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John H. in his enhanced K2500 Chevy and Matt R. in his stock Suburban (a possible replacement for the legendary Free Willy?) came from Tucson. We stopped for a chicken-fried steak and egg breakfast at the Horseshoe Cafe in Benson. We stopped for gas and ice in Wilcox. Then we stopped again to visit with the sheriff on the Ft. Grant Road just south of Bonita. (Who ever saw a speed trap on a dirt road?) Finally, we met up with John W. and Skip B. in the "Weenie Blazer" at Bonita and headed for Klondyke.
We spent the afternoon driving up various canyons on the West side of the Santa Teresas. First we went up Laurel Canyon to the Grand Reef Mine. That is one of the more scenic mine entrances that I've seen. Then after passing through Aravaipa we went up Williamson Canyon to the Head Center Mine and the Sin Fin Mine. The highlight of that canyon was stopping to look at the '48 Ford flatbed truck partially buried in the streambed. Then we looped around into Tule Canyon which had the best vegetation of the three.
There wasn't enough day left to explore the canyons and roads on the East side of the Santa Teresas, so we headed back into Safford on Klondyke Road. When we left the wheelin' trails, there hadn't been any damage to vehicles at all, since the trails were typically rated 2.5 with only a couple washouts that required 4WD. But, by the time we got home, Matt had enjoyed two flat tires (including blowing out the spare at 70 mph on I-10), and John W. had burnt a wheel bearing. In between flats, John H. and Matt enjoyed a plate of green chili at the La Casita restaurant in Thatcher.
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Last modified: Sat Feb 15 18:00:34 2003