The forsythia and Bradford pear are blooming in Silver City! I spent much of the day wandering around the historic oldtown which is now filled with art galleries, antique shops, cute cafes (I had lunch at The Curious Kumquat), and other things to attract tourists. Diane, Alice, and I were quite surprised by the height of the curbs on the streets (15-18 inches or more in places). An older man explained that they are so high because the streets flood after heavy rains and the water is channeled along the streets and into the Big Ditch.
Having learned that the local museum has an exhibit on the Big Ditch and having seen the Big Ditch, I decided that it was worth learning more about it. Turns out this area bordering Old Town was once Main Street with all the major businesses located there. Floods in 1895 and again in 1902 following what were described as monsoon rains washed away Main Street and most of the buildings on it, digging a channel some 55 ft below grade at places. Now the streets that are perpendicular to the ditch end with spillways to drain any flood waters into the ditch. The earlier serious floods were the result of over grazing and clearing of timber. In the 30s the Civilian Conservation Corps planted lots of trees and grazing was brought under control, so flooding is not as severe now.
Silver City as its name implies, was once a center of silver mining, but now the major mining activity in the area is copper--the third largest open pit mine in the US. That's it for my tales of Silver City. Tomorrow's post will be tales of a 40 mile climb.
Glad to catch up with you guys again (I've been traveling with limited computer access). I think you are going to have the biggest picture album and I hope you will be sharing it some way.
ReplyDeleteAnd now you have taught me something new about the state I spent some growing up years in - how cool to learn things from the old folks that were THERE when it happened.
Have a great ride tomorrow.