"After half a day near Tucson to get
groceries, do emails by Wi-Fi in a Safeway, and fill with fuel and propane we
set off on the Ajo Highway 86. It was desolate looking dry desert country
through the Tohono O’Odham Nation Reserve. We then turned left down Highway 85
towards the Mexican border at Lukeville. We have “anchored” for four days at
the Twin Peaks Campground that is part of the Organ Pipe Cactus National Park.
It is bare camping – 208 campsites with no water, sewer or electric hook ups
for a very reasonable fee. The campsite is very well planned and constructed
with flat concrete pads. It is less than a quarter full. However it is very
well run by the National Parks service and there is an information center,
talks by Parks Rangers, an organized night moon walk, a free van tour and even
free Wi-Fi at the center. Like Canadian National Parks these US National Parks
are clearly well funded and maintained.
It is very quiet here (apart from the
occasional military jets) and there is plenty of time for hiking, biking,
reading, listening to classical music, playing scrabble and cribbage and
writing! We can still get Canadian News through Shaw Direct TV. We can charge
the 12V batteries with the generator as needed for an hour or so a day.
The Organ Pipe Cactus is unique to this
area of the US although it does occur in Mexico. We decided not to cross the
border but we did drive down to take a look at the high (Trump wall?) fence
that tries to prevent Mexicans crossing at this point. Further along there is
only a vehicle barrier that I think stretches the whole of the Mexican border.
Talking to Rangers and Border Control officers there is little belief that Mr
Trump will be successful in building his wall. On Monday 16th we are
going to be heading north to Ajo.
This is a Saguaro growing inside an Organ Pipe Cactus!
Trumps's wall?
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