Thursday February 13th
Sunrise 7:14 AM / Sunset 6:11 PM
Moonrise 5:23 PM / Moonset 6:09 AM 98.2% Luminescence
Breakfast – At the motel
Coffee stop - Patagonia
Lunch – On your own – suggestions below
Dinner – On your own
Driver’s meeting will be at 8:30 this morning, and we will depart
promptly at 9:00.
Sonoita has a population of approximately 800 people. The name may be best
translated as "spring field". Sonoita has for many years been a popular place for
wealthy Arizonans to establish vacation and retirement homes and ranches.
Patagonia is a town of approximately 900 people. Patagonia was formerly a supply
center for nearby mines and ranches. It is now a tourist destination, retirement
community and arts and crafts center. The Nature Conservancy’s Patagonia-Sonoita
Creek Preserve is adjacent to the town. Native Seeds maintains a farm for growing
out and preserving seed of endangered crops in the area.
Nogales is a city of approximately 21,000 people and is the county seat of Santa Cruz
County. The name Nogales means "black walnuts" in Spanish, and the walnut trees
which once grew abundantly in the mountain pass between the cities of Nogales,
Arizona, and Nogales, Sonora, can still be found around the town. Nogales, Arizona,
borders the Mexican city of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, and is Arizona's largest
international border town. The highways meeting in Nogales comprise a major
intersection in the CANAMEX Highway, connecting Canada, the United States, and
Mexico. Due to its ideal location on the border and its major ports of entry, Nogales
funnels $26 billion worth of international trade into Arizona and the United States a
year in fresh produce and manufactured goods from Mexico and the world through
the deep sea port in Guymas, Sonora, Mexico.
Rio Rico is a community of approximately 18,000 residents. The name Rio Rico means
Rich River in Spanish.
Tubac has a population of approximately 1,200. The name Tubac is an English
borrowing from a Hispanicized form of the name, which translates into English as
"rotten". Tubac is situated on the Santa Cruz River. Tubac was the original Spanish
colonial garrison in Arizona. It was depopulated during the O’Odham Uprising in the
18th century. During the 19th century, miners, farmers and ranchers repopulated the
area, but the town of Tubac is best known today as an artist’s colony.
2014_0210-05 South Central, AZ, Sierra Vista – 158 Mi