THE ARIZONA BUCKET LIST

WE’VE SPENT THE LAST 15 YEARS IN ARIZONA, AND IN THOSE YEARS WE’VE STOPPED AT THE ATTRACTIONS ALONG THE I-40, THE PAINTED DESERT, PETRIFIED FOREST, METEOR CRATER, AND THE GRAND CANYON, BUT WE STILL HAVE AN ARIZONA BUCKET LIST OF PLACES TO VISIT AND THINGS TO SEE, AND THAT’S WHAT THIS WEEK-END ROADTRIP IS ALL ABOUT.

The flag of Arizona consists of 13 rays of red and weld-yellow on the top half, the colors of the flag of Spain, representing the 13 original states. The red and yellow also symbolize Arizona's picturesque sunsets. The copper star represents the copper mining industry in Arizona. The rest of the flag is colored blue, representing the Colorado River.

YUP, IN ARIZONA COPPER IS KING. TODAY, ARIZONA STILL PRODUCES 60% OF THE NATIONS COPPER.

OUR FIRST STOP OF THE DAY WAS A COPPER MUSEUM IN CLARKDALE, AZ.

THE COLLECTION OF ITEMS MADE OUT OF COPPER WAS UNENDING AND THE COLLECTION IS HOUSED IN AN OLD HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING, WHICH WAS ALSO VERY COOL.

ON TO JEROME, KNOWN AS THE BILLION DOLLAR COPPER CAMP. LIKE MANY OLD MINING TOWNS THIS WAS BUILT ON THE SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN. IN THE BOOM YEARS THE POPULATION WAS 15,000 AND AFTER THE COPPER PLAYED OUT IT BECAME A GHOST TOWN OF 100. TODAY THE OLD BUILDINGS HOUSE THE ART GALLERIES AND BIKER BARS, POPULATION 500. WE STAYED AT THE GHOST CITY INN BED AND BREAKFAST.

IN THE AMERICANA ROOM.

WHEN WE FIRST HIT TOWN WE TOURED AN ADOBE MINE OWNER’S MANSION, THE DOUGLAS HOUSE. IN THE PEAK OF THE COPPER BOOM HE WAS MAKING A MILLION DOLLARS A MONTH.

THAT’S IT !! ENOUGH OF THE TOURIST SHIT !! MARY, PARK ME ON A BAR STOOL AT THE SPIRIT ROOM IN THE CONNER HOTEL. A COUPLE OF BEERS LATER DAVE AND CINDY SHOWED UP, AND SHORTLY AFTER THAT A LIVE 5 PIECE BAND WITH TWO FEMALE SINGERS. A SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND IT’S SHOULDER TO SHOULDER, THE PLACE IS JUMP’IN !!!

DRINKING, DINNER, AND VISITING WITH DAVE AND CINDY MADE FOR A PERFECT AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THANKS FOR THE GREAT TIME!

TUNE INTO THE NEXT BLOG, REX GOES TO CHURCH?