Not Much Beats A Dirt Road. Back By The Thing

       I have greatly been slacking from this very Exploring blog page that I so enjoy.  But I have been busy Exploring and collecting tons of pictures.  Especially last weekend.  July was an extra terrible month for me on all levels.   I had a rental car and just wanted to drive.   I kind of treated the weekend as a retreat from it all.   And took a mini road trip each day.   An escape until back to reality on Monday with the mechanic shop, and car dealerships, and financial institutions all wanting my money.   Here is one of the mini trips for your enjoyment.  

      I have been just up the road to The Thing before in the past---in fact there is a full blog post about it all.   From Saint David Arizona you take the highway, I 10 a short distance heading towards El Paso.    A huge gas station -turned tourist trap awaits.   Full of sale items beyond the normal Pepsi, Ding Dongs, and beef jerky.   You can even buy fireworks year round.  Although they are always highly illegal in Arizona.   There is also a museum -wandering through the multiple buildings out behind the gas station   Leading up to The Thing   a mutant -well Thing.   Like many cases I was way more impressed with it all than the kiddos the first time I went.   Now they are changing the museum and what The Thing is---so you can not go out back and Explore the buildings   and Things.   Hopefully the price to view it all will still remain one dollar!   It does not seem like much ---but when you figure all of the tourists I am sure the owner eats well just off his Thing. 

Like looking in a mirror.  ;)

I believe the new Thing is argued to be something between an alien and a dinosaur.  

Best restroom signs around!

Just down from the homestead in ST David.

Rest area just down I-10

Full of these huge rocks.  

And signs saying how illegal it is to deface the rocks. 

Spray paint---Illegal!

Greeted to this rest area  by green water.   

I am actually parked in the space over from the DPS parking.

Since the tourist trap is always open and it was nearing sunset

I found some back roads to Explore!

Kind of a surprising find in the middle of the desert.

But not the Thing!

Back at the homestead.

And no I am not drinking the Thing!

Next post some more much needed Exploring in Sierra Vista!

Where I was supposedly supposed to watch out for bears. 

This post is dedicated to our now DOA Exploring vehicle.  

It loved the road almost as much as I do.  

And died way to soon-- mainly because we are still making payments on it. 

I wish I knew what Thing was broke.  

RIP