We are HERE

Well Kitt Peak last night was, err pants apart from the last hour. Lots of sitting around, going to the parking lot, coming back in, watching a sunset, listening to a nervous student waffle and talk at you. It was more interesting when you actually got to look at Saturn, Jupiter and star clusters through a 1m diameter telescope. Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff is heaps better.

Today we are at the Arizona Desert Museum, because Mrs Fogg is craving Museums. And this one is alright, but I totally disagree with caged animals, especially the big eared bats.

Next stop is Patagonia, which we were going via Nogales, but have decided to avoid the border area (given we have now been through 4 checkpoints already).

So far we have racked up 870 miles in 7 days and we ain’t even half way through, but at least it’s a cool 35 degrees today, well until 12pm, then BOOM

Prince Ginger are HERE

Tonight we are in a tiny backwater town called Gila Bend. A very small place with one hotel and three eateries.

So, where to eat? We opted for the little Italian restaurant which clearly was a great choice.

We were not the only Brits to have picked it. On November 4th 2011 at 7:41pm Prince Harry also went Italian.

Who knew that of all the small towns of America we’d pick one with a Royal connection. Delicious food too.

And now we are positioned back in our room to watch a “severe storm” as it approaches. Cue lightening, giant hail, rain, dust storms and high winds. It might at least drop the temperature afterwards!

We’ve been HERE

Temperature Watch 44 Degrees minimum most days, it’s like walking in an overheated sauna day and night, as you breath in you take in gulps of fiery air!

Yup Dove Huntin season started about 4am with those manly types going with AK47s, pump action shotguns and semis in search of the most dangerous of creatures. And here’s the one that got away, live to fly another day good buddy!

So first stop is The Center of the World, which is just so bizarre. The idea being that Aliens can land here and learn all about us with oodles of granite stone containing all of Human History (well let’s be clear, “American Human History” in the most part). Still extremely funky

I’m fairly certain Pops and Huskey Voice could spend weeks here reading all the details. Apparently the pyramid is the “Center of the World”.

On then to Yuma Prison, so cool and I’m sure Mrs McGeek will tell you all about the history

And now on the road to Gila Bend

and sorry, but I am still a little confused by the whole “Dove Hunting” thing, having arrived at the Best Western in Gila Bend to be told there is an outdoor pool but it will probably be full of “Dove Hunters”, like that’s something to be proud or amazed by! Next thing will be the Sloth Stalkers. I mean come on, just doing a goggle search for “why dove hunting”, brings an ESPN article “Out There: 10 Reasons I Love Dove Hunting”, which just beggars belief and answers a lot of missing link questions.

We were HERE

Well not exactly sure how fast they were driving to make it to Yuma by 3.10, we made it in record time

Yuma is the “worlds” sunniest city (according to an American magazine). But I’m sure Mrs Fogg will geek it out later for y’all.

It is unfortunate to say but there actually is nothing here apart from a “Main Street” that is mainly micro breweries (where we sampled a blond jailbait) and empty stores.

Tomorrow a visit to the “Center of the Earth” (of course it’s in America and a jail.

Oh and Yuma is apparently the “dove” hunting capital of the world, yes you read it right, “dove” hunting. And the season starts 1st September, which explains the monster off road trucks, full of guys with hunting rifles to track down those vicious little killers

One Last Time for the Dove from Above

So, Oatman, 2700 feet above sea level and only founded in 1906. An incredible little slice of history.

By 1931 official records show that the Oatman mining district (which covered a number of mines around the town and hillsides) produced $36,008,000, of which $35,740,000 was gold and the rest silver. Over 5000 people lived and worked in this hot dusty climate where water was initially brought in by burros over the passes.

According to the history of the town, the retirees in 1975 were adamant that there are still rich seams of gold in the hills waiting to be discovered. The mines were all closed and abandoned by 1945 as the second world war took the focus.

1930 view down Main Street with hotel on left:

Present day view with hotel on left:

Interestingly, it was only in the late 1970’s that it was even recognised as a township.

The burros that come into town are descendants of the original mining mules abandoned as the mines closed.

There were even films made here, “How the West Was Won”, Edge of Eternity” to name two

Oh and Clark Gable and Carole Lombard allegedly stopped here for one night on their honeymoon in 1939. Sadly the hotel is now a gift shop but it has preserved the hotel room and has an ace cafe bar which is covered in dollar bills left and signed by visitors.