Tombstone to Yuma--Day 3

We started our day very early because the two time changes in two days has us all thrown off a bit. Since we were up, we all dressed and went for an early breakfast at the OK Cafe. Walking over was our first view of Tombstone since it was after dark when we arrived last night. We were pretty much the only people up, so the streets were deserted. It was a great way to see the streets of Tombstone for the first time. Allen street is the main street and it is closed to all traffic. It's actually an asphalt road, but they have covered it in dirt so you can't tell. This town is remarkably untouched and well preserved. Almost everything here is original. Walking around this morning, you felt like any minute you'd see Wyatt Earp round the corner and come walking down the middle of the street. So, imagine our surprise when we made it to the OK Cafe and there he was having breakfast!! Of course you know Scott asked to take his picture.... Actually, he was a local who works at one of the saloons. He gave us the lowdown on what to see and do. As the day went on and we spent more time here, I realized that most of the locals look like this. They take this very seriously. To them it's not the stuff of movies, but of their community history. Tales they've heard passed down from grandparents and great grandparents. They are quick to point out that it was not like it's portrayed in the movies.

It was only about 7:30 and nothing opened until 9, so we had a leisurely breakfast. Scott had some sort of enourmous breakfast burrito that he had to take a picture of for Nick... After breakfast we wondered around a bit until things started to open. We took a stagecoach tour around the town and they pointed out all the places of interest...where the different Earp brothers lived, where people were shot, mines...all very interesting. The kids just loved the horses and riding in the stagecoach.
We did a little souvenir shopping and headed to Big Nose Kate's Saloon for lunch. Our friend at breakfast had told us to go there. Big Nose Kate was Doc Holliday's (and everyone else's) girlfriend. Apparently they called her Big Nose Kate because she had her nose in everyone's business. Thomas and Scott had them each a Sassparilla.... And Mandy had to have a taste too...
After lunch and more shopping we made our way to the OK Corral (yes, THE OK Corral!!) to watch the daily reenactment of the gunfight. Was it cheesy? Ok yes. BUT......still cool. They do several other goofy skits before they get to the Earp/Clanton shootout and that's what makes it a little cheesy. They do that so that the daily gunfight occurs at exactly 2:30, the same time as the actual one. I had always thought that Wyatt Earp and his brothers were the good guys, but the people of Tombstone paint them just a bit differently, probably more acurately, than the movies. The townspeople are a little more sympathetic to the Clantons and McLaurey's.

Ok..I must confess that it was here during the gunfight portion of our day that we all nearly had a breakdown. You've all seen the movies...Tombstone is smack in the middle of the Arizona desert. There is no shade at the OK corral. The gunfight is 30 minutes long. We were melting..baking actually. As soon as the Clantons fell, we were outta there and headed to the car.

We did stop a few miles outside down to see boothill. Very cool. Very hot. Didn't stay long. Here it is...

The above was one of my favorites..."Here lies ----hanged by mistake. He was right, we wuz wrong, but we strung him up and now he's gone."

After this we booked it to Yuma. We had to stop for water because we were all dehydrated. The kids were very good in the car...of course they were suffering from heat exhaustion. After Scott drank about a gallon of water, and I'd had a choking fit from all desert dust, Scott asked if I had any chapstick as the dry air had made his lips crack open, that Scott declares, "I hate this state." Although I probably wouldn't have chosen such strong wording, I feel I have to agree. I've decided that the people who live out here in the desert have never had the good fortune to travel to other places. They simply don't know that places exist that don't make your skin dry up and flake off and your eyeballs dry out. Thankfully tomorrow we are headed into California where it will be cooler and, God willing, not so dry. Legoland here we come!!

Thomas's Top Five for June 3, 2007

1. "Seeing the rattlesnakes" There was a place in town that had all the native reptiles on display for public viewing.

2. "Going to the gunfight."

3. "I liked seeing the big tall cactus from the car."

4. "When that guy was picking on me in the saloon." They had a guy singing in the saloon and he saw Thomas with is Sassparilla bottle and told the waitress she'd better card him, he didn't look old enough to drink!5. "Seeing the cowboy at breakfast."

Grace's Top Five for June 3, 2007

1. "Eating ice cream" 2. "Riding in the stagecoach."

3. "The rattlesnakes."

4. "The gun show"

5. "The huge hot dog." Strangely enough Saloon's don't have kids menus, so Grace ordered a hot dog off the regular menu and this is what she got....

A few more Tombstone pics.....
There's gold in them thar hills!!!

There are 26 miles of mine tunnels underneath the town of Tombstone.

These signs are up and down the streets letting you know who was gunned down there!

For obvious reasons, I couldn't resist taking a picture of this sign outside one of the shops!

Blessings,

Leslie