Benson, Arizona - Kartchner Caverns Arizona State Park

Feb. 4, 2009 (Wednesday)
On our way to Kartchner Caverns! One of my favorite places that we happened upon 2 years ago on our SW Tour. Got there about 4:30, office was closed so drove on over to the campground. Found an empty site, #37, the last pull-through! Park is pretty full. Self-pay is cash only so we told the camp host that we’d go to office and pay tomorrow.

Feb. 5, 2009 (Thursday)
Bought 10:45am The Big Room tour ($46 for 2) for the caverns. It is wonderful the amount of time and trouble that the state took to keep any human interaction with the caverns to a minimal, if any, damage to the cavern living eco. The Big Room was a wonderful tour but we both liked the Rotunda/Throne Rooms tour better. The finale of it was a beautiful lights and music program where the Big Room was “we hope you enjoyed the tour”.
Lunch then off to see Tombstone again. Our last trip there I had a migraine so was not able to really enjoy it. We roamed through a few gift shops (there are plenty there!) and we were both hungry for pizza so went back to Big Nose Kate’s for dinner. Drove up to Benson to restock our food supply at Wal-mart and refuel the truck.
Shame on us! We didn't take any pictures this leg of the trip!

Tombstone, Arizona

Happy Birthday Gary!

Enjoying Tombstone!

Bruce's Tourist Shot

Today we made a trip to Tombstone for a nice relaxing day. It’s about 15 minutes SW of where we are so it was a nice, short drive.  Tombstone has closed off the main street, Allen St, and laid down dirt so that it looked like it did way back when. Most of the buildings were souvenir shops and all had about the same thing. Had a Bank of America so we went in and paid our credit card bill. Had lunch at Big Nose Kate’s Saloon and took some tourists type pictures.  We did a little more walking around then went to find the Post Office to mail Gary’s BD card and a couple of post cards. Had tolerated a bad headache all day which was not getting any better so was ready to go back and see if a little relaxation could get rid of it. Decided to take a couple of shots of liquid pain killer, Tequila, which helped very quickly. We sat outside and enjoyed the sun and warmer weather, about 73 degrees, then fixed supper, watched some TV, worked some Soduko puzzles then to bed.
Update on Dad’s hand, he had to be transferred to another local hospital for surgery - debridement. Not sure why that could not be done at the hospital he is at so called and left a message for a friend that is the QI Director to please check it out – crazy things are happening at what was once a great little hospital.