We interrupt the Thailand posts - for Clarkdale, Arizona

 I am way behind on documenting my Thailand trip and will continue over the next weeks to finish it up. In the mean time, after another long travel day - yep, just a day, due to crossing time zones. Rick was waiting for me in the lobby of the hotel in Phoenix and I used a swim in the hotel pool to try and keep myself awake. Made it to 6:30pm and wide awake at 4am.

We picked up the car and headed north west to Clarkdale, Arizona. Lovely weather in the 80s, no humidity

We are staying in the Clarkdale Lodge. The door to our apartment is up those stairs, at this end of the building.

The beautiful Clarkdale Lodge, built in 1912, is one of the Verde Valley’s most historical buildings. This great historical hotel was once the single men’s lodging during the mining town’s boom. from the website.

We took our stuff in, checked what was in the kitchen and then went grocery shopping. I made it to 8pm, wide awake at 6am.

First order of the day was laundry. In Thailand I had occasionally hand washed a few things but basically had 2 weeks worth of clothing that needed washing. After dumping a load at the laundromat we walked around the downtown (1 block). The old high school now houses a copper art museum. The town was founded to support a copper mine.

We were there too early in the day

but will visit it at some point.

Around this parking lot there is a museum, library, auditorium, utilities office, business development office, police station and

Memorial clubhouse. Mr Clark (of Clarkdale) founded the town to provide workers for the copper mine.

The sign indicated there was a Ladies Lounge where the ladies would play cards and cook festive community meals and a Men's Lounge where the men would discuss business, play pool and smoke cigars. It is currently used for council meetings and community events.

Downtown has a lot of empty storefronts and a couple of restaurant/bars. Looks like it is dying. But then there is also a french bakery, a vegan restaurant and a craft brewery, so it is still trying. Picked up the laundry and hung it around the apartment to dry.

Exploring a little further we drove down to the railway station that we can see from our place.

It is a tourist train

that takes a four hour trip through the Verde Valley with both open and closed carriages.

The station area has a small museum,

lots of information boards, a licensed cafe and an extensive gift shop. We will take a trip later in our month here.

While I was in the museum, Rick called me outside "You have to see this weird looking bird" - A Roadrunner.

Driving a little further

we found the Verde River.

The first water we have seen since arriving in Arizona (pool at the hotel doesn't count)

What a good idea.