I didn't host a hike today. Instead, after school I met Kim in Bisbee and together we walked around Bisbee-Warren, a quiet residential neighborhood several miles from Old Bisbee at 3pm. This is where Mexicans lived when Bisbee was still a prosperous mining town, as no Mexicans were allowed in Old Bisbee. Warren now reflects a more family-oriented atmosphere, with wider, more level streets, plenty of parks, and old mining shacks that haven't seen any maintenance since they were erected 100 years ago.
We had no set route and I hadn't been back here for several years myself. I do remember walking along the perimeter streets with views back into town. We parked across from City Hall on Arizona Street, and walked north and then southeast on Briggs Avenue to get to the hillier section with views back into Warren and the mining area. Kim had never been here so she relied on me to show her around. This neighborhood has quite a different feel that the more energized Old Bisbee and its tourists. There are dry hills all around Warren, marred with mining trails and all of them are on private property. So the only option is to walk the streets slowly and explore the art work and yards.
I remember the last time I was here that this neighborhood had plenty of cats and dogs walking freely. That was the case again today, with cats staring at us from behind windows, from porches, or sauntering down the street. Sadie was offleash for half this walk and wasn't bothered by the cats, but she did have her fur rise up on her honches when dogs would approach her.
While some homes clearly look condemned, other homes sport ironwrought art in the yards, or have antique cars parked up front. It's the creative artwork in Warren that makes walking around rather interesting. Sometimes a friendly homeowner comes out to chat.
It was in the 60s and we both had thick fleece sweaters on. It felt warmer than 60F. Spring was visible everywhere! The exposed sun wore us all out so we cut the walk short at three miles, finishing just after 4pm with plenty of time before the 6:30pm astronomy display in the Warren ballpark. (Another hiker friend of ours is a member of the Cochise Astronomy Club and invited us to look at the stars after sunset.)
With time to spare before sunset, we dined at Thuy's Noodle Shop in Bisbee where I had a delicious bowl of curry chicken and noodles. This small diner seats 18 (!!!) and we luckily were the first two to enter for a meal. Ten minutes later all the seats were occupied. Sadie rested in the van outside the Noodle shop.
We stopped for apres-dinner tea at Kim's house, then drove in separate cars to the astronomy display. It was 6:40pm now and quite cold. We didn't stay long at all because of this. I looked through two telescopes but bypassed the other three. I didn't want to wait in any line since this display was oriented toward families with children.
Today's walk was a quiet walk with a good friend. Kim is a retired zoologist with a plethora of knowledge about butterflies. We haven't known each other for long but she is interesting to talk to. For years she traveled the country with her partner John, who died two years ago from complications related to alcoholism. He left her a roomy home in Bisbee which is sparsely decorated. Her social life is now centered around her hobby of butterflies, other hikers, and other artists. Next week she leaves for her home state of Texas but will return in June when I should hopefully be on my road trip to Alaska. I won't see her again until November.
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