Weird U.S. . . .
Myth has it that convicts were sentenced to the tree and chained there until they either died from exposure or, if lucky, they completed their stretch. But, in truth, the tree was simply a holding facility. Offenders were shackled or tied to the tree only until a Phoenix lawman could make it up that way to retrieve them. Still, according to Wickenburg’s Chamber of Commerce, this could be anywhere from two to five days. At least they had some shade.
Weird gets it wrong, though. The nearest jail was in Prescott and prisoners were transported there.
I got tired of the suction-cup GPS mount that came stock with my Garmin 205W. The GPS was exposed to the sun on the windshield and the temperatures where we’ve been this summer worried me that the unit might be getting too much heat. I went on-line and found a nifty little dash mount which I ordered from Amazon last week.
The mount attaches itself to the dash with an adhesive and its footprint is very small which allows us to put it almost anywhere there is a small vacant spot. I chose to attach it to the spot just above the On-Star panel (which we never use) in the SUV. This location is also convenient because it puts the GPS in closer proximity to the passenger if Damsel (or myself) need to assist with navigation.
Another plus to the dash mount is that the power cord can be coiled up and isn’t flopping around in the drivers visual field of regard. I kept the suction cup mount in case we need to use the GPS in Damsel’s Convertible or if we’re renting a truck or RV.
Click on the image to enlarge.
We stopped to walk the dogs and take a rest on our way back to California at the General Patton Memorial Museum located at Chiriaco Summit on Interstate 10. We did not go into the museum today, but took some photos of the large display of vintage military tanks and armored vehicles. Click on the image to enlarge.
We were at a rest stop today among Interstate 10 when this handsome road runner darted across the dog area. I guess it should be labeled “dog and road runner area.” The species in this picture is called Geococcyx. I think they look like prehistoric birds, but here he is. Click on the image to enlarge.
