Family Time & A Blast In Tombstone.

         I wish to continue to thank everyone for there support of this page!   It is my third such blog page-and although I would like to say I have learned some things along the way--you can't always teach old dogs new tricks.   My mother and past English teachers cringe collectively every time I publish a new blog post I am sure.   At some point this page will continue to take us and than you the reader across this entire great state.   But our funding at the moment hardly allows us to actually eat some weeks.  We have lived and Explored many areas of the state in the past, including Sedona and Flagstaff, but I wish to keep my posts as new and fresh as possible.   So I do not add this trips here.  Years ago we lived in Florence, Queen Creek, Flagstaff, and Kingman.  But again I really do not want these older trips in my new page.   Many of these areas I hope to visit again-with the exception of Kingman.   I have lived a lot of places, and consider this the worse place we/I have ever lived.  In fact we now call the area -the Devil's Crotch.  If you do not understand, you have never lived or been through the area.  In fact while we lived there my sister was going on a major hike in nearby Sedona--and would not come to visit us in Kingman, just because of all the bad things she had heard about the area.   I had said none of these bad things.   So as I have said before--the trips and Exploring for now are very local to were we now live.  If you would like to read something more thrilling and would like to increase our finances---please contact me today!  ;)

                                       Myself at the first Starbucks ever in Seattle, WA

      Today I ventured clear up to the Benson McDonald's for coffee and free Wi-Fi.   I believe I have complained about this before, but the area has no good coffee joints and basically no places  with free Internet.   We have Wi-Fi through our whole house, and a laptop that greatly enjoys the hanging out on the couch on our front car port.  But a greater part of my past blogs have been written while out, and guzzling coffee.   Maybe I am just spoiled from living in Washington for so long.   Were there is a new --great coffee joint about every five feet.   Littearly.   Several of my entire past blogs, were just ranking local coffee joints in Washington.  And I must say it was a ruff job!   I have passed a few nearby--in Bisbee and such that look great, but have not had the time to stop on those days.  So far at least in Benson, and Tucson AZ I have been majorly disappointed.   One Starbucks worker did not even know what a "drip" coffee was!   Anyways I hope a full post comes soon of decent local places to have coffee--but not today.    I will stop rambling and or complaining for today--and git on with the actual post!   Which finds us once again in Tombstone, AZ. 

Tombstone, AZ

I have not yet tried the coffee or atmosphere here-but how could one go wrong!??

Coffee, beer, Wyatt Earp, AND Tombstone!



I have said it before-but this town has one of the best slogans, EVER!

    We find ourselves in Tombstone quite a bit.   And it is always a blast!   The town is close and if you plan things right, it does not cost to much to visit.  We have already done all the touristy expensive stuff.  PLEASE roam through my old posts on this very page for much more on Tombstone!!   Just after Christmas my sister came through for a visit.   She had never meet my beautiful wife or our children before.   I live in a very close family-for sure, in writing.   We all seem to constantly circle the globe --always keeping several miles and states apart.   A few summers ago was the first time myself and my two brothers were in the same location in 20+ years!   We quickly decided on Tombstone being a great place for her to sight see. 

My cool sister & I.

     The town was still decked out in it's Christmas best.  And just down from this spot-many free events were going on.   From public hangings to gun fights. 

Even the wild life was in the spirit!

I have many pictures of this great building.

The old courthouse and the smallest national park in the US.

Every time we go to the town I snap more pictures of the landmark. 



   On this visit the kids found an indoor shooting range of sorts.   I would rather be out shooting glass bottles -but that is not an option at the moment for us.  I think the oldest two had fun-although I kept trying to get them to aim for the ceiling lights. 

Such concentration.

Than it was time again to visit Boot Hill and the cemetery. 

Again I have several past posts from this amazing little town.

Please check them out and share the links!!

After all of that shooting and Exploring it was time for a big meal

back in Benson  at Denny's!

Group shot after we ate--and had overly full bellies!

Food is good!

Today's un-official official spotlight local business goes to Denny's

Each post I try to pick a business that goes above and beyond in customer service.

The place does not sponsor or pay me to promote them--and probably does not even know about my recommendations.  

It seems that finding even good service is so rare---that I wish to promote any great service we see.

This does not just go to the local Denny's   but every one we have visited in our travels.   When most places cut back food portions--they always give you a full plate of food--quickly and across the country it consistly tastes the same.  Plus there building makes for a great back drop for pictures!

**If you live in the Benson area---all kiddos go back to school tomorrow--Monday --morning!

Just in case your kids destroyed that memo

And all the local parents rejoice!**

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                 http://wyomingjack.blogspot.com/


           **My second blog series has some of my best personal pictures and lots of                     Exploring!**     
                                Please take a look around.

http://exploreb-ham.blogspot.com/


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Exploring with Wyoming Jack/Bobble Head

Hike Rank 101

            Now that we are finally starting to get out of the house and enjoy some actual hikes, I feel I need to re post this.   It has been in my other blog series a few times.   And is my own rating scale for hikes.   I have been very lacks on going on any kind of hike lately.  Partially because of how hot it has been outside, my recent surgery, and just plane laziness.   I have been on many a crazy but fun filled hike in my past.   And I realize three things here.  1.)   I do not like trails---people have already been were they lead, and they become easily boring for me.   With cross country travel soon taking over.   *Not as much so in Arizona, because of my huge fear of snakes. *  2.) I have read many hike books, and entries online--and two things are usually not clear.   How to get to the actual trail.  And how tough the trail actually is.    And 3.)  I am used to trails in Washington and Oregon.   Trails in Arizona are a whole new ball game. 

