Another Dimension on a Wayward Wind

In the whimsical spin of the stop sign and softly rustling leaves, the wayward winds of fall do tease at the crossroads.  And you might just head south, instead.  For even in the twilight sky, diamond stars will shimmer and knowingly wink at the adventurous few, travelling southward.

After a satisfying weekend of ghost sightings in Bisbee (you don’t have to hunt for them there), it would seem only fitting to visit the eternal resting site intended for the not-so-departed. That would be the cemetery; just outside of town.

Not surprisingly, the cemetery is a rather quiet place, though it is near capacity for gravesites. You won’t be able to see the bats against the black velvet sky, unless by moonlight; which seldom seems to shine. 

Then, just when it seems prudent to turn back, you see a vintage airstream, gleaming in the starlight. Curiosity deepens as another airstream comes into view, and another. By the time you realize it is an entire campground full of campers from yesteryear, you’ll be transported to another dimension; where everything is as it was, though perhaps not as it seems. 

This camp; consisting of ten units, each with its own theme and a percolator, are available for rent by the week or weekend, with a down home Diner on site, and everything presented in a strictly fifties atmosphere, where the likes of Gogi Grant and Jody Reynolds croon through ancient metal speaker boxes about Endless Sleep and the Wayward Wind.

Two units of note are the 1947 Polynesian style Tiki Bus, where unsuspecting sleepers are treated to the peculiar sensation of someone sprinkling sand on their faces—all night, and the 1951 Royal Mansion where midnight snacks are regularly sought in the fridge by someone other than the resting renters!

Nevertheless, according to reviews on TripAdvisor, this place is on a lot of bucket lists and a highly recommended destination.  I’ve saved the name for last and in a second you’ll know why.

It’s called The Shady Dell! Though not to be confused with my dear friend at Shady Dell Music & Memories, I thought this might be of interest :-)

Gratitude: Sopping socks or not, I’m grateful for unexpected rain that makes me appreciate sunshine all the more, friendships that strengthen with time, and a dog who brings me the slippers I yearned for the whole time I stood in the rain at the races!

Wednesday Word(s): Uprisings related to Global Warming.

Have you been to either of the Shady Dells? (Highly recommended;-)) Any gratitude thoughts for today? Could Global Warming possibly be related to riots and beheadings?

Some Living, Some Not So Much...

Fashioned right into the hillsides, shacks and mansions alike seem to spring forth in the splendorous facets of multicolored wildflowers on an early summer morning.  It should be noted that visiting some of these homes (long as you’ve been invited) could be quite the endeavor as the only access is, often as not, limited to a series of steep stairways originally laid over mule paths worn into the terrain, back in the copper mining days.

Can you imagine a four-story school house with ground-floor entrances on every floor?

By the end of a long day of eventful wandering, a nice, quiet place to relax sounds fabulous, especially when considering the charming turn-of-the-century allure of just about any establishment in the small town of Bisbee, Arizona.

Founded in 1880 by Phelps Dodge Mining Company, the town soon boasted upwards of 24 thousand inhabitants; mostly of the rather flamboyant persuasion. While once considered the largest city outside San Francisco, a 2010 census estimated a population of only 6 thousand including many descendants of the original residents; some living, some not so much.

For instance an overnight stay at the Bisbee Inn might involve a glimpse of a tall handsome cowboy/miner; presumably looking for the husband who killed him (room 11). If you feel like you’re not alone in room 15, it’s just a tired miner wanting some rest after a hard day’s work and residing in room 23 is a purring cat who was never allowed into the hotel until after his death.

Caution is advised after attending the Haunted Pub Crawl if you’re stumbling back to your room at the Copper Queen where the ghost of Billy, a mischievous child, likes to move the furniture around.  However, the wafting scent of lavender is only Julia, Bisbee’s famous “Lady of the Evening” who took her own life, possibly for the love of the elderly, debonair gentleman who wears a top hat and occasionally paces the elegant hallways.

Now that you’ve had a restful night’s sleep, at least another day is required in order to experience all there is to see and feel. You can’t miss the gorgeous Lavender Pit (I’m not kidding, it’s an open pit mine) or the Queen Mine Tour. From the hushed museums, the first-rate restaurants, walking tours (including the annual 1000 Great Stair Climb!), to the distinctly spiritual ambiance of the town itself, it’s an all-around inspiring adventure!

The wonderfully well-preserved historic treasures notwithstanding, and keeping in mind that nearly every establishment in Bisbee is reportedly haunted, I loved it! Would you dare?