We had time to chat with the laundress before the parade. She was trying to interest the kids in washing clothes on the washboard with lye soap. I never realized they used potatoes in making starch.
Getting organized.
One of 2 bagpipers.
A variety of period style clothing.
Ft. Bliss, TX band. The young man on the far right that is standing (sorry I cut him off), is from Utah. But in talking with him his wife was originally from Warren, PA! She moved to Utah when she was 13.
Readying for formation.
The raising of the colors. Look at that beautiful sky! What a background!
Old Glory in all her splendor.
Let the parade begin.
Reenactors from Fort Lancaster to Fort Stockton. Camels were brought to the US to function as pack animals. They were never meant to replace horses as mounts for soldiers. They were a supplement to pack horses & mules. Camels could be loaded with as much as 1200 lbs. of cargo more than double that of the stoutest mule. As successful as the camels were in West Texas & the Southwest, the experiment ended in failure. First, the camels were the brainchild of US Secretary of War Jefferson Davis. When Davis went off to start his own country, that pretty much tainted the camel experiment in Union eyes. After the Civil War a few camels were used for freight. With the coming of the railroad, the camels days were numbered in North America & many were released into the wild.
A typical couple of reenacators.
Number 2 of the bagpipers.
This gentleman had a huge collection of guns, knives, and ammunition. We spoke with him on Fri. when he was just beginning to set up in one of the officers quarters.
The period of time would not be completed without the "ladies of the night" & the saloon. Although the only thing sold was soft drinks & water.
A rather risque picture!
This lady, Vicki McKissack, was fantastic! I don't think she took a break the whole time we were there. She was playing at the Six Shooter Saloon.
Close up of the camel
Close up with the camel. He was so soft.
This was one of the rooms at the Rollins-Sibley House. Jeez, does that bassinet look familiar?? I think about 3 generations of our family used one exactly like it!
This was a community quilt project for the sesquicentennial. Beautiful.
This is the Hovey one room schoolhouse.
The teachers quarters.
This bugle was found during the restoration of Officers Quarter's #7. Pretty dented, but still works.
Barracks
There were several games for the kids to play. Here a little girl is rolling a barrel stave with a wooden stick.
Before leaving for the afternoon, we toured the Officer Quarter's #5. This home is actually occupied by a family. It was gorgeous & the antiques were amazing! The couple was on the tour with us.
This was the dining room. There were too many pictures to post.
Sunday morning we were ready to head farther west. We made it to Deming, NM & spent the night there. Just in time at that campground to enjoy Burger Night. Couldn't beat it for $3.00.Monday we finally are going "home". Home as in Arizona! We still have a couple weeks to wait for our awning to come in before we make our permanent stop, so we are continuing to visit friends along the way. This was taken at the rest stop near Benson, AZ, so you can see the mountains in the background. This means we are getting closer!
Now we are headed south. Our friends, Pete & Jean, from N. Warren who celebrated their 50th anniversary while we were home, have a son Jim & his wife LaRae, who live in Sierra Vista, AZ. We made plans to come visit them on our way to Apache Junction. So this is going down US 90 to Sierra Vista on Monday.
Monday night Jim came over to visit with us. LaRae teaches certification classes for Foster Parents as part of her job & she had a class on Mon. night so she couldn't be with us. We had a really nice visit with Jim. They both co-teach children's worship on Sunday & Tuesday night they were having kids over so we said we would take a trip to Tombstone on Tues. & meet up with them for supper on Wed. night.This was on our way to Tombstone. Now all you paperback book readers who read those westerns.......Bob, Romayne........you can now put a picture with the words!
This was the front of the court house which is closed to visitors on Tuesday (you might know). But it looks like they were going to be busy with a wedding anyway.
Since you can't drive down through town, you park & then walk. You can take a trolley tour of the town or a stage coach tour. We opted for the trolley. We did get a couple of downpours but it came while we were eating our lunch.
This is looking down Allen Street which is the center of town. Notice the wooden sidewalk. It was quite a step down from there to the street too. Those cowboys must have had long legs!
This is Big Nose Kate's Saloon. She was Doc Holliday's girlfriend.
Inside the saloon.
This is Wells Fargo Express Office/Tombstone Traders.
This is the bar inside Crystal Palace.
Next we took a tour of the Ghosts & Legends. Short, but interesting.
Doc Holliday (inside the stage) was the ghost story/legend teller.
This is the original Wells Fargo & Co. Overland Stage.
Our next stop was the O.K. Corral. Here is an account of what happened at this famous gunfight. The inevitable showdown was over control of Tombstone climaxed months of threats, romantic rivalries, stage robberies, pistol whippings & arrests. (Click on the picture to enlarge & read).
Clockwise from left: Tom McLaury, Billy Clanton, Frank McLaury, Doc Holliday, Morgan Earp, Wyatt Earp, Virgil Earp, & center, Ike Clanton. Some of the figures are hid behind others.
The reenactment.
The lawmen, Doc Holliday, Morgan, Wyatt & Virgil Earp
The 30 second, 30 shots fight.
The dead cowboys.
Longhorn Restaurant on the corner.
I seemed to be on the wrong side of the trolley for pictures. This was Wyatt Earp's house.
