November in Tucson

We arrived in Tucson on Halloween and found a spot at Desert Trails - a bit cozy
  but near the end of the rainbow

We were just in time for the All Souls Procession. 
It was started  in 1990 by local artist who was grieving the passing of her father.
Inspired by Mexico’s Day of the Dead holiday, she and a couple dozen friends and  artists created their own ritual performance to celebrate their loved ones and honor their grief.

Day of the Dead is its own holiday with its own traditions, people are welcome to bring those traditions to the Procession, but the Procession is not—and never has been—trying to be a Day of the Dead event.

A good time was had by all.

We also went to the Tucson Museum of Art Holiday Artisans Market.  It is set up on the grounds of the Art Museum and the Museum is free all weekend.
 
Tons of fun stuff to buy but I was good and only bought one pair of earrings.
We went over to the Courtyard behind the Old Town Artisans for lunch
 
 and listen to music

Before we leave the Museum we stopped for one of the Chocolate Bombes from the Cafe a la c'Art - OMG!

 

Not to worry though!  We got a couple of  bike rides in on the Loop.  The first was 6 miles the second was 19 miles.  

 

We passed horses

Giant Frogs

and a Hawk checking us out

And then there was a hike up Brown Mountain as well.

Of course we felt we had earned some ice cream at the end of that one!

When not out and about exploring, we got to see some excellent entertainment on Tuesday and Thursday nights.

Bat - who is always a lot of fun

and Gabriel Ayala a local Pascua Yaqui Indian who is world renowned Classical Guitarist

Of course our resident Owl is always watching us too.

The Thing and Texas Canyon

On the way back from Comanche Stronghold I talk Gary into stopping at the DQ for ice-cream after our 6 mile hike with the ulterior motive of seeing the Thing!  I have passed by the sign for years and I have decided life is to short to not stop!

Gary waits in the Truck while I venture in.  Only $1.00 to see the thing?  What a deal!

Follow the giant yellow footprints

There are three large buildings full of stuff

Just continue to follow the yellow footprints

 A large Steel cage is filled with wood carvings of people being tortured by ancient methods - "Is the only one of its kind"   I don't understand why?

The second building contains a wall of cubicles containing all sorts of paraphenalia.

and stuff and more stuff

Finally in building 3 I get to see the Thing!  What is it?  Mystery of the Desert! It's a wonder!

A mummified Mother and Child beleived to be created by the original owner in 1950 as a sideshow attraction

and then there is more stuff.   It was visited by RoadsideAmerica.com recently and in 2012,  someone put a review on Tripadvisor all upset because it was not a western themed museum and left in disgust after seeing the Rolls Royce with Hitler in the back seat in building one.   The husband commented that the Thing” was a 50’s alien sci fi movie and the wife wondered if  Hitler was the ultimate space alien.  

This guy is contemplating all that

To think that family not only missed seeing the thing, but missed this too!

A well spent $1.  After I saw the Thing, we got the Pumpkin Pie and Apple Pie Blizzards.  Both were good but I think the Apple Pie won out.

We had passed thru the Texas Canyon on our way in but didn't get to stop and take pictures

Some of the coolest rock formations I've seen.  Located between the Dragoon Mountains and Little Dragoon Mountains.

The Stagecoach route of the Butterfield Overland Mail passed through here from 1858 to 1862

A pretty productive day.

Benson, AZ - Hike in Comanche Stronghold

We have heard that the Comanche Stronghold is a cool place to hike so we head out one day and try for the west entrance figuring it's closer.  It is National Forest roads going in and they are not well maintained.  Bad word, bad word, bad word from Gary on all the bumps and dips and I have to remind him that his "Baby" is a Ford F250 Super Duty 4WD and was made for this type of stuff.

Some cows cross the road and admire the Truck

The roads are poorly marked or not marked at all

We come across this trailhead and decide to give up on the stronghold and try this one.

The trail is not too well beaten and it is open and in the hot sun so we give up and decide to try another day.

The next day we decide to try getting there by the East entrance, a much better decision.  More direct and better roads lead us to the Cochise Stronghold campground where the trailhead is.

The beginning of the trail is a bit rough

At the 1/2 mile marker we hit a hiker's gate

At the 1 mile mark there is still some water from the Springs so Tucson takes a break.

The rocks are pretty cool and we can see how it got the name Stronghold

1 1/4 miles done of the 3 mile hike

I start to see shapes in the rock formations

Proof that we are actually doing this hike

You can almost imagine Indians hiding up in those rocks

Big Butt not Butte

Gary says I'm getting punchy seeing all sorts of things in the rocks.  This to me is an Eagle

Hands holding a small bird

Two people hiding behind one rock with a moon faced man behind them.  Bottom right are a couple resting against the rocks

This guy is beating his head against the rock because he realized he made a wrong turn and added a few miles to his hike.

At the two mile marker we are supposed to hit the half moon tank

I think I see an Ostrich

There is a good view between the mountains here

And we finally read the Stronghold Divide. 

We stop for a rest and Tucson finds something of interest up in the tree

Found these shrubs interesting with the red streaks in the branches. I think they are Manzanita

Tucson, all decked out with his hiking gear, surveys the land

and finds another watering hole.