Sunday Nov 6, 2022 - Bisbee to Chiricahua National Monument

 

We are doing a two night, three day camping trip with our friends Dave & Deb N (and their dog Benny) who have a camper, and our friend Carmen who has a toy hauler to Chiricahua National Monument. Deb and I have been to Bonita Canyon Campground, (the only campground in the National Monument) there once in a tent and once with a borrowed teardrop camper (thanks again to Dave & Lisa).  This is the first trip in the van where we will be cooking outside and will be rotating cooking with our friends. Carmen had a two burner propane stove which she inherited and she gave to us. It was made by Sears & Roebuck, so it might be pretty old, but it worked great. Looks just like a Coleman, uses 1lb propane cylinders, two burner, etc.

It is only 1 1/2 hrs away so we had a leisurely morning and made it to the campsite by noon time. They both convoyed up and got there soon after we did. We grabbed the smallest site since our van is smaller. These folks are pros so they were setup in no time. You can build fires only in the barbecue grill thingie but that was nice, because as soon as the sun goes down, that big clear sky sucks the heat out of you here in the west. We went on a hike to the Faraway Ranch a mile or two away and it was nice with soft meadows, lots of deer and wild turkeys. The ranger said deer season had started so the deer were smart enough to stay in the park where there is no hunting.

Deb N & Dave did the cooking the first night with a nice potato soup and corn bread, and everybody brought snacks and desserts so no shortage of good things to eat. Then Deb V and Milo taught everyone how to play Up and Down the River and we had a fun night. We all turned in for the night ready to hike the next day.