Historic Stairs in Mining Towns

 We drove to Miami and Globe on Friday (last week) to do some more geocaching in the two communities that have a history in copper mining. Some of the stairs were built to help students get to and from school and are still accessible. Some of the stairs were built in the mid-1930s by the Federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) and formalized routes first created as shortcuts by the residents. Geocaching made us aware of the staircases in the communities built on the sides of hills. An artist program in Globe decorated the stairways in the photos in this blog post.

a LOT of stairs!

painted marbles

quail stairs

tiles on these smaller steps

painted decor on the bridge steps

stairs and a bridge

painted poppies on another LONG set of stairs

(students using these stairs)

in Globe

I did not take any photos of the stairs in Miami as they were not decorated

this mural is in Superior, another mining community

Broad Street in Globe

another mural in Globe

The other reason for visiting Globe last Friday was to attend an event hosted by our geocaching friends, Sherry and Jon. On March 1, 1872 Yellowstone became the world's first National Park. The event was a gathering to celebrate National Parks. Those of us attending who had a National Park T-shirt wore it to the event and were in a group photo. (There were other geocachers in attendance!)

There are so many California poppies growing along the road through Miami and Globe and they were all in full glory on Friday. There was a planter with one poppy in the little park where we gathered for the geo event. The one bloom made me very happy. I got my poppy photos for the season!

A Girls' Day Out

 It has been a few years (since before COVID) when friend Nancy and I would plan a girls' day doing something different in the valley area. Nancy has moved and I miss our museum visits or looking at historic homes in the nearby mining communities. 

Last week I joined some friends for a trip to Globe.

The temperature in Globe for the day was to be in the high 40ºs. Judy wore shorts! There was snow in Globe as the elevation is 3500'. The elevation of Apache Junction is 1700'. No snow here.

Marlene was prepared with her hat and gloves.

We stopped for a snow ball photo op because all of us are thankful we are NOT back in our home states. A little snow will be just enough of a winter fix for us. 

Queen Creek was flowing

We met Sherry for lunch at an eclectic local cafe. Great food.

funny bathroom decor

creative bathroom decor

box spring strung with miniature lights on the ceiling

Queen Creek runs through downtown Globe. The water ripples along the edge of the creek caught my eye.  The water level in the creek had closed some roads. The higher elevations have had snow while our area experienced rain earlier this month.

These paper whites were blowing in front of one of the stores where we stopped to shop. The store owner said they have a pleasing aromatic smell. I did not get that close to find out. There were other spring flowers making their appearance, but did not have blooms.

This shop had tiaras and the shop owner allowed us to wear some of them for a photo op. It was a day of shopping and laughter. Good for the soul.

January, Part 1

 There hasn't been any January blog posts because we haven't done anything this past month. At least nothing blog worthy until I organized my phone photos this weekend. (Nothing on the camera so you know it wasn't camera worthy!) Recently a couple of faithful blog followers commented on the lack of updates and wondered if we were okay, health-wise and otherwise.

The short version:

Hubby ended 2021 with a 3 day case of stomach flu and a week of feeling yucky.

Hubby started EECP on Jan. 3rd and the last of the 35 treatments was Jan. 28th. Thus no exciting geocaching or road trips.

Writing Your Life Story classes, which I facilitate here in the resort, started Jan. 10th and then I took on facilitating the resort's weekly geocaching group. Both involve research and homework on my part.

Friends from back home arrived in the resort for a 3 month stay in a rental, so most anything social involved time with them.

The end of the EECP therapy was a reason for celebrating and will have its own blog post.

For now, here are some of the odds and ends just to let you all know we do have a life.

Sonoran Hotdog

We attended a geocaching event in Tucson celebrating National Bacon Day. We ate Sonoran hot dogs from a food truck, as did the other event attendees. This was a photo of mine, minus the bacon wrapped on the hot dog. It was delicious! A grilled bun with a few pinto beans, the grilled bacon wrapped hotdog, some fresh diced tomatoes, caramelized onions, a squeeze of sour cream and topped with avocado slices. After eating his hotdog (minus the avocado) Hubby complained how he kept tasting the hotdog for the rest of the afternoon. Usually, I am the one that complains of hotdogs not sitting well for several hours. Since I had the same meal and I wasn't sick, we ruled out food poisoning. And since he continued to have tummy issues for three days, he finally agreed he must have the flu. He did live, although it was touch and go the early part of the five day issue. (Ha ha ha!)

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Red Hat Luncheon

Our resort hosted Red Hatters from all the other valley area Cal-Am resorts on January 18th. The luncheon meal was huge and filling, but no photo. We all received a red mask to wear at the event, a key chain token, and a delicious frosted sugar cookie for dessert. 

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January Geocaching Event

Later that afternoon I hosted an event for east valley geocachers. We had a table of door prizes to give away as many fellow geocachers have donated items for my events. Some will reappear at another event this spring. For now, my geo cupboard is less crowded. The weather was perfect for dining on the patio and there was a good turn-out of about 50 people for some good food and lively conversations.

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Globe Event

how badly does one have to pee????

others reported the bathrooms were unoccupied by reptiles

I chose not to find out for myself

Our friends and fellow geocachers Jon & Sherry hosted a geo event in Globe January 22. We gathered under a picnic shelter near the restrooms at the park's trailhead for some donuts and geo chit chat. We met some new folks and talked to others who drove from the Phoenix metro area and from Tucson. In the photo the event hosts are watching some of the geocachers make the trek up the hill to find a geocache and be the first to find (FTF) to sign the log sheet.

The chilly north wind blew through the mountain valleys making for a dang cold outing. Mittens/gloves, stocking caps or hooded sweatshirts and coats were the apparel for the morning gathering. Hubby and I found a few geocaches as we drove to the restaurant to meet the others for lunch. A low-key geocaching day for the two of us, where the food and the gatherings were more important than finding geocaches.

Hicks Wash

Friends Jon and Sherry invited us to join them on a hunt for geocaches in Hicks Wash, near Globe. They felt 4 sets of eyes and hands might help find the caches that had eluded them on previous visits.

and we are off, through the gate, into the tunnel, under the highway

desert terrain at the start of the adventure

road block in the wash, end of the trail

Since this was an in and back out trail, we chose to drive to the end and work our way back to the beginning.

some deciduous trees

September 2, 1929

the rancher's brand

the foundation of a water trough

Lil' Red enjoyed the adventure

terminate work on this fallen tree limb

a small area burned within the last two years

new life in the burned area

a little humor from Jon

searching tree roots

Sherry thought she remembered where it was located

no cattle, but a corral and water for cattle

discussing the purpose and operation of a windmill

my favorite cache of the day

very creative find

one of several burned trees

between the two large boulders

thorn bush on your left

look for a 4-5 inch slot

NOT!

climb the rock ledge, eye level

NOT!

in the rock wall

we made the find!!!!

14 of 16 ~ not too bad as there were some real tough ones

Globe is known for the Mexican poppies lining some of their streets and roads this time of year.  These poppies were on the grounds of a museum. Globe is planning a spring poppy festival as an annual event, but the poppies are quite sparse this year, probably because of the lack of rain. (It was later in the day and quite chilly explaining why these poppies are closed.)

another Adventure Lab completed

Another great day with geo friends. We have cached together in AZ, UT, WA, SD, MN, OH. Thanks for inviting us to join you in Hicks Wash.