Besh Ba Gowah and Pinal Peak

Besh Ba Gowah is an active archaeological park and ruins in Globe, AZ.  The Hohokum who built a pit house settlement around A.D. 900 are believed to be the original residents.  The Salado Indians began construction of the pueblo at approximately A.D. 1225.  At that time there was abundant water, a long growing season and natural food sources.  After A.D. 1400, as at other ancient ruins across the southwest, the people mysteriously disappeared.

This rendition of how the pueblo looks today is in the museum.

This is how archaeologists believe it looked when occupied.

The only entry was through this long corridor perhaps as a measure of defense.  It was covered and windowless at that time.  All traffic was channeled to the central plaza. 

The ground floor rooms were used for storage and the upper rooms were added for living areas.

Other ladders went to the roof which was where the original residents spent much of their time.

In an adjacent area there is an ethnobotanical garden where not much is happening this time of year.  They did, however, have this mano and metate where kids can try to grind corn as the ancient ones did.  It's not as easy as I have imagined - probably

just need practice.

Following Besh Ba Gowah we drove up to Pinal Peak at 7838 feet.  The ride was so interesting that I forgot to take photos until the descent.

Proof that we were there.  These are only a few of the towers.  The summit is covered with towers and dishes of all descriptions.

The final 2400 ft of elevation change (several miles of roadway) were snow or ice covered.

Alligator Juniper - the bark looks just like alligator skin.

Superstition Mountain Museum

Mary Ann and Glenn returned for another week.  Their final day we went to the Superstition Mountain Museum and to Lost Dutchman State Park for a volunteer-led sunset hike.

The outdoor displays included this stagecoach replica.

This is the Elvis Chapel.  It's one of two buildings that have survived from the original Apacheland where many movies were made.  Anyone remember "Charro"?

This diorama on display in the museum shows all the Apacheland buildings as they existed.  You can see the Elvis Chapel and the barn.

The barn in the rear is the only other building from Apacheland to survive.  Several actors have been hung from this gallows - but only in the movies.

Glenn checking out the 20-stamp mill which is being restored to working condition.

With play acting like this perhaps we four should make our own movie?  Okay, maybe not.

Next stop was Goldfield Ghost Town.  This is a fun tourist attraction on the site of the original Goldfield mining town.

The bordello

Superstition Mountain at Lost Dutchman State Park was out next stop for the sunset hike.

The formation in the center is "Praying Hands"

As we hike the sun gets lower, the shadows become longer and the color of the mountain changes.

What a nice last day with friends.  Thanks for visiting with us, Mary Ann and Glenn!

It was great!

High But Dry

Another beautiful day was shared with good friends, Glenn and Mary Ann....  First was the stage stop where Vic and I had been the previous week.  This was a good place to share the history of the area and see the old west as it once was.

Our next stop was to show them petroglyphs. Mary Ann spotted this ocotillo blossom lying on the ground.  Two days later I read that the entire blossom is edible.  Wouldn't it have been nice it I had learned that 2 days before????? 

The final stop of the day was in Eloy, AZ at the jump school.  Here one can jump inside this building with the help of an instructor or.......

 What a thrill to watch these folks land after jumping from a perfectly good airplane. For me to jump, the plane would need to be on fire and the flames licking at my posterior.  Even then, I'm not sure. It's a choice I'm not likely to ever have to make. Thank Heaven!  This day, it was pure pleasure to be an observer.

After a time a truck appeared with a hot air balloon and basket.  Seems it was going to take up some jumpers too.  Airplanes aren't the only thing from which to jump. 

It's a busy place,  The flags represent the countries of jump school participants.

This is the building where the jumpers pack their chutes.  We pray they learned their lessons well.

The balloon is being inflated.  An announcement was made that six peoplewho had reservations were 'no shows'.  The balloonist was offering a really good deal for the first six volunteers.  Glenn had never had this experience, so he wasn't difficult to coerce.  Mary Ann was a different story.  She was just too nervous even at the thought but encouraged everyone else to go.  Vic decided to go and, after a few minnutes, I decided I couldn't let him go without me.

I had given Vic a balloon ride for a birthday gift 20+ years ago and, of course, went with him.  Then we gave Monica a ride for her 16th birthday.  Again, I got to go.  It's just such a thrill, well, I couldn't pass up this 3rd opportunity.

Here we are, ready to float away.  Although I was feeling badly that Mary Ann would  miss our fun, it was nice to have her as our photographer on the ground.

Up, up and away!  Mary Ann had my camera and, of all times, this is when my battery died - argh!  Oh well, we had Glenn's camera with us to take airborne photos.  And she got this last really good one.

Neat picture!  Our shadow - I love it!

On your typical balloon ride the balloonist takes you to 500 to 1,000 ft.   As this flight was taking jumpers we went to 5,000 ft.  We were higher than the tops of the nearly mountains!

The basket was a 12-man and, to begin, we had 12.  We were pretty well crammed in.  Then the four jumpers went out one at a time.

This fellow was #4.  They reached terminal velocity of 120 mph in only 10 seconds.

The first three jumped face forward.  This one went backwards.  Maybe if I couldn't see where I was going........nah, still NOT going to happen!

Just imagine.......

And, of all times, Glenn's camera battery quit!

Our balloonist, "Burner Man" was a hoot, continually entertaining us.  His final comment upon landing, "Ah, cheated death once again"!