         This is my own way to rank hikes.  With my own flair, if you wish.  If the ideas or wording tick you off, even better!  My hike postings will go by this ranking system.   And will include practical information on that area.  Like how rough the roads getting into the hike, how hard it is to find the trails, etc.  


Following is my ranking scale for how difficult a hike is.
   I can not draw anything, even my cows are stick figures.   So the badge or picture for each you will have to imagine from my descriptions below.  

 Rank 1-4  = Extra Easy             Fresco Kid would rank it two thumbs down.    He will be forever known as a friend that hated anything close to a hike.  And is quoted as saying-- "Why go way up their, it will look the same as down here, just with being able to see the tops of trees!"      
Picture---  A large Sprawl Mart parking lot

   Rank 5-8 = Easy       Porkchop Approved! *Largish friend of ours that went on a lot of hikes, but was known to disappear, and than be found on the trail rolled up in the fetal position*    One thumb down    
 Picture--- Large fat man holding a hoagie, licking lips, twinkle in his eyes.

   Rank 9-12  = No Bigguns!!      Picture--- Bigger dude looking up the trail.  Wiping forehead just from thinking about the hike.

   Rank 13-15.5 =  4 X4 Zone     Mostly off trail and uphill    Picture--  Trail straight up with a huge X through it.

   Extra supplies needed.     Long trail    easy to get lost area            Picture---  Hungry Man box

   Rank 16-19 = Y?      Lost trail for hours   found again  than realizes been following a deer trail all day
  Picture---   ???

  Rank 20-22 = Like Wow      Billy Goat Gump approved.  This boy can run up a trail backwards while you are panting.      Picture--- A billy goat placing flag at top of a mountain.  On back legs, shinning gold teeth showing.

  Rank 23-25 = Xtra Crazy    Mark and I approved       Picture--- Stick figure falling off a major cliff--spread eagle.   A falling pack and gear falling just behind the hiker.

   Rank 26-27 = Wha!?    Special Warnings    Not approved by or for anyone

   Rank 28-30 = Forget it!  Should give up before you try.     Picture---Two hikers standing before a trail that goes straight up.

   Rank 31-33 = F  It!                No Comment    Picture--- Person in hospital bed-leg and arm in cast with only middle finger showing.  Bandaged head.

   Watch Feet----   Snakes/slugs/poo and or other obstacles on the trail.      Picture---A large boot print in the dirt  huge squisehed Banana Slug in the middle.



Our truck is 80 miles that way, yo!
Kingman AZ

 

Sneaker waves are bad!



<>

<Bellingham WA

I have been on many a great hike.  And trails seem to become boring very soon after finding one.  Mostly because following a trail usually means some one else has been were the trail leads.  Because of this I have been on some crazy cross country hikes, that usually result in being lost for hours and seem to be mostly up hill.   If any of these hikes had been filmed-I probably would be very rich right now.  And 9 times out of 8, I manage to accomplish the entire trail with near perfect balance, until in the parking lot were the vehicle is parked.  That could be anything from a pickup to an ambulance.  Falling down in a flat parking lot is amusing but brings us to another topic all together.....    Unfortunately for many city dwellers the entire planet is not yet paved for your walking enjoyment.   This thought wave started years ago, in the outside plant area of an Oregon Wall-Mart.   Were thinking is optional for customers and workers alike ~Always!   A lady was looking at the trees for sale, and apparently fell down on a loose decorative pebble that strayed into the parking lot.  No one  saw the accident, but she wanted to seem very hurt because Wall Mart's pockets are thick.   She limped inside with our manager, to fill out paperwork.   And we, as bored workers, paid by the hour went to examine the accident area.   One of my co -workers tried to re-in act and overact the scene.  Resulting in him flopping around on the ground, holding his leg while I started to outline his twitching body in a chalk outline on the ground.  We looked up to see the manager with the downed shopper, coming our way to take the rock in as evidence and jumped off the ground. 

Bellingham, WA



Bellingham, WA




Sedona, AZ

 




Kingman, AZ



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If you live in or near wonderful Benson PLEASE check out our new project

 We have 300+ books at our house and wish to start a take a book, leave a book project.

LOTS of amazing titles--changing daily.

We even have a list--were you can request certain books. 

Help us make this something great for all of our neighbors! 

Check it out personally by dropping by our book cases on the car port of 759 Mcneil street

just behind the lower Circle K

 OR   check out the list of our books  right now

at:

April's give and take

It really is a huge list     help us help it grow  

April's give and take!!

Thank you

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MY blog rundown
Some of my better pictures end up here: http://exploreb-ham.blogspot.com/
My newest page all about Arizona and what it has to offer everyone! http://exarizonagobensonbobcats.blogspot.com/
My longest running blog series. Full of random rambling, Exploring, jokes, rants, and of course coffee love! http://wyomingjack.blogspot.com/

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Exploring with Wyoming Jack/Bobble Head

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at pontos62or@yahoo.com   for more information ;)