3/15-3/16, 2026

 

3/15/2026 After leaving the canyon campground, we took the scenic drive.  

Then we headed to Safford, AZ where they have several medical facilities.  I opted to go to the emergency room because of insurance.  My tick bite is not better, and several people recommended that I should see another physician.  After he consulted the CDC protocol for tick bites, he ordered a script for Doxycycline.  I am continuing the antiviral, too, since the vesicles do look similar to shingles.  While I spent a couple of hours in ER, Ron did the grocery shopping and a pump out.  Following that, we did our much needed laundry.  (each washer-$7.00  very expensive).

To finish our very busy day, we followed the Coronado Trail to a tiny campground (5  sites) at 7200 feet.   The trail has over 400 switchbacks, high climbs and steep drop-offs (but it is paved).  Mining is a big operation there  The Morenci mine covers a number of miles with some huge mining trucks. This mine is North America's leading open-pit copper mine. It began as an underground mine in the 1870s and transitioned to open-pit mining in 1939.