This week we made what were probably our last two ATV rides of the season here in the Sierra Vista Area.
On Sunday we drove out to the Empire Ranch with Jerry and Vicki and Pat and Charlie Schaffer. We cruised through expanses of grassland spotted with mesquite trees. We saw a lot of cattle, a couple of red winged hawks, sort of following a string of Cottonwood trees clinging to the creek that comes down for miles from the I 10.
Pat, Vicky and Ellen during a break on our ride
Our destination was 'The Narrows' , a lowland spot of water and lush trees where all the slopes and small mountains come down to the same spot. We had a long lunch there by the creek--two and a half hours--before heading back. It was a nice warm day, with a refreshing breeze all day.
On the way back we pulled into the actual Empire Ranch complex, which is being restored. This ranch began in the 1870s and was a modest operation until silver was found on the property. Big things happened, and the ranch grew to over a million acres! It is still a working ranch, but most of the land has been appropriated by the government. I guess in the 40s and 50s, movie stars including John Wayne made their way out here.
Ellen at the Empire Ranch
Tuesday we met up with Jim Pearce and Beth Manuel for breakfast at the Lone Star Cafe in Hereford, before heading out to the Coronado National Monument south west of Sierra Vista. This was probably one of the prettiest rides we have been on, climbing switchbacks to the Montezuma Pass, atop the mountain, manned with a bevy of Border Patrol trucks, and a special electronic radar/tracking camera atop a Ford F 550.
Border Patrol Recon
We rode down the Mexico side of the mountain into the San Rafael Valley, making our way to the border. We rode along the iron rail fence for several miles, finding a huge alligator pine tree that was hollowed and burned out. Jim said this was used as a shelter by illegals.
a shelter from the elements near the border
We turned north again and headed for Parker Canyon Lake for lunch. The lake was pretty and quiet, created by a small dam some 50 years ago. We had a nice lunch, good conversation, before heading back to the Monument. After loading the ATVs onto the trailers, we had a soup and sandwich before parting company.
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