Western Travel Day 9 and 10, February/March 2016

Tuesday, the 9^th, we had our wheel bearings repacked at Scott’s Welding in Benson (recommended by an RV repair shop that did not do that type of work).  It was a basic shop with owner and one employee and they did excellent work.  We were anxious to get on the road so it seemed to take a long time but in the end, the price was RIGHT (about $100 less than I was quoted at the RV shop in Plano)!

Anyway, we got on the road about 12:30.  Beautiful Southwest scenery along the way on I-10. 

On the East side of Tucson, we got off the interstate and onto Highway 86 which would take us to Why.  Two lane road for about 90 miles, but scenery got even better.

Cactus of all shapes and sizes:

 

And, finally, we get to Why.

Why, AZ was originally named just “Y” because it was at the junction of Highways 85 and 86 and it formed a Y.   Then when the post office came to town, the town name had to be at least 3 letters, so it got changed to Why.

Found our campground, and, while waiting at the office for someone to come and check us in, Judy found several interesting plants.

 No one came to the office to check us in so we drove around the CG and got parked next to several other Hitchhiker RV’ers already there.  Met everyone and had Happy Hour!

On Wednesday we drove (with Jeff and Susan Colllingwood) and the others to a little town about 10 miles north of Why called Ajo.  

Two members of the group had to get haircuts so the rest of us waited outside.

A couple of interesting churches in Ajo - Baptist (this one was closed) and Catholic.

Had lunch at a Mexican Restaurant in town.  Good burgers.

This is a neat little town known for its copper mine.  Not really active more but an interesting place to visit.  Went thru a small museum first.  A lot of memorabilia here.

Around the mine is what is called "The AJO Scenice Loop," an 11mile drive through the heart of the Sonoran Desert.
Couldn't name many of these cacti but Saguaro, Organ Pipe, Hedgehog, Barrel, Prickly Pear and Cholla are abundant as are Ocotillo and Jojoba, Mesquite, Iron Wood, Palo Verde and Elephant trees.

 

 Back to the campground in late afternoon for Happy Hour and then a short talk about traveling in Mexico.  Of the 6 couples going,  2 of us had never been before.  
The next morning we headed out...