Field trips: Mexico and Monument

You'd think I'd be used to strange things and happenings by now. What with the resident deer that likes to sun herself by the pool, the bag that smells like (and probably is) skunk spray outside the Director's office, and the creepy football that travels around the yard even though I never see anyone touch it.

Then of course there is the endless array of bizarre plants



hummingbirds in bags


the creepy bear traps in the middle of the woods

and curious backroad signage


But strange things are everywhere and ours to keep discovering every day. This week was especially strange because of freak rains and I went on two very strange and very exciting road trips.

For the first, I went with my roommies Kate and Meg to Douglas to pick up supplies (beer and pants). With the swine flu paranoia calmed down and since Meg could cross over without a passport, we decided to go for a quick walk into Mexico.

Yup! A walk.




So with all the border madness that goes on around here, can you believe that you can walk from the US to Mexico where the only thing that slows you down is an unmanned turnstile? There is obviously very little concern of illegal immigration into Mexico. In fact, they might even be encouraging it.

We didn't stay long. It was a hot sunny day, more so because of the concrete we are so unused to. We walked around, had some tasty popsicles, poked in some shops, and bought some good tequila. Unfortunately they only let you across with one litre of alcohol so I can't come home with some for everyone. (Though I do know of one porch where a tasting party will occur on my return...)

A few pictures:

...because social work just doesn't seem to be working.

Roadside gynecology anyone?

Tecate is the Budweiser of Mexico.

Dress shops and pharmacies where you don't need a prescription are also ubiquitous.

The biggest difference between Douglas and Agua Pieta was garbage and rubble.

Once the booze bought and the sunburn had, we walked back over, this time going through an American checkpoint. The border guard asked me if I had been there before, commented on my excellent choice of tequila, and sent me on my way.

On the ride back home we saw some undocumented immigrants getting manacled by the border guard. I don't think I'll ever get used to that sight.

Monument

Field trip #2 was a fun ride in a Jeep to the Chiricahua National Monument with Chris and Meg. My little Civic would never have made it over the washboard roads littered with rocks and holes on the sides of mountains.

We each took a turn driving and laughing at the poor person stuck in the back, taking the brunt of the bumps.

Meg behind the wheel.

Chris and I. Me being a dork in the back.

Landscape just before arriving:



There is a shuttle that leaves the visitor's centre at 8:30 and it dropped us off at Masai Point. On the way up, Kathy the Park Ranger told us how a monument is designated so by a president. In this case, Calvin Coolidge in 1924. I asked her if she had any tips on seeing some of the odder wildlife out here and she said she often tells people they won't see something like a ring-tailed cat and then turns the corner to find one. Then she turned the corner and a coati ran in front of us. Very cool and cute.

She dropped us off at the top of a mountain in the middle of Arizona and we set out to find our way back to the Jeep. I had seen many pictures of the Monument, but the real thing was just breathtaking. Truly spectacular. As Kathy said, Arizona tourism is built on erosion. And what lovely volcanic rock erosion it is:

You can see why they called it Masai Point.

The desert seems to always be around the corner out here.

A hoodoo on the Heart of Rocks trail towering over Meg.

They look eerily like people sometimes...

Balanced Rock (with Foreshadow Rock in the background)

Old Maid

Defying gravity. Made us a bit nervous about walking under these guys!

Punch and Judy. Where we ate our dry bread and cold cut sandwiches. The typical Station "sack lunch".

Kissing Rocks. Aw.

Go see Chris' poetic Monument photos too.

We finished the trail in a speedy four hours and went back over the twists and turns and bumps of mountain to home sweet home. We were lucky - it rained cats and dogs the next day (very unusual for this time of year).

Now that the rain seems to have abated, more fun will be had and more posts posted.

Stay tuned next time for... "The Cowboys of the Rodeo Tavern!" Yippee-ay kay-ay.