Amado Arizona

Well here we are, finally arrived in the temperature zone we have craved. Today at 2:45 PM in the RV Park at Amado Arizona, it finally reached 83.1 farenheit. Last night it dipped to 45 f which gives you some idea of the temperature extremes in the desert country. We are in the valley of the Santa Cruz River between Tucson and Nogales. This area is one of the most historic in all of the USA. The little arts town of Tubac just south of us is a historic gem, the second oldest settlement in the US (the oldest is Saint Augustine in northern Florida). We have an agenda while we spend the day here. One of my more illustrious ancestors (Lt General Sir William George Holmes) and his wife settled here after WW2, next to the amazing historic mission of Tumacacori just 2 kms south, and the General was involved with the Tubac Arts Council. He apparently was a decent painter himself and he spent his retirement years painting local scenes and subjects.

Pub in Tumacacori

Both he and his wife are interred at the columbarium at St Andrew's Episcopal Church in Nogales so this morning we decided to visit and pay our respects. It was a lovely spot, beside the church.

 Luckily for us a parishioner was watering the meagre landscaping and chatted with us for a few minutes. He told us some of the history of the church and explained why the Santa Cruz River flows north from Mexico. It rises in the mountains of Arizona, then flows south into Mexico and curves around and flows north through the Santa Cruz valley. Eventually it flows into the Gila River, turns westward and ends up in the Colorado. At least it used to. Now the river dribbles into oblivion before even reaching the Gila, a victim of water diversion along its course. Although it looks very unimpressive
,

Santa Cruz river. 

 it has a very high significance to the peopling of this valley by the Hohokam natives hundreds of years ago and has supported agricultural life alongside its banks for the peoples who followed them.

We spent a good hour or two exploring in Tubac. This past weekend was the annual Arts Council Festival and was hopping with activity, but today was quiet and a good time to go seeking for my General. We stopped at the Presidio State Park Museum and talked to the volunteer at the desk. I told him the story and he offered to consult with the local Historical Society and check on any research material that they might have. We then explored the site of the old Presidio and walked the Old Town, and then visited the Arts Council and Gallery...

 Site of Spanish Presidio

Barbara and Molly on the grounds of the Presidio

Below are a few of the buildings in "Old Tubac"

There is still quite a bit of the old Tubac still to be found despite all the commercial attractions for the tourists..

Mexican Pottery for sale

All in all it was a very enjoyable and entertaining day and we really appreciated the chance to unwind and relax and get to stretch our legs.

Tomorrow we are heading up to Tucson for some shopping and visiting the Desert Museum which we missed on the way down. We are also going to follow the mountain drive up the Catalina Mountains and try for some nice photo ops up there. Unfortunately we may not have internet for the next few days, so we won't be able to post those photos right away. Just be patient and you will receive them as soon as possible.