January 12 - 13, 1947

January 12, 1947

Left Las Cruces at 7:45 this Sunday morning.  Lovely weather.  Crossed the Continental Divide at 10:00 in western N. Mexico.  Lots of cactus, desert land.  Ate dinner at Safford, Arizona $1.95.  Oleander taller than houses.  Seeing lots of trees and shrubs we never saw before.

Went to Apache Indian reservation.  Took a picture of a few.  We’re supposed to send the picture if it’s any good to Mr. Geo. L Wayne, Globe. Ariz. Gen. Delivery.  He is an Apache Indian that Roy talked to while they (his daughter and wife were with him) waiting to take the bus back to Globe, from the Indian Reservation at San Carlos.  He had been in army and was wearing army clothes (he now worked in copper mines at Globe.) but his wife was dressed typically Indian. 

Saw Coolidge Dam. Stupendous but very little water now.  Oh! the mountainous roads and curves between Globe and Superior.  I almost lost my breath looking into some of those canyons.  Dwane says “keep looking up, and it doesn’t look so bad.”  Came thru a tunnel.  Our engine boiled so we stopped when we got to the top where luckily there was a station, 5,000 ft. elevation.

Hoped to get to Phoenix tonight but got as far as Mesa, by 7:30 and every tourist cabin full so we found a place in a tourist home — a grand place, orange trees lined the driveway $5.00 for a room with 2 single beds, showers etc.

January 13, 1947  Monday 

Had breakfast here too $2.25  Picked some fruit. Left house at 9:45.

Stopped a few minutes in Phoenix — Lots and lots of fruit trees, oranges, lemons, grapefruit, and date palms..  We would have loaded up on fruit had we been on the way home but express about doubles the price.

Irrigation is what makes the place grow.  Now a few miles out of Phoenix and all we see is desert plants again.  saw fields of carrots, head lettuce etc. in edge of Phoenix.

Near Aguilla, Arizona met a man, that looked like the pictures we have seen of “prospectors”.  He had a pack burro so loaded, and he was leading him and carrying a gun.  Rather a bewhiskered old guy.

Yellow daisy-like flower blooming in western Arizona a few kinds of cactus seem to have yellow flowers or buds started.  

Crossed the Colorado River and into California.  Were thoroughly inspected at Blythe.  Had to unload and open all the boxes and suit cases.  Had a few Arizona oranges but that was O.K.

Got to Indio and looked and looked but “no vacancy” in any camp or hotel and then just as we were leaving we discovered one little old cabin, one bed $4.00 but here we are — poorest one we’ve had but glad to get it.