William H. Smith July 2, 1998

1204 Christmas Tree Ln. about 1025 words

Pearce, AZ. 85625

303-36-7671

520-826-1029

A DAYS JAUNT

By

William H. Smith

On June 1998 , Sid, Jolene, Shirley and I left Sunsites. Driving our 1986 Oldsmobile taking a days outing to Arivaca, Arizona and back, via Pena Blanca Lake. I have been absent from the area for over thirteen years and wanted to see the area again. The following is the way we traveled, and what we saw.

Taking highway 191 north, we turned left on Dragoon road. Passed through the Settlement of Dragoon, by the Amerind Foundation, and a Guest ranch for horseback riders, we came to 1-10 were we went west through Benson. We continued until the Sonoita exit, there we turned south toward Sonoita on highway 83. Turning west in downtown Sonoita on highway 82, toward Patagonia, we stopping at the rest area after making the right hand turn. Looking toward the rodeo area we noticed a horse show in progress.

We continued our journey passing through Patagonia. Patagonia is a old cattle and mining town, in the center of town is a large railroad depot that is now used by the town as the

City Hall. Several movies have been made around the Patagonia area, because the sky is unpolluted from Jet aircraft vapor trails. Two of the most noted movies are Oklahoma and Tom Horn. The town is also a favorite of bird watchers, the stream flowing through Patagonia always has a little water. You can travel along the stream on a dirt road, and you may see various types of wildlife and birds. When exiting back to highway 82 you will cross a ford.

We proceeded west on highway 82, where the mountains are falling away forming cliffs, and on the south side of the road. A few miles out of Patagonia you will notice stairs with a medal pipe hand rail which leads to a Shrine used for burning candies, a Hispanic/ Mexican tradition.

Continuing on our journey west we passed through Nogales, and went north on 1-19, at Rio Rico we exited on state highway 289 that goes to Arivaca. The paved road winds down and around to Pena Blanca Lake, the lake at one time was an excellent Bass fishing lake. Now it has been reduced to a large mud hole. The restaurant by the lake had a large warm enchanting dinning room was used by fishermen, visitors, and cowboys during round up, and now it is boarded up, grown up in weeds, and decaying. West of the restaurant were several cabins that were rented to overnighters, now they are decaying the same way as the restaurant.

Leaving Pena Blanca Lake we soon left the paved road and onto dirt, still going towards Arivaca. Before crossing the large wash is a nice no fee camping area, and at the curve of the road and on the left is a spring, which has very good water for drinking. Driving on up the road and winding around the mountains we passed by Bear Valley Ranch, continuing on we came to Sycamore Canyon.

We took Sycamore Canyon south, and parked the car just below Hank and Yank Springs. Walking another 100 feet up a Questionable road, we came to Hank and Yank's ranch house.

Hank and Yank were muleskinners and Army Scouts, they built this ranch in the 1880s. Across the wash from the ranch house is a large spring, they improved the spring by building a large cement catch basin. Today tree roots have grew through the cement seeking water. Alga, snakes, frogs, and bugs make it their home now. The ranch was attacked by Indians in 1886, killing some of the people living there, and Hank and Yank soon abandoned the ranch site, the only thing remaining today are the adobe walls that are fast melting into the earth and the springs.

We continued on our excursion, climbing out of Sycamore Canyon still headed west. We stopped and looked to the northeast toward the cliffs of Atacosa peak. On the side of one of the cliffs you can see a cross. It is believed to have been carved by the Spanish, using a technique that is called shadow writing. During the day it can be seen by the shadow it casts on the face of the cliff.

Going on we came to the ghost town of Ruby. In its hey day Ruby was a large mining town which employed several workers. A few years back a sign was posted on the entrance gate, it read "trespassers will be shot, survivors prosecuted". Ruby is now opened for tours, but arrangements must be made before hand. Vegetation is consuming Ruby, and viewing from the road is difficult.

Leaving Ruby we continued toward Arivaca passing by the mining site of Oro Blanco, in English this means "White Gold". The road is rough, and everyone may not want to drive his or her auto over it. As we entered into Pima County the road is paved again.

Since my absent of thirteen years I was surprised how the town of Arivaca and the out lying area has grown up with more houses. The town is supporting more businesses, and the Post Office is located in a new building and location, the rest of the town is about the same.

Arivaca was the apex of our day’s journey. We left going east toward

Amado, there we visited the Cow Palace Restaurant. Many movie stars have visited the Cow Palace and their photographs decorate the walls, the restaurant had been enlarged since there last time.

The Cow Palace has been well known for their good Mexican food, we tried them again and the food was still tasty and the service was excellent.

We had visited all we could in one day so we made our way to 1-10 and found our way back to Pearce/Sunsites.

We started at 8:00 in the morning and returning at 5:30 in the evening, it was a jaunt of 31 0 miles.

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