Globe Arizona 03/16/99

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IMAGES From Nostalgiaville
ARIZONA- GLOBE, AZ- 3/16/99

NOTE: A Click of your Mouse on most of the pictures will enlarge them for better viewing

GLOBE, ARIZONA

We have now put over 2,000 miles on the RV and are still talking to each other... no fur flying on the walls or gingham on the floor. We arrive in Globe, hook up the RV, and hurry out into the Tonto National Forest to look for rocks again. We find an old windmill frame with a birds nest in the top... and of course... more life in the desert.

We start out on this Tuesday, March 16, another absolutely gorgeous adventure into the Tonto National Forest heading toward the city of Superior. We drive up a long mountain grade on a big paved highway and a pick-up truck passes us. We pull off into a dirt road to do some rock searching and park on the road side.

A truck passes by and stops. A man gets out and introduces himself. His name is Bob Forester and he lives back on the dirt road. He said he passed us a while back and wondered about the sign on the Tracker. He tells us a little about the area and then we follow him back to his home to see some of the old antique treasures he has accumulated. He is starting a tourist guide business and we will be his first customers tomorrow.

Bob tells us about some abandoned mines, and we go looking for more mine tailings. We climb high into the mountain range on a dirt road and then down into the valley. It was beautiful down in the secluded area.

These are dirt roads but the government keeps them up a little. You really need a four-wheel drive or you wouldn't make it to some of these places. I don't believe many tourists travel these back roads, looking down the mountain-side. It is very steep and rugged but you get to see many things that most people will never see in their lives. You can see the clouds come over the peaks of the mountains and totally cover them.

We find petrified wood in abundance around the area. I stand by the road side with a little garden shovel and put small colored pebbles in a sandwich bag to show how beautiful the ground is.

As we descend, there are three little pigs (wild boars) in the road. They run up the side of the mountain. One stops and looks back. I talk to him and he talks back to me. We barely miss a picture as he heads for cover. These mountains are open range for cattle. There are a lot of calves now. You would be surprised to see how high the cattle climb. They also have viewed the clouds.

After scouting Tonto National Forest in the south east we head west of Globe towards the town of Superior. The difference in 35 miles is amazing. The rock formation change from sandstone to deep rust colored with high stacked columns and giant pillars of stone.

We have an early dinner in Superior and head back to Globe. We encounter some light rain on the way back. It's the first rain we have seen since we left Tennessee.

We had dinner at a quaint restaurant just outside of the town of Superior. We watch the movie Rain Man and then hit the sack.

This morning, Wednesday March 17, we find some tailings of an old copper, melting operation almost in town. Copper melts into some beautiful forms and a lot of it has various colors flowing through it. We collect some interesting rock samples at this site.

There is a sycamore tree next to the RV. Many sparrows are building nests in the tree. It is such a joy to watch them pick their individual pieces of dry grass and twigs for their homes. They sing such lovely tunes as they rejoice in their day.

There is a light drizzle of rain today. I have opted to stay in the RV while Sir Knight goes on the tour with Bob Forrester. I know that there will be beautiful sights missed by me but my lower back hurts and I am going to give it a rest. Sir Knight will give us details and pictures of his adventure.

We encountered some light snow in route to the Salt River Canyon, and stopped at a remote park to take a few pictures.

Everywhere you turn, your visual senses are bombarded with subjects for pictures.

At one of the view points Bob calls the rock formation "Kissing Rock". His story about this rock is as follows. Once upon a time, long long ago, an Indian Chief and a Brave embraced on a mountain top and kissed. The act didn't please their deity, and it turned them to stone.

The Salt River runs through the canyon. In times of high water, white water rafting trips are conducted on it.

At another road-side stop we found rocks laying in an open field with petroglyphs (early Indian writing).

There are several abandoned asbestos mines in the area.

Bob Forrester is just starting a business to serve as a guide for tourists in the area. He has grown up in Globe and knows where everything worth seeing is located. I would highly recommend giving Bob a call if you are traveling through Globe, Arizona.

     Bob Forrester
     815 East Apache
     Globe, Arizona 85501
     Call: 520-425-2087

Paul arrives back from his adventure with Bob Forrester about 3:30 PM, and after a short rest the "Walker Stalker" strikes and we take a 1+ mile walk from the campground through the down town area.