Whoa...what a day
Ever
had a day when the sun goes down you can't believe where you have been
and what you have seen? Today was that kind of a day for me. Sun up
having breakfast in Nogales in a small family cafe. As William Heat
Moon would say.."a three calendar type of place". Eggs cooked perfect
with chorizro, beans melt in your mouth, rich black Mexican coffee. Pay
the bill, leave a tip, the waiter thanks me, blesses it and puts it
into a coffee can. Two other individuals in the cafe. Both look up and
wish me a good day and a safe trip. Fire up the bike. Ride half a
mile and hit the border. Looks like a war zone. Makes you wonder.
Few
short miles north from Nogales is Tumacacori. In 1691 Eusebio
Francisco Kino and his party approached the Pima settlement of
Tumacacori. It was the beginning of Spain's northward expansion along
the west coast corridor home of the Piman Indians. In 1751 some Pimas
attacked the Spanish settlement. The Spanish were driven out for a short
time. By 1786 only a hundred Pima Indians remained at Tumacacori.
Disease, encroaching settlers, and lack of government support changed
their homeland.
The original HWY 93 is buried under Interstate I10 from Nogales to Wickenburg. Temperatures reached upward of
106 degrees. Ride 40 miles. Stop drink a bottle of water. Ride 40
miles. Stop drink another bottle of water. Yet, through the heat and
burning sun the beauty of the desert continued to create a sense of
wonder and beauty.
Checking
into a motel in Wickenburg tonight I am greeted with a bag..."Thanks
for braking with us...Yahoo". A special "thank you" for bikers on HWY
93.
Wickenburg:
A town that grew up as a gold mining camp in the 1860's. Cowboys are
often seen riding through town. A few crusty prospectors still search
for a strike.
Dinner
at the Rancho Bar 7 in Wickenburg. Ellsie shared local stories. Met a
retired art director from LA. She told me how she only hired
photographers who were free spirited and willing to take a risk.
Good
to have the kickstand down in a biker friendly place. Yea...it's a
Mecca. Another hidden paradise along the Blue HIghways of America.
Whoa...it was a very good day.
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