I'm You're Huckleberry...Jul 17, 2011 |
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| June, 2011 I left out of Palestine, Texas on the 26th of June with an ultimate destination of San Diego, California. I had been transferred from the US Naval Academy to ACU-1 located on Coronado Island. I was anxious to check in, but I had one stop, that one stop that you just have to make in order to make that long 3,000 mile trip worth while... Yes, Tombstone, Arizona. The queen of the boom towns. The town that was and still is "too tough to die." Without going into too much detail (because if you're reading this, I want you to have your own Tombstone experience), I have to tell you, this little town in Southern Arizona can take you back to the 1880's in the blink of an eye. For my two day tenure in Tombstone, I pulled the Independence into Stampede RV Park. Owned and operated by Moe & Sue Sinsley, this park, located at the end of town on Allen Street, minutes, actually about 3 minutes walking from all the sights, was the perfect home away from home. Home cooked breakfasts, consistent history lessons and company, the personal time taken on each of their guest, the cleanliness of the park, what else could one want? Moe and Sue and their hospitality, are hands down, second to none! After checking in on the night of the 27th, I got settled in and was too excited to sleep. The morning came quick as the sun broke through those mountains at about 4:30 am. So I got up, got dressed, you guessed it, boots, spurs, jeans, hat, and my trusty old .44 on my side. I was living that childhood dream as a cowboy. I walked across the lot to Moe and Sue's kitchen, had a hearty and filling plate of biscuits and gravy, a perfect cup of coffee, got all the information I could and got ready to head out. As you walk out of the park, you see the Cochise County Courthouse to your right, and straight ahead, on Allen Street, just about 3 blocks, time unfolds and you become part of history. Passing the OK Corral to your left, Big Nose Kates Saloon on your right, to the intersection at 5th and Allen where Virgil Earp was shot outside the Chrystal Palace and Morgan was murdered just two doors down. Seeing the re-enactments of that famous battle, Wyatt, Morgan, Virgil and Doc, still walking those streets today... Shop owners are friendly and courteous. Everybody knows everybody, and everybody treats you like a friend. Small town atmosphere with the hustle and bustle of the 1880's. Kids have their Disney Land dreams, I was living mine. My first day in Tombstone consisted of all the gun fights, purchasing (and wearing) the clothes of the times, visiting the Bird Cage Theater (if you don't believe in ghosts, just go there, you'll believe!), taking the trolley tour, meeting everybody I could and having that nice cold beer at the Crystal Palace at the end of the day with a hearty chicken fried steak dinner to conclude day one. On that second day, I continued to move about town and meet everybody I could because it reminded me of my small hometown back in East Texas. I left out early on the 30th because I did have to return to reality and continue heading West. I'll be back in Tombstone, I'll re-visit my "Disney Land", this time with my daughter. I really can't say enough about Tombstone, The Stampede or Moe and Sue. If you're crossing Arizona, make that extra 30 mile trip of Interstate 10, visit Tombstone, trust me, its worth it! |
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