From Arizona Back to Alabama: Pies, Prickly Pears, and a Park
- Connie Pearson
- May 6
- 2 min read
This morning we began our trek from Sedona back to Decatur, AL, and tonight we find ourselves in the Arizona Sunset Inn in Willcox, AZ, a place I would avoid spending the night if Steve were not with me. Don't get me wrong. It has the "basics" -- a bed, a bathroom, free parking, free Wi-Fi, and the promise of a good breakfast in the morning. However, all rooms have outside doors -- a big no-no for a woman traveling alone. It also has a puzzling lack of electrical outlets, but truthfully that is a common problem in many hotel rooms. Or maybe it's just us, and we have too many gadgets needing to be recharged. Sigh.
Delicious Pies
Thanks to a heads-up from my dentist, Steve and I found a great stop for dessert on I-17 connecting Sedona and Phoenix. Check the website for Rock Springs Cafe at Exit 242. A place that has been in business since 1918 is doing something right. At this location, you can eat breakfast, lunch, or dinner seven days a week, fill your gas tank, browse the general store, and EAT PIE!! I counted 19 varieties from which to choose. All but the cream and icebox pies can be ordered for shipment right to your home. Today it was Blackberry Crumb for Steve and Key Lime for me.
We were happy with the recommendation, Dr. Mike. You have to admit it's pretty funny that my dentist suggested eating pie. Maybe that means he wants to keep me as a patient. :)
Lunch in Tucson
We found a non-chain eatery for a late lunch. Blue Willow Restaurant and Gift Shop is located in a historic home that was built in 1932. It has been serving great food since 1978.
Steve was craving breakfast, and I was sensing a vegetable deficiency. We were both able to order tasty meals.
A Quest for Blooming Cacti
Something I crossed my fingers about before we left home was catching cacti in Arizona during their blooming season. I was happily successful. We saw the Prickly Pear cacti blooming in several locations with their yellow blooms showing off among the thorns. The purple variety is particularly fun to see.
The Saguaro cacti are fascinating to me with their size, age, and limited growing territory.
Our favorite few hours today were spent in the Saguaro National Park. It is about 40 minutes away from Tucson and is well-worth the detour. The larger ones with several "arms" are more than 150 years old!! (Look for more info about them in a future blog post).
Tomorrow will be a day with no planned attractions to visit. We hope to cover as many miles as our bodies and patience will allow, so don't expect a post unless something unusual happens. Thank you for continuing to pray for safe travel.
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