On the road to Why we passed through the town of Gila Bend. Situated at the junction of AZ 85 and I 8, this town boasts several restaurants and fast food places, two $ stores, and 4 our fueling stations including a Love’s truck stop.
The town of Ajo (Ah-ho) consists of several small businesses including a half dozen places to buy Mexican insurance,
and (you have to love this) Jeb’s Auto Repair and Gift Shop,
and a spruced up downtown tourist area
with lots of murals.
Our turnaround point was Why, population 116. This gas station is the main part of Why. The rest consists of a few scattered houses and two rv parks. A few miles south of Why is the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument which continues south for about 25 miles to the Mexican border.
We didn’t stop here. We pulled in, turned around, and headed north back to Ajo,
where we did stop—at this little place for lunch.
The patio seating area (left behind the building in the pic above), is about as small as the indoor seating area. Just after we arrived the place filled up inside and out. We enjoyed our burgers and fries, and continued north for home.
We made two more stops before we arrived home. The first was at this border patrol station where we were sniffed, asked what nationality we were, and waved on our way with a smile. The second was to refuel the bike.
Other interesting things we experienced included riding across the historic long truss bridge Gillespie Dam Bridge. The bridge was opened to traffic in 1927. It cost $320,000 (in 2007 it would have cost $3,950,000). At the time it was the longest highway bridge in AZ. The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.
The only wildlife we saw was this field full of white egrets
and this coyote which was wandering around the parking lot in Why.
Time to get back to work.
Louise and Duane
No comments:
Post a Comment