It was on Friday October 1st that we got into Tucson and stayed overnight at Kennedy Center Hotel.
It was a very nice place.
On Saturday, we hitched up the 5th wheel and left Tucson. We went North a bit to Benson and to the Butterfiled RV Resort.
We’re gonna be staying here till November 1st.
It is a nice RV resort, we were here in 2022 before we went to Voyager. It’s well maintained with paved roads a visitor center that has everything and a pool. It even has an observatory you can go to for free. We haven’t been there yet but we surly will. We’re staying here to get organized, sort thru things and clean the RV.
We’ve been using the pool area.
Dave is waving to ya’ll.
Once we were all settled in, I knew there was an Ice Cream place just down the road, So if you know me, it was the first place I wanted to go!
The ice cream is yummy. They even had a spot for Dave!
The original Ice Cream Stop
The Old Benson Ice Cream Stop has been a local landmark in Benson, Arizona, since 1953. It was originally owned by the sixth-grade teacher of local resident Larry Dempster. Larry Dempster worked at the shop as a cleanup boy all through his junior high and high school years. After moving away for college and spending 35 away from Benson, Dempster and his wife returned to Benson, They purchased the historic shop, and restored it. Now it has new owners Donna and Charlie Glover, who continued its long-standing retro roadside traditions.
I’m definitely going back before we leave!
Benson has some beautiful sunsets. This one was on October 9th.
In 1858 this area had a stagecoach called “Butterfield Overland Mail,” that stopped in town. It was anchored nearby by at the San Pedro River Station. The historic 2,800-mile transcontinental mail and passenger line ran from St. Louis and Memphis to San Francisco. In southeastern Arizona, stages came through Apache Pass, headed toward the Benson area, and continued on towards Cienega Station (Vail) and Tucson. It closed due to the Civil War. In 1885 Wells Fargo took it over.
Benson, Arizona, was founded in 1880 when the Southern Pacific Railroad extended its tracks through the Upper San Pedro Valley. It was named after after Judge William B. Benson. The town quickly transformed into a major rail and trade center for southeastern Arizona. It also became a railroad transportation hub as many rail road lines came through the town. Benson also acted as a vital supply, shipping, and milling hub for nearby Old West boomtowns. It was also processing silver, copper, and lead ores.
The town attracted a diverse population of merchants, ranchers, christian agricultural colonies, and Chinese settlers. It was officially incorporated in 1924 and achieved city status in 1985.
The old train depot was tore down and but they built a replica of the historic 1880 Southern Pacific train depot, that is now the Visitor Center.
On October 12th we went to visit the Train Station/Visitor Center.
The pictures above are a few items the visitor center had acquired.
When you entered the visitor center you aware of all the train sets and trains that were everywhere, way high on the walls and even on fans.
Dave was asked if he wanted to drive the train, become an Engineer. He took the controls and with very little training, he was tearing down the train tracks.
Now that Dave is a Benson Train Engineer all he needs is a hat.
Good job Dave! The Visitor Center is still where the train stops to let off and pick up passengers. It use to also so sell tickets but it doesn’t any longer.
One of the great murals in Benson.
Benson Donuts is a definite staple in this community serving delicious donuts from 5:30 in the morning till 5:00 at night. It’s a little pink donut shop that offers a “sweet experience” with Muy Chav, every day of the week for the last two decades. She’s been in the donut business for over forty years, first in California and then here in Benson. She definitely knows to make all kinds of good stuff!
They were really good! I would compare them to Paula’s Donuts in Buffalo, NY, but there not as big.
Lazy days!!
by Ghazala lari
In those lazy days, once in a while,
You crave the calm of a gentle smile.
Strolling aimlessly, no rush or hurry,
Just savoring life, no need to worry.
These lazy days hold a special charm,
In the quiet moments, there is no harm.
Cool nights blending into warm days,
Moving in slow, tortoise-like ways.
These lazy days, a gift to behold,
A chance to rest, to break the mold.
Letting your heart, soul, and body align,
In the embrace of laziness divine.
Capturing the peace, in a world so fast,
Finding solace in the quiet, at last.
Rejuvenate, reinvigorate, in this sweet retreat,
Lazy days, a sanctuary, where relaxation meets.
We’ve been having some lazy days here and there, just doing normal daily activities. It has been nice not hurrying from one site to another, one adventure to another to another just for a bit.
