Ajo, AZ

We are in the Shadow Ridge RV Park in Ajo ("Ah-Ho", Spanish for garlic) tonight. Ajo is the site of the first Open Pit Copper Mine in Arizona. It operated from 1847 until 1985, longer than that if you consider the years it was used and then abandoned by the local First Nations people. In 1983, Phelps Dodge "laid off" all it's Union Miners and replaced them with scabs. A bitter, sometimes violent strike continued for two years until the declining world copper prices closed the mine. The area is now home to retirees and Border Patrol officers taking advantage of the very affordable housing available.

Tomorrow it is a short forty mile run to Lukeville and the border and then another twenty Kilometers or so to the Immigration Office on the highway. Immigration is located this distance from the border so that visitors only wanting to go a short distance into Mexico are not required to obtain a Visa (FMT). The beach town of Puerto Penasco is within this "Free Zone" and many Arizonans take advantage of this to get some beach time. This weekend however is "Biker Weekend" in Puerto Penasco, also known as "Rocky Point", and the little seaside town will be filled with up to 50,000 partying motorcyclists including our friend Kim from Tucson. We met Kim and Charlette last year in Mexico. Puerto Penasco will be a good place to stay away from this weekend and we shall.

Our goal for tomorrow night is Santa Ana, MX. The last time we were there there was a weak WIFI signal at the RV park from a nearby motel and hopefully it will still be there. The next day we will head South to San Carlos. I will post when I can. The adventure has started!