A Lunch with Mark
Mark is well know for
his pinic
lunches. A pinic lunch with Mark is a hundred mile or more drive into
the
beautiful Arizona desert. There are many stops along the way to enjoy
the
scenery, a cold refreshing drink and peanuts.
This trip will take you to Martinez Canyon.
Mark's guests for this trip are Leena and Seppo Mikkola from Finland and his Mother Raija. Dad drove the backup vehicle and his friend Dave came along to help with the road building.
The guests are loaded into the vehicles. Coco finds a comfortable
place
on Leena's lap.
The
first stop after leaving Tucson and the paved road at Florence, Arizona
is the
Gila river. Yes, some rivers in Arizona actualy have water in them.
Time for one of those cool drink stops at the Gila river dam.
Now we leave the river and start in the canyon.
The road gets a little narrow here. We will be all right as long as
no rocks
come tumbling down.
Mark's truck is ahead. We are actually traveling in a wash which
also
serves as a road. Sure hope it doesn't rain. The water could get deep
fast.
This picture was taken from inside dad's truck.
Now things get even tighter.
How would you like to be caught in here back in the 1800's.
Perfect place
for an ambush.
Ah at last the wash widens a little.
Plus
it starts to get a little rougher.
Now the canyon walls get higher and rougher.
Dad needs a little help in steering around the rocks.
The climb up the wash gets steeper and rougher.
Raija and Leena watch the vehicles climb up over the rocks.
Actually they
find walking is faster then driving.
The walkers are getting further ahead of the vehicles but soon we
will
catch up with them as the wash will get a little better for a while.
What
did I say about it getting better. Now there are boulders in the way.
Time for
Dave to get out and start guiding the vehicles around the obstacle
course.
We have to ride up the left side of the canyon wall to get around
the rock
outcropping in the wash.
It is going to take a little road work to get up and over this
one. Mark
may have missed his calling in life.
Dave puts the finishing touches on the road while Mark gets ready to give it a try.
Well Mark made it up and over.
Now
it is dad's turn. Mark and Dave add a few more rocks so nothing
important
drags. Always good to have two vehicles j
ust in case one gets damage and repair parts need to be obtained. Also
saves a
long, dry walk out.
Pass some of the rough stuff at last.. Time to take a peanut break
and enjoy
the scenery.
Check
this out.
Now here is a
place to live.
A little way to get groceries but nice a peaceful. No electric or phone
but a great
view. Image making the trip into town by horse and wagon.
What a view and not a soul to be seen.
Now this is what Arizona is all about.
Looking back down the road from where we came. We are up out of the wash now so the going will be better now for a while. We are about half way now. So if we want to eat lunch, we better get going.
One
of many Arizona Saguaros. It usual takes about a 100 years before the
arms
begin to grow. So this one has been around for a while.
Back on the road and headed for Martinez Canyon and lunch.
Coco wants to know where the food is.
This
is what is left of the mining community in Martinez Canyon. The houses
were
abandoned after a flood wipe out the access to the mill from the mines.
Lunch at last. You may have to travel far and build the roads to get
there
but the spread put on by Mark is worth it.
Do it yourself sandwiches with all of the fixings plus chips,
cheeses and
dips.
After lunch it is time to do a little exploring.
Another visitor checking out the
country
side.
Looking up the wash towards the mill and the mines.
Fairly rugged country but rich in silver. One can fine chunks of
silver ore
lying about that can be heated to melt the silver out.
The wash is impassable by vechiles from this point on. Every so
often one
can see the remains of tracks that the ore cars traveled over between
the mill
and the mines.
This mill was used to process the ore. An ore car bridge crosses the wash.
It is amasing that such heavy machinery was haul in over such rough
terrain.
Even more amasing is that it is being removed by souvenir seekers which
is a
shame. Future visitors will miss the amazement of seeing the heavy
equipment
and wondering how it was ever brought to this place.
The
entrance to one of several mines in the area.
Raija checks for silver ore. Silver and lead deposits can be found
along the
sides of the mine.
More mine entrances.
A natural cave formed by water. The cave was used as living quarters
by some
of the early miners. Plus a cowboy or two and probably indians sought
shelter
here in the distant pass.
Time to head back. Along the way there is more road work required to get back to civilization.
This one is going to require a little more thought on how to get up
and
over.
The sun is setting and we are pass
the
worst. Want to have lunch with Mark? All you need is some road building
skills,
be brave enough to ride over steep terrain and not complain too much if
you end
up spending the night.