Friday 10 June 2016

Water, where you'd least expect to find it.


Now, lakes aren’t what you’d expect to find smack dab in the middle of the desert but there was a lovely one just outside of Prescott, AZ. Watson Lake.

Lake Watson, Prescott

After escaping the forest fire atop Bradshaw Mountains yesterday I left Prescott, AZ and motored to Jerome today. 

What drew me back to Jerome was not the town itself but a crusty old character called Don Robinson who lives and owns the Gold King Mining Ghost Town, a ¼ miles past Jerome. 

Unfortunately, Jerome has managed to change itself into a tourist haven and is now just another typical tourist trap.  The original mystique of Jerome that I first encountered several years ago, an old nearly deserted mining town with a few quaint restaurants and shops with dusty windows and signs that read “open from 11 to 4”, is no more.

Don is a mechanical nut (no pun intended) who takes the proverbial sow's ear and turns it into a silk purse, well sort of. 

If it at one time, long ago, the thing moved, grunted or twirled then Don makes it purr again.  From old cars and truck to submarine engines Don brings these items back to life.  He also loves to build and race cars.  At 73 Don is still going strong, though his hat and shirt are getting a tad bit worse for the ware and his pit crew is reduced in size and I dare say ability.




The only Submarine Engine that actually functions outside of a Sub.

After and Before. Only last year Don raced this car. The one on the left that is.

Directing work under the hood.

Don and his pit crew. At least what's left of it.


Pushing onward.

More….

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