Never been to the Organ Pipe National Monument and wanted to see what it’s all about.  The road there was actually very interesting in places.  Most roads through the desert are straight and flat – this road had several areas that were fun to ride – this is one of those.

The desert is really pretty cool if you can get past the heat.  It was a good day for riding; a little warm just standing around but perfect when you’re on the bike.  My friend the wind was back but I’m getting used to it I guess.  Another view from the side of the road.

There are a couple towns along this road, and one of them is Why.  I don’t think it’s an actual town or city – I really think it’s just a few houses that belong to the employees of the large Border Patrol Station located there.  Then I found out that Why has a sister city located an equal distance south of the border called Por qué.  Guess that’s Why.

You’ve all seen roadside memorials here and there.  Someone dies in a car crash and next thing you know there’s a cross and some flowers and a candle or two.  Well – down in this area, they take their roadside memorials to a whole new level.  One of them that I didn’t get a picture of was made of brick and was at least as big as a good sized built in BBQ. These things are all over the place – I must have seen 40 of them between Why & Tucson.

After passing Why, it’s a short run to Organ Pipe National Monument.  At 517 square miles, I would have thought this would be a national park not a “monument”.  Monuments are statues & stuff right?  So, I asked the ranger at the visitors center.  National parks are established by an act of Congress, national monuments can be created from any land owned or controlled by the federal government by proclamation of the President of the United States.  Organ Pipe National Monument was created in 1937 by FDR.  It protects the largest naturally occurring population of organ pipe cactus found in the United States. Common in Mexico, the northern range of the organ pipe cactus is limited by freezing temperatures.  If you’re in the area, it’s certainly worth checking out – Not in the summer!!

There was lots of border patrol activity in this area.  I don’t know how porous the border is down here but it certainly looks like they are making an effort.  I even met Pat Chavez’s younger brother at one of the two check points I had to go through on my way to Tucson.

This is Picacho Peak.  It’s a familiar landmark to anyone that has driven Interstate 10 between Phoenix and Tucson.  The unique shape of the 1,500-foot peak has been used as a landmark by travelers for centuries.  It’s not a volcanic cone, but whats left of a partially eroded volcanic flow.  On April 15, 1862 the westernmost battle of the Civil War was fought here. There is a reenactment held here every year.

Okay, In for the night at the Economy Inn in Tucson.  Not the best accommodations in town but it’s clean, the bed is comfy cozy, and the shower flows hot and strong. Oh yea,  even more important than all that – they have the absolute BEST motorcycle parking.