March 9th thru March 12th Benson Escapees RV Park

March 9th Today was a day of reading and relaxation at the campground and socializing with folks at the campground.


March 10th Today we drove about 20 miles to Colossal Cave Mountain Park. The pathways, stairs and lighting were built during the great depression by the young men of the CCC. This cave is not a living (wet) cave so photos were allowed and we took lots of them. The tour was about an hour of up and down stairs thru narrow passages and we had a real feeling of being in touch with the cave. In the afternoon we visited a ranch on the property.
We got back to the camp in time to see the parade which was part of the Spring Fling that the Park was having. It was just like any home town parade but smaller. Golf carts were decorated with flowers; there were horses, dogs, cats, dancers, and a band in the parade. The parade did the circuit twice and we had our lawn chairs by the street. Pretty soon there were a dozen folks sitting beside us enjoying the parade.

The Parade

March 11th We drove about 80 miles to the Chiricahua National Monument. We did a tour of the Faraway Ranch House. The Erickson family with their 3 children moved into the original log cabin in 1888 and expanded it to the house it is today. It was furnished in the decor of the 1950's and the house had been lived in until 1976 when it was handed over to the National Park Service. We drove up to Massai Point at 6870 ft where we had a a picnic lunch viewing the wonderland of balancing rocks known as hoodoos. Every direction that we looked there were columns of rocks. We did a short hike to Echo Grotto, where we saw more fascinating balancing rock formations. The trails here were also built by the CCC. There is one mountain ridge known as Cochise Head.
In the evening we drove into Benson and looked at the stars and moon thru a 16” telescope and that was quite amazing. We saw nebula, giant red stars, hot blue stars, and craters on the moon.

Faraway Ranch

Cochise Head

March 12th Today was another relaxing day at camp. There was a pet show at noon. Folks brought their dogs and cats to display; plus there was one bird which won the prize for the best bird at the show. Early in the day I was in a pool tournament and I got to watch some real good pool players at their game. We went into Benson and did a little shopping for food. For us Benson has proved to be a nice place to camp and from which to take day trips which we have thoroughly enjoyed.

Mattie May

Stan and friend tending Bar