This building was all tin on the outside. It is called The Rose Tree Museum. It has the world's largest rose tree. We didn't go through it though. You know, $5 here, $4 there, it doesn't take long when you are sight seeing.This is at the entrance to Boothill Graveyard. The sign tells all the names of who is buried there - three of the four cowboys from the O.K. Corral famous gunfight, plus others.
Graveyard. Because we were on the last trolley tour of the day, we couldn't get off & get picked up by the next one, so I had to take pictures out of the window. Sorry Renee.
The Bird Cage Theater. The most famous Honky-Tonk in America between 1881 & 1889. The wildest, wickedest night spot. For 9 years this was open 24 hrs. a day. Before it's operation ended in 1889, it would be the sight of 16 gunfights, 140 bullet holes riddle the walls & ceilings. There are 14 Bird Cage Crib Compartments that are self-suspended from the ceiling overlooking the gambling casino & dance hall. These were the compartments used by the ladies of the night. Nightly CanCan dancers performed here for the male gender.When disaster struck Tombstone by the flooding of the silver mines, the Bird Cage was sealed & boarded up with all its fixtures & furnishings intact. For almost 50 years it stood closed, its contents touched only by the passing of time. It became a Historic Landmark of the American West in 1934. It is Tombstone's only historic landmark in its original state, preserved from its beginning in 1881, including the lighting fixtures, chandeliers, drapes, & gambling tables. The grand piano is still in the orchestra pit.
Bird Cage Crib Compartments
Below the stage was the wine cellar, the dressing rooms & the poker room. Today this poker table still stands as it was left, with its chairs on the dirt floor. It is here where the longest poker game in western history was played. It was a house game & players had to buy a min. of $1,000 in chips for a seat. The game ran continually for 8 years, 5 months & 3 days.
Since neither those guys at the table probably made any money, & we were getting tired, it was time to head back to the trailer. There were several places we didn't have time to see & it was getting closing time for a lot of the buildings. We got to go into the Silver Nugget, but the Ice Cream Soda shoppe next door had just closed. Because we just missed it, she said if we wanted something simple she would get it for us. I had a Root Beer Float & Bill had a Sorbet cone. It was really refreshing & she was sweet to wait on us after she began to close!One of our most recent problems has been fighting with Suzy, our GPS! I updated the new 2010 maps & once we got into New Mexico, she just wouldn't give me any information I asked for. Well, I contacted Garmin, & because Suzy is a little on the "older" side, she doesn't have enough memory anymore. (Just like the rest of us!) So we had to stop at Walmart so I could pick up a standard SD card to insert into her & come home & upload all that information again. Well, since we didn't have her help, it was dark, & we couldn't find our way back to the campground! We turned the wrong way on the street it was on. I forgot about looking for the Circle K. If I would have been watching for that I would have know which way to go. Oh well, we got a look at some of the side streets - in the dark! It's amazing how much we depend on those little things to get us home in a strange town!
Yesterday we did some grocery shopping, I got my hair cut & nails done so we look like humans again. I talked to LaVon about staying at their resort. She sent me directions.
Last evening Jim & LaRae came & picked us up & we went to a nice Italian Restaurant. We started out for the Big Fat Greek restaurant that just opened, but it was an hour wait. Afterward they brought us home, we picked up our truck & laundry, then went to their house & did 2 loads of laundry. They have a beautiful home, a friendly dog & a playful, talkative kitty. We were sorry we kept them up so late though; it seemed forever getting those 2 loads done. I guess I'm used to doing them both at the same time at the laundry mat & I forget how long it takes the other way. We appreciate Jim & LaRae's hospitality! We hope to get to visit again before the winter is over.
Today, Thursday, we pretty much laid low. Went back to the mall to Sears so I could try & find some jeans that fit right. I think it's called get off the computer, quit reading so much & WALK! I have my work cut out for me again. I have lost a little, but not enough. Either they don't make jeans to fit me right or its the underwear! LOL Anyhow, I did find a couple pairs, & yes, they were on sale!
While we were at the mall I talked to a lady who was giving information about clinics giving flu shots. Well, since Bill HAS to have one, & I always get one, she said we had better go to Fry's today as they have already run out in 2 counties. So we proceeded to go & get our shots. Done deal. Fast & painless. I expected to stand in line, but wasn't to be. The line I thought was for the shots was for the pharmacy!
Today was my granddaughter's birthday. I called her & left a message so I hope she got it & had a great day. Happy Birthday, Samantha! We love you!
Yesterday, my great-niece, Traci, called me from Virginia Beach. She had good news too. She got engaged last week in Las Vegas. She was so excited. I'm so happy for her & Dan. He is so very good to her. They make a sweet couple. Then a week or so ago, another great-niece, Rochelle, from back home in New York, got engaged. Wow, I hope they don't get married all at the same time. Our family is growing again.
Tomorrow we will be leaving for Casa Grande, AZ to stay at Sunscape RV Resort for one night. We thought we might be there longer, but Good News! Our awning is in at Camping World & we have an 11AM appointment on Sat. to get it installed. Cross your fingers & pray that this one works! So after that stop we will be heading to our "home for the winter" at Superstition Sunrise RV Resort. I talked to Cindy in the office today & they are waiting for us. She said a lot of people are coming back early because it has been so cold & nasty in their own states. That sounds familiar!
So, until next time.............The Traveling Cardinal's
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