3-30-97
| Sunday morning found me in Alpine, Arizona after traveling north along Highway 180. Alpine is at the eastern end of the White Mountains about half way between the northern and southern borders of Arizona. The town lies in a beautiful valley just 6 miles from the New Mexico border and seemed like the most logical choice for beginning the trip back. I would get to see some of the best of Arizona without getting too far off course. The weather was cool Sunday morning after a few rain and snow showers during the night, but the sun rapidly warmed things up. |  In New Mexico Looking at Arizona |
 Coronado Trail |
If you ever get the chance to visit Alpine, I highly recommend the Heuvos Rancheros (eggs Spanish style) at the Bear Wallow Cafe. Vada Davis, the owner and operator, will make sure you don't go away hungry. I also enjoyed the conversation with Frank Barnes at the Sportsman's Lodge where I spent the night. Frank is a fellow motorcyclist and BMW rider. The view from my room was just as impressive out the back as it was the front. |
| Highway 191 south from Alpine traces the Coronado Trail. Spanish explorer Coronado traveled this route seeking the Seven Cities of Gold. This 125 mile scenic byway has some of the best twisties (a motorcyclists paradise) I've ever seen as well as some of the most impressive overlooks and scenic vistas. It was about 15 miles down this route that I discovered the Arrow Tree. About 50 feet off the edge of the highway, I saw a tall dead pine tree with hundreds of arrows sticking out of it. They were all shot from the same angle but ran the length of the tree. I'm sure there is an interesting story to go with the tree but there wasn't anyone for miles in any direction that I could ask. Someday, I have to go back to try and discover the mystery of the Arrow Tree. |  The Arrow Tree |
 Morenci Mine |
Hwy. 191 takes you through Morenci, a Phelps-Dodge mining town and home to the worlds largest open pit mine. I have to admit that after the incredibly scenic drive through the Apache National Forest, the first glimpse of the mine is pretty depressing. I understand the need for copper but I also have sympathy with the environmentalists over the destruction of the landscape. |
| I kept traveling southeast and passed through Lordsburg,
New Mexico, an important stop on the western route for stagecoaches.
An easterly route out of Lordsburg took me back to Deming and Las Cruces.
I will end the journey here since I have some work to do in Las Cruces
before I return to Ruidoso. The trip was refreshing and I am learning
that getting an internet connection while on the road isn't always easy
or possible. I'm sure there will be times in Australia when I can't
make a connection and other times when travel prevents me from doing much
exploration. This was fun and a great shakedown cruise for the electronic
equipment. I will try to make another trip in about a month on the
motorcycle and see what new challenges that presents.
Your feedback is important. I need to know what is of interest and what bores you to tears. There will be more interviews in the next trip and more input from locals. I will try not to be so rushed and will hopefully get more detail in the writing. Let me know what you think. Thanks for coming along. |
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