February 11, 2021 Revisiting Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
Ajo Heights RV Park Day 4
The coyotes were having a party last night here in Ajo!
I started my day with a walk down the main road. I was chatting with my mom on the phone when I saw 4 javelina on the sidewalk at the Family Dollar Store. They jogged across the parking lot and regathered at the ice cream parlor. We spent more than 24 hours in the desert. We saw a bunny and some lizards. Here in town, I have seen a coyote and the javelina. It makes me wonder if the people here in town are as enchanted by the desert critters as we are. The animals probably have more to eat here and there could be a couple of retirees feeding them as well.
We went to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument to explore. We stopped at the Visitor Center to plan our adventure.
We took Puerto Blanco Drive. This road eventually connects to the backroad entrance that we found yesterday. It would have been a 65-mile journey and we wanted to see the rest of the park.
We drove all the way to the end of 85 to the Lukeville Border Crossing. This looks very different than it did when we were here two years ago. It is much more formal and there is a huge x-ray machine for cars, RVs and trucks. The border wall WAS a 15-foot fence with barbed wire at the top. It went on for a few miles and then there were concrete bollards to prevent cars from driving over. Lastly, it faded to nothing. NOW the new wall goes on as far as the eye can see. We wanted to ask if people are climbing this new 30-foot steel wall with concrete reinforcement. There are lights and cameras in place at intervals as well. There were lots of border patrol officers cruising through the park and along the highway. There were also officers out on ATVs. Much of the road along the border is closed to ordinary vehicles, citing safety concerns. There is still a lot of construction equipment here and we have seen work trucks in the campgrounds. They must still be working on a portion of the wall.
We were able to go a short distance on Camino de Dos Republicas. The road leads to an old line camp. This is where you are able to approach the wall. We could hear chickens and roosters and Latina music coming from the other side, from Mexico.
We took the 21-mile scenic loop. We have been here before and I loved it the first time. You can forget just how beautiful a place really is. It was just as breathtaking today. Today I felt overwhelmed and awed by the magnificence of this green desert.
This is an organ pipe cactus named thusly because someone thought it looked like organ pipes. This National Monument protects and preserves the northernmost range of this cactus. They grow commonly in Mexico but they are very rare here in the United States. They like to grow in the rocks that have tumbled down from the mountains over the ages, in the bajadas or the feet of the mountains. They prefer the southern slopes where they can get the best Arizona sunshine. They flower in May, lavender and white flowers that bloom only at night. The blossoms close during the day to protect the cactus from additional moisture loss.
We had our lunch along a wash. In this wash, the Hohokam people planted beans, squash, and corn 12,000 years ago. They organized a complex system of dams and irrigation ditches and were able to produce crops with just 4 inches of rain in a season. Later, the Tohono O’odham practiced similar dry farming methods.
More scenery.
The last gravel road, Alamo Canyon Road, took us to a primitive campground in a gorgeous setting. Someday, we can return with our Jeep tent and spend the night.
This evening I went out to get some firewood, more purified water, and carryout from Arriba Mexican Restaurant.
Tim fixed my flat tire…another cactus thorn!
We have quickly passed through Ajo on two other trips. I am glad that this time we chose to stay.
