The community of Amado is located just south of Green Valley and is home of the World Famous Longhorn Grill and Saloon. When approaching the Longhorn entrance, visitors are greeted by Kokopelli, a famous Indian fertility deity typically depicted as a humpbacked flute player. Entrance into the building is through a Longhorn skull - Texas sized. All of the food served in the restaurant is really great, but I would highly recommend the Tri-Tip Sandwich.
After having lunch at the Longhorn we ventured up Greaterville Road to see if we could find any blooming desert plants, but were were about two weeks too early. Since it had been raining off-and-on all day, I just did a short hike down to a mostly dry waterfall where the car was waiting.
I remember one time about 40 years ago we decided to go camping at Madera Canyon for the weekend, but we got a late start on Friday night and did not arrive at the campground until well after dark. When we arrived, the campground was full; but the ranger told us that we could camp in an overflow area down by a stream that runs through the Canyon. That night skunks kept running around our tend trailer, so it was difficult trying to get any sleep.
The next morning I put a rope swing in a large tree so the kids could swing out over the creek; but when Randy jumped on the swing from the creek bank, the rope broke, sending him crashing into the creek below. Fortunately, he did not get hurt, so we decided to hike along the creek and look for birds. We had not traveled too far when we ran into some Poison Ivy and everyone started scratching their legs and arms. We concluded that we were not supposed to be camping that weekend, so we packed up our gear and went home and soaked in our swimming pool for the rest of the weekend. (I did purchase a 1/2 inch diameter rope for the swing, so the rope never broke again!)
On this visit I hiked along the creek, but stayed away from the Poison Ivy. It was raining and cold, so I did not see a lot of birds, but I did see a deer that did not object to having his picture taken.
On our way to Tucson we stopped by the Walden Green Valley Pecan Company outlet store to purchase some pecans. At 7,000 acres, the pecan orchard is the largest of its kind in the world. Each year enough pecans are harvested at the farm to circle the world twice, if the pecans were laid end-to-end.
I bought a bag of Chocolate Camelbacks (pecans covered with caramel and chocolate) and ate them all right away because I wanted to stay healthy. It said on the bag that "naturally-occurring antioxidants in pecans may help contribute to heart health and disease prevention, according to a study published in The Journal of Nutrition." I also learned from their literature that "Antioxidants support a strong immune system, heart health, and healthy neurological functions. Researchers at Loma Linda University discovered that after eating pecans, gamma-tocopherols (a form of the antioxidant Vitamin E) doubled in their test subjects and supported healthy cholesterol levels. Pecans have more antioxidants than an other tree nut, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Using a method called Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC), researchers analyzed 277 different foods and found that pecans ranked highest among all nuts in antioxidant capacity." Their literature goes on to state: "Pecans May Provide Neurological Protection. Research published in Current Topics in Nutraceutical Research suggests that pecans may play a role in protecting the nervous system. The study, conducted at the Center for Cellular Neurobiology at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, demonstrates that pecans likely contributed to a delay in the progression of age-related motor neuron degeneration in mice. Researchers say the antioxidants in pecans are probably the reason for this positive sign." Therefore, I bought a second bag of chocolate covered pecans and devoured them also. Now I should be healthy for at least the rest of this year.
When we arrived in Tucson we stopped by to see Nic and Miranda's new house, which has great views of the Santa Catalina Mountains. The view is especially beautiful as the sun sets in the west.
On our drive to Mesa we did a side trip and went by the former General Motors Desert Proving Ground site where I worked for a number of years. In the 1970s the Proving Ground was just across Ellsworth Road from Williams Air Force Base, which was a long way from town. Williams AFB is now a municipal airport and the Proving Ground is being developed as a Master Planned development called Eastmark.
Looking North across the Proving Ground (historic picture).
Currently, looking north at the corner of Ray and Ellsworth Roads.
Looking southeast at Elliot and Ellsworth Roads.
Looking northwest at Elliot and Ellsworth Roads (new hospital).
Looking west from the Proving Ground land toward historic Williams AFB.
Looking northeast where the historic GM buildings were located.
BONUS HISTORICAL PICTURES
Me and my older brother Jerry doing the farm chores.
Me and my dog Blackie. Actually, Jerry said that Blackie was his dog because he got the dog before I was even born. However, Blackie liked me better, so I considered him to be my dog.
Blackie was really smart. I trained him to do tricks for Grandpa Welty and my cousin Bill Welty. Bill lived in California, but Grandpa Welty lived with us, so sometimes after the War ended relatives would come by to see Grandpa.
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