Bisbee

Posted April 29, 2013

After 3 or 4 days in Tucson, it began to get too hot, so we moved to cooler climes--south, but also to higher elevation, at Bisbee, AZ. An old mining town built up the sides of mountains, it is now a tourist haven-come-hippee enclave. A liberal town in a conservative state. Leah walked around town visiting shops while I photographed an area that appeared to have been time-warped from the 1940s and 50s.

click any thumbnail to see full-sized photo

 This double-decker bus was permanently parked on the street outside what once was a Greyhound Bus Station. Somebody has a sense of humor.

Just liked the composition and color. Table is a restaurant.

The owner of the gym above was female. She must have won a competition, judging by the trophy in the right window. Here's a blow-up:

Some bumper stickers from Bisbee:

We tried to find camping IN Bisbee, but the only campground was full, so we had to stay at Turquoise Valley Golf and RV Resort, a short drive away in Naco, AZ. Our campsite was in a parking lot across the street from the golf course and clubhouse. It was also across the street--literally--from the Mexican border, really only a stone's throw. It was a bit eerie, too, as the border was a brilliantly lit rusty steel fence about 20 feet high--and it ran as far as the eye could see in both directions. Helicopters and planes  flew over frequently. There was even a tethered blimp high up in air, no doubt loaded with heat sensors and cameras, scanning for illegal immigrants.

To add to the eerieness, about a 1/4 mile away we discovered a large abandoned US Army base called Camp Naco, originally built in the early 1900s, partially in response to Pancho Villa's raid on Columbus, NM. My camera quivered with anticiption...abandoned places make us both tingle...but, alas, the entire site had been fenced off, and I could only get photos from the top of a ladder. I had wanted to do some HDR shots from inside the buildings, but the fencing prevented it. Still, an interesting sight.

A small section of Camp Naco

Bike ride near Camp Naco. Mexico about 100 yards to the left.

Made us a little nervous...but we drove up anyway

At the top. Mexico to the left.

As it turned out, we mostly spent days exploring Bisbee and the surrounding area, and evenings back at the trailer in Naco. Did a few bike rides and walks, as well.

Stay well...