Tombstone

Got an early start today and drove to Tombstone. It's about 225 miles from here, but the speed limit is mostly 75 mph except through Tucson where it was 65. Nice sunny day, but Tucson and south are in a mountain valley so higher elevation than here. As a result it was cooler further south, about 55 F in the early morning climbing to about 62 by early afternoon. Talk about your old west towns, this is it. They do a great job of both preserving the historic aspect and creating a good visitor experience. Lots of souvenier opportunities too. They have gunfights, stagecoach rides, history, tours, etc. They have lots of locals dressed in period costumes and wandering about, something like Barkerville. We went on a narrated stage coach ride that was very interesting. For example Doc Holliday never had a house, he just gambled, drank and chased soiled doves. LOL, a role model for all men! Went to the old court house [a museum] & got the story on the shoot out at the OK Corral [went there to]. The Earps were charged with murder, but were acquited. Their shoot out with the Laury/Clantons did happen, but it was in the alley behind the corral and then hollywood spruced it up. The gunfight only lasted 30 seconds & they were only about 30 feet apart. Both of the Laurys had their horses and tried shooting from behind them. They all had pistols except Doc Holliday used a greener [10 guage shotgun]. There were even pictures of everyone involved [some dead]. Tombstone was a rich silver & copper mining town and had a photographer in the late 1800's. There was even some memorabilia that actually belonged to the Earps & Doc Holliday. There were gallows there and sheriff badges, Earps did not have a star shaped badge, it was circular. Had lunch in the Crystal Palace Saloon. A great long bar, saloon girls, lots of noisy beer drinkers, great atmosphere. When we were leaving we stopped at Boot Hill. The guys killed at the OK corral shoot out are actually buried there as well as a bunch of others, including a large number of unknowns [drifters I guess]. Really cool place. Some of the tombstones are interesting as they say shot by so & so or killed by indians, etc. None of the Earps nor Holliday died in Tombstone as they left right after being cleared in the shootout and never returned. Driving back to the I10 Marg stopped at a grove and bought pecans & pistachios, I think they grew both right there. On the drive back we saw a really interesting road kill, a javelina was on the shoulder of the road and I have never seen one of them before. Fairly late in the day when we got back and we were tired. What a great day!