Ever since we arrived home from our last trip through NM and CO I've been looking forward to our current trip to Monument Valley and then into the never visited (for us) state of Utah. I guess it's all those old western movies that I watched as a kid that hooked me on the mystic of Monument Valley.
We left Green Valley this AM with Starship Avion in tow and Tipper in the back seat. For once, we got through Phoenix without any problems, however it was Sunday. Usually we seem to hit Phoenix at rush hour. One of the things I love about AZ is that we started in a low desert area (elevation 1800 ft), actually went lower when in Phoenix and then started climbing toward Flagstaff which is over 7000 feet in elevation and in a sub-alpine climatic zone. We have marveled at the Ponderosa Pine and actual hardwood tree's. Such a difference from what we're used to. We are somewhat familiar with Flagstaff, as son Jeff graduated from Northern Arizona University for his undergraduate degree.
I've always liked the story of how Flagstaff got it's name. Back in 1876 a group of pioneers were passing through and on July 4th they camped at a spring in the shadow of the San Francisco Peaks. To celebrate the centennial, they stripped the limbs of a large pine tree and hoisted up Old Glory. The flag staff stood for years and was known as a meeting place. When the town was settled it was decided to call the area what it had been called for years--Flagstaff. The first family of Flagstaff are the Babbits. In 1886 four Babbit brothers gave up the grocery business in Cincinnati, hopped on a train, and landed in Flagstaff. They came west to start a cattle ranch, which they did, however things were not going well on the ranch and their backer suggested that they try a business that they knew something about. They had a sandstone building erected and once again went into the grocery business. That business flourished and they soon expanded into hardware, saddles and harness and other ranch goods, and even operated several trading posts in northeast Arizona. And that cattle ranch?? Well, they managed to hang on to it and finally it prospered. It's still in the Babbit family and they continue to ranch without the assistance of modern machinery. And the original store is still in business. Many of you will remember that Bruce Babbit was govenor of Arizona from 1978 to 1987 and then served as Secretary of the Interior from 1993 to 2001. Quite a story.
We walked around in town, drove the Route 66 portion, and then headed back to the RV park. According to the radio the low temp tonight will be below 40 degree's! Earlier this evening we had a cold rain, but being a desert dweller now I have a new appreciation of rain. New territory tomorrow!!
Top Photo--Home Sweet Home with leaf's.
Bottom Photo--Babbit Brothers store
jmk
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