Making Memories

I was on a road trip recently with my mother. We meandered down the main street of the town and our attention caught on a rustic saloon by the name of Sorry Gulch Saloon. It looked pretty sorry. It’s always fun to find places specific to the character of each place we visit…we turned in.

Our plan was to sit in the outside patio, as it was a lovely afternoon. However, patios in Arizona’s smoke free state generally mean SMOKE…so rather than join several clients enjoying their cigarettes, we ducked inside the dimly lit interior.

We bellied up to the much carved and autographed wood bar and took a look at the sparkling wall display of most every alcoholic beverage one could imagine. It had the usual beer banners and posters, beat up chairs and hardwood floor. Scarred pool tables dominated the main room, but around the bend in the room we could see a large dance floor and stage. Behind the bar looked very clean, but we both ordered a light beer in a bottle from the bearded bartender.

First thing we met was a friendly, scruffy regular whose first words were to let us know that though the town religious folk didn’t allow a Hooters on Main Street, Wednesday night they had a great stripper show right here at Sorry Gulch.

Well… we had to smile. What possessed this stranger to think an old lady and her daughter would need to know that? Hometown pride I guess…and as we sat and listened, this place was full of it. Pretty soon someone put a dollar in the juke box and Johnny Cash started serenading us…

I actually found internet reviews on the place --

“This is the best bar I have ever been in! And, I've been in plenty. I'm older than dirt and have been going to bars, night clubs, road houses and saloons all my life. The Sorry Gulch Saloon beats them all! The atmosphere can't be beat. “

“Great Bar: Very diverse crowd.”
Pros: inexpensive drinks, friendly people, diverse crowd
Cons: the nasty strippers

“This local hang out has more to offer than strippers. A local Cheer's to those regulars and daring outsiders who come to visit. Not for the faint at heart. The robust conversation among regulars covers many topics. Harley Riders frequent the joint adding to the flavor.”

“All I can say is Thursday night, stripper night, stripper night, stripper night!!!”
Pros: stripper night
Cons: stripper night


So our reviewers are tactful and this mother-daughter duo enjoyed kicking back and enjoying some local flavor for a little while. If you’re ever taking a road trip through the military town of Sierra Vista, AZ (we went for the balloon festival) and you feel adventurous…stop in for a soda or beverage at the Sorry Gulch Saloon.

Our favorite moment? Spotting the rack of t-shirts for sale…we were oh…so… tempted….

“Good Girl Gone Gulch”

Exactly. :)
Everyone should go gulch in their lifetime.

P.S. My SECOND favorite moment? Giggling with my reputably austere mother like two girls sneaking out at midnight....

The Path less Traveled...

We live about 20 minutes north of Tucson, in a newer community of Marana a few miles off the main interstate running from Tucson to Phoenix. In the last few months, a new road was completed just off the freeway, with four lanes and a wide, beautiful median of desert floral. It replaces the bumpy, lumpy frontage road and two lane jaunt through the cotton fields.

After taking the ‘new” road for over a month, I got to thinking that it was LONGER to take the new, smooth road at 45 mph, than the old, construction truck-frequented bumpy, 35 mph lane. So, in my typical analytical fashion, set my odometer and set off to measure time and distance.

My findings were that the smooth “new” road took 5 minutes, and was 3 miles long. The former pathway took 6 minutes, and was 3.5 miles long.

Again, I mention my analytical nature because I couldn’t just drop it at that. Upon reflection of my results, I began to parallel it with life, past and present.

I remember being a passenger as we drove across the Dakotas. We swore that if we looked far enough down the road we saw ahead of us straight and narrow AND SMOOTH, we’d see our night’s destination. BORING, LONG, UNEVENTFUL!!!!

Or...When you’re sitting in a jury duty waiting room ALL DAY, it seems to take forever. However if you’re sitting in the aisle awaiting TRAFFIC COURT…your time can come too SOON!

Or... how about the safe pleasure of a merry go round—at what age does the majority begin to desire speed, thrills, spins, flips….

For us the drive to Phoenix is pretty dull until you get close in. It’s a flat, barren land broken by occasional small towns and farm areas. We enjoy our mountains as we near Tucson and find the canyons, peaks and rocks of Arizona preferable to the scrub-filled flats. I have driven all day on the dirt backroads of AZ along the southern border and found that more “fun” than the first 80 miles driving north to Phoenix…

So, what do you think? Bumps or smooth sailing?
Don’t the potholes and curves and detours in life add the interest, the spice, the COMPLEXITY to life?
Or from another perspective….the differences between the roads we journey help us to appreciate both as they come…at least in hindsight?

Or digging deeper…the curves the bad roads toss our way prepare us to be better drivers on the straightaway?

See…I told you that road is long going home…lots of time for reflection….

By the way...the photo above was taken at the tip of Door County, WI...the final 2 miles to catch the ferry to Washington Island. Gorgeous summer, winter and fall. The best part???? The ric-rack, zig zag, up and down!!!!!