Ajo AZ
US 85 is a busy route that is a short cut from I-10 to I-8. South of Gila Bend and I-8 it is much less busy. The first part of the trip south was through very flat, scrubby desert. Nothing very interesting until just north of Ajo where there were very dramatic rhyolite rock formations.
Ajo AZ was a sweet surprise. As we approached it looked like so many other small towns in this area – one or two gas stations, a few restaurants, trailer parks, and souvenir shops. Nothing to write home about. But the old center of Ajo was beautiful. The plaza, built around a little park, is reminiscent of Santa Fe. There were no natives with their wares spread out on blankets, but there were locals standing around talking and eating outside a café. All the buildings and homes were in wonderful condition.
South of Ajo were huge piles of tailings from copper mining. A sad scar on the environment.
Soon the desert began to fill with pipe organ cacti, not just saguaro and cholla. After a lunch at a roadside pull-off, we reached Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in the mid-afternoon. We found our campsite and took two quick walks near the campground, totaling about 2.5 miles. The Sonoran desert here is quite lush. Lots of mesquite, creosote, palo verde, ironwood, and, of course, cacti. The campground loops gave us great views of the surrounding mountains and the town of Sonoyta , Mexico.
-- Janet (text) and David (photos)
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