~40 Miles...Not Impossible After All
(Queue Sheet, Map, and Elevation Profile at Bottom of Page soon)
This sign on University points out the direction of about 20 different locations around town.
We don't need it, because Al and Tom know the way to the San Xavier Mission
Next to the mission is a graveyard with pretty, colorful markers - quite festive for a cemetery.
The Tohono O'odham live on this reservation, so we get a glimpse into their culture by seeing how they celebrate their departed.
In this closeup, we see a Mary headstone, and a can of RC Cola on the mound.
Someone was providing refreshment for a loved one.
Tom is valliantly holding my bike while I take the picture above. Thank you Tom
Al and Tom rode their bikes up this hill, where the Grotto is located.
Check out the lions flanking them.
They are there to guard Our Lady of Lourdes, tucked away in the Grotto.
On the left hand side of the picture below, you can see a roof made of branches.
This provides shelter to vendors who sell trinkets and fry bread to visitors to the mission.
I had to walk my bike up this hill because I am a scardey cat.
This guy is no scardey cat....
Beautiful shot of the mission, taken by Tom.
The mission was completed in 1797 and restored in 1999, but it looks like restoration is actually an ongoing process.
Al took this picture - looks like it could be a postcard.
Tom and me in the shade at the Grotto.
Al and Tom fooling around.
Something pretty funny happened just before I took this picture, but now it's just a memory.
We headed east out of the mission and saw this water tower along the way.
It's marked Maricopa County, and since we're in Pima County, and Pinal is between us and Maricopa...
Who knows how this got here?
This farm is right across from the water tower.
Maybe the water was used for crops here once upon a time.
Learn more about Mission San Xavier del Bac on Wikipedia: