The terrain has changed dramatically since we left Santa Fe! Just south of Santa Fe, near Algodones, New Mexico, the landscape was pretty much flat with mountains in the far distance.
But as we progressed further west in New Mexico, we began to see red rock mesas reminiscent of Utah.
Mile after mile, we marveled at the wondrous landscape!
The area had enjoyed an end-of-monsoon-season storm yesterday, and the remaining clouds were beautiful!
Eventually, we got to the Arizona border.
And saw the last of the unique rock formations.
Because the land turned flat again and we began to see more and more tourist attractions!
About 2:30 PDT, we cruised into the OK RV Park on Navajo Drive in Holbrook, Arizona. This park is a perfectly fine rv park, good for a night or two, since there's not much to do in Holbrook. We're in site yellow3, because each row is id'ed by color and number. It's a narrow site, but very long, and with fine utilities. Even the wifi is pretty good! We took Sasha for a long walk just before sunset and were impressed by this awesome cloud formation!
Holbrook was founded as a railroad town, and named for first engineer of the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad. As was the custom in those days, the railroad was given vast tracts of land in exchange for building railroad across the nation. The A&P sold a million acres around Holbrook to a Boston investment firm, who then leased a million more from the government, establishing the Aztec Land and Cattle Company, better known as the Hashknife Outfit, one of the largest cattle ranches ever to have existed. Holbrook quickly became it's headquarters.
Rustling of cattle and horses became a huge problem for the Hashknife Outfit, so dozens of cowboys were hired, many of whom were hiding from the law. These guys patrolled the ranch, and a full on range war soon erupted. When Sheriff Commodore Perry Owens rode into Holbrook on September 4, 1887 to arrest Andy Blevins for horse theft, the situation came to a head. Facing the Blevins brothers alone, Owens stated his intention to arrest Andy. A gunfight began, and when finished, Blevins, two brothers, a friend, and Blevins' horse were dead. Owens emerged from the Blevins house unscathed and became a western legend rivaling the Earp Brothers! The event has become know as the Holbrook Shootout.
Holbrook was known as "the town too tough for women and churches", but by 1912 had calmed down. The Hashknife Outfit had gone broke in 1902, and the land was sold. The days of the range war were over. In 1912, a meteorite exploded over Holbrook, showering the town with over 16,000 fragments. That was the last excitement Holbrook has seen!
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