We are staying a week at the De Anza RV Resort located in Amado AZ, just south of Tucson and 20 miles north of the Mexico border. Green Valley, AZ is just up the road from us and we are looking forward to seeing our friends Steve and Contessa Marine, and Rey and Mary Johnson. Steve and Contessa are renting a house for a month in Green Valley, and Rey and Mary have made Green Valley their home. The mountains are beautiful and the U.S. Border Patrol are ever present.
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| I hope this isn't one of those Jumping Catus! |
Feb. 18 - KARTCHNER CAVERNS
Kartchner Caverns, one of the top 10 caves in the world, is located 49 miles west of Tucson. Not only is this cave beautiful, the story of its discovery and preservation is remarkable. In 1974, a couple of local amateur cavers discovered a small opening in a well known sinkhole. As they crawled through this small opening they found passages that led them to magnificent formations that had been forming for 50 million years, and up until then, had been unseen and untouched. From past experience, they knew that when word got out about this living cave, its formations would be destroyed by vandals and souvenir hunters. They kept their discovery a secret for 14 years while they continued to explore the caverns and take time to decide the best way to preserve the caves. They secretly worked with the landowners, Jim and Lois Kartchner, and the Arizona State Parks Department to make it into a cave tour attraction.
Kartchner Caverns discovery was made public in 1988, when the family sold the area to the State to made it into a State Park. Special care and technology were used to prepare the caves for tours while maintaining its unspoiled condition.
Entering the cave through special air lock doors and misting machines, the Park Ranger guided our small group through the Rotunda Room and Throne Room. No pictures are allowed inside the caves and touching formations is forbidden as the oil from our skin will destroy the continuing growth of the formations. Our guide turned on lights for the path and to highlight the spectacular formations, and as we left an area the lights were turned off as a means to keep this natural living cave as pristine as possible.
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| Entrance into one of the new AZ State Parks |
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| Under those two mounds lay the beautiful Kartchner Caverns |
Steve and Jim golfed today, which was a challenge in the wind. Every time they would tee up the ball, the wind would blow it off the tee. Contessa and I went shopping and had lunch in the cute historic town of Tubac, where a local lady told me that "the reason it's so cold is because all the damn snowbirds bring the cold weather with them; they should just stay home where they belong!" All righty then, nice to meet you too. We met back up with the boys at the Marine's hacienda, played cards and had a delicious dinner.
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| Contessa, Steve and Jim at the Marine's beautiful hacienda |
Feb. 20 - IT'S JUST PLAIN WRONG!
Rain and SNOW today. Those poor cacti and palm trees didn't know what was going on...neither did we. Global warming? Not here. Our water hose has frozen twice during the night, but it thaws when the sun comes out.
Feb. 22 - IS IT 9:00 YET?
Our RV Park has a restaurant open on the weekends as well as dancing Friday and Saturday nights. Contessa, Steve, Mary, Rey, Ralph and Joanie came to our park for a wild night of dinner and dancing. We had 6:00 dinner reservation; the band started playing at 6:30. Dancing to great 50's and 60's music, with a few Country Line Dances, and Texas 2 Steps thrown in, the fun was over at 9:30. Yes, it's sad but true, old people go to bed early.
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| CeCe, Mary, Contessa...discussing books at the dance |
IF IT HAS TIRES OR TESTICLES, IT'S GOING TO BE TROUBLE
Our tire issues on the RV seem to be resolved. Since we left Kansas City, the tires have remained inflated, but are a constant worry.
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| Double Trouble...need I say more? |
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| Big trouble! No more said. |
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