The Solstice party site was convenient (just a few blocks to the combined grocery - hardware store) and the view wasn’t bad, but the sites off the Scenic Loop are much more, well, Scenic! So, after a quick dump of waste tanks and fill of the fresh water tank at Belly Acres RV Park, it was back to the desert.
While we loved the “Garden Spot” we’d left a few days ago, there is a site just across the road and through one more wash (dry bed of an intermittent stream aka: arroyo) that we’d been wanting to try.
Driving through "one more wash".
Known as the “Holy Javelina” site because of the rock formation that looks like a Javelina with wings, it had eluded us because it was always occupied.
What do you think?
The Boondocking gods were smiling on us, it was available. The Garden Spot is surrounded by undulating desert, this site has a wonderful rock formation right in your back yard.
With a day to kill before the arts activates this weekend and some great weather, we decided to take a nice long hike.
Here's some pictures...
The green desert.
Looking down on our site (upper left) from the side of Holy Javelina.
Friday evening we went into town for some gallery tours and to check out the mural painters.
Friday evening and Saturday mural pictures later in this post
March 23, 2019
Saturday started with the weekly Farmers Market in the Plaza.
At 10 am we met at the flag pole for a historical tour of the plaza and some behind the scenes access to features that made this a happening place during it's hay day. Our tour guide, Vicky, grew up in Ajo and she painted quite a vivid mental image of the areas past.
There's a coffee shop in the movie theater lobby now, but behind the walls the screen and some of the old seats are still intact. The old projectors are still in the projection booth up above.
The rec. hall is one of their current restoration projects. The murals on either side of the stage were recently painted by 2 local artists, depicting local musicians who have performed here over the years.
Our tour guide, Vicky, then (upper left arrow) and now (lower right arrow).
After the Plaza tour we headed to The Curley School for some more history about the area...
Here's an excerpt from their Website...
The main building, an architectural masterpiece of Spanish Colonial Revival style, was built in 1919. Additional buildings were added to the campus in 1926 and 1937. The Curley School is on the National Register of Historic Places...
The auditorium stage has the unique feature of being viewed from inside...
...or outside.
This was the local high school until 1956.
Looking toward the Plaza from a balcony at the Curley school.
As the day was winding down, we paid another visit to the mural painters to check on their progress.
Here's the Friday night pictures followed by a similar image on Saturday.
Friday night
Saturday
Friday night
Saturday
Friday night
Saturday
March 24, 2019, Sunday
Sunday dawned bright and clear. It was actually warm enough to have breakfast outside for a change. The plan was to move on to our next destination today.
Well, it was such a pretty day and such a pretty setting and we really didn't HAVE to be somewhere... maybe we'd stay just one more day.
Rock art left by previous campers.
March 25, 2019, Monday
OK. Today's the day to head out! Another breakfast with the warm sun and a terrific view. Yea, today's the day... moving on... it's such a beautiful day... well maybe... just one more day...
We found dozens of these spiral seeds inbedded in our screen door. Not sure what they are or where they came from, nature sure is interesting.
March 26, 2019, Tuesday
The running joke this morning was "ONE MORE DAY!".
We really had planned to be somewhere in about a week, we just kept rearranging the itinerary and limiting the time we'd spend in some of the intermediate stops. It really was time to go!
As you can tell, we really enjoyed our time in Ajo and boondocking in the desert south of town. We'll definitely be back!
Coming next, Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge.
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