vicarious travelling: Arizona

Looking for a place to drive today, rather than a hike (Rick is still under the weather). We have briefly visited Cottonwood and Jerome which are both quite close, so we ventured further afield, to Prescott (said "Preskit" like "biscuit" according to the volunteer we spoke to at the Phippen Museum, not "PresCOTT).

First it was up and over Mount Mingus, and the Black Hills Mountain Range.

On a 12 mile, steep, twisty, turny road that took all of Rick's focus while I enjoyed the views.

Over the mountains and we were down into a ranching valley with plenty of cattle grazing

and a herd of Pronghorn approached the fence

our stopping seemed to scare them and they moved off, then back towards the road again.

A passing pickup truck laid on the horn and that made up their minds

The pronghorn (UK: /ˈprɒŋhɔːrn/, US: /ˈprɔːŋ-/)^[4] (Antilocapra americana) is a species of artiodactyl (even-toed, hoofed) mammal indigenous to interior western and central North America. Though not an antelope, it is known colloquially in North America as the American antelope, prong buck, pronghorn antelope and prairie antelope

Pronghorns have distinct white fur on their rumps, sides, breasts, bellies, and across their throats.

The pronghorn is the fastest land mammal in the Western Hemisphere, being built for maximum predator evasion through running. The top speed is dependent upon the length of time over which it is measured. It can run 56 km/h (35 mph) for 6.5 km (4 mi), 68 km/h (42 mph) for 1.5 km (1 mi), and 88.5 km/h (55 mph) for 800 m (0.5 mi).^[20]^[27] Although it is slower than the African cheetah,^[28] it can sustain top speeds much longer than cheetahs.^[7] The pronghorn may have evolved its running ability to escape from now-extinct predators such as the American cheetah, since its speed greatly exceeds that of all extant North American predators.^{from wikipedia.}

Our first stop was Wilson Lake. When I saw the pictures on the internet I realized it was the lake that the kids and I came to in November, 2023, on the way from Phoenix to Sedona.

We parked and walked to a lookout

and took another couples picture, so they reciprocated.

We clambered down to the waters edge

and I tried, unsuccessfully, to identify ducks.

American Coots, I think.

The area is called the Granite Dells

and I said to Rick that they looked like bare bums. After that I could not unsee it

piles of bare bums with the mountains near Flagstaff way in the distance.

I have not changed this photo at all,

today had the most vivid blue sky.

Further round the lake at the boat launch

there were canoes, paddle boards and kayaks for rent

Mallards, Canada Geese and

one that I suspect is an escaped domestic goose.

We parked in "The Historic District" of downtown Prescott and walked along "Whiskey Ave"

We went in and out of a few art galleries but were getting hungry so we went into the Palace Restaurant and Saloon.

The Palace Restaurant and Saloon is both the oldest business and oldest bar operating in the state of Arizona, United States. Located on historic Whiskey Row in Prescott, the saloon was opened in 1877, and rebuilt in 1901 after a disastrous fire swept the district in 1900. It is considered one of the most historic bars in the state.

It is located in the historic district of Prescott, across the street from the county courthouse.^[4] Having been established in 1877, the establishment is not only the oldest bar in the state of Arizona, but the oldest business as well.^[14] It has been named "America's 10 best historic saloons" by USA Today, the second smallest city in the United States to be able to claim such a distinction.^[15]^[7] The centerpiece of the saloon is the Brunswick bar which was saved from destruction in the fire of 1900. Built in New Jersey, the bar was freighted around the tip of South America to San Francisco, from where it was transported by pack mule to Prescott, then the territorial capital of Arizona.^[7] The bar is 24 feet long, hand-carved from solid oak, and also contains large columns. The bar-top is polished cherry, while its fixtures consist of "the finest French plate glass oval top mirrors."^[1] In addition to the swinging doors, hardwood floors, oak wainscoting and leaded-glass windows, the walls are lined with historic photographs and taxidermy. The bar taps are in unusual shapes such as a pistol and a cowboy,^[10] there is a high, pressed-tin ceiling,^[16] and the booths are named after famous patrons such as the Earp brothers and Doc Holliday.^[15] The wait staff and bartenders dress in period costumes from the 1880s.^{[ from wikipedia}


The famous bar, carried out by patrons when the hotel burned down so they could carry on drinking across the street, watching the fire.

Taxidermy on the walls and display cases around with relevant antiques (gambling, guns etc). The wait staff were all in period costume and the food was good.

We walked around the courthouse square

looking for the Chamber of Commerce, for some tourist info. Found it and got directions to a museum I had read about - Phippen Museum.

Turned out it was on our way back home.

George Phippen (July 11, 1915 – April 13, 1966) was an American sculptor and painter from Arizona. He was the co-founder and first president of the Cowboy Artists of America.

Over the course of twenty years, Phippen did approximately 3,000 works in his brief career.^[3] He was a sculptor and painter in representational style of western genre, figures, horses and cattle from wikipedia

We walked around and, as usual, I am posting the pieces that interested me with as much info as I can.

One room had the bronze sculptures of Solon Borglum. Sioux Buffalo Dancer

Saddle decorated by George Phippen

I didn't notice the title on this but this was George Phippen's style and there was a whole room of his paintings and sculptures. He also ranched and started a foundry to create his sculptures although he sent the large ones to New York to be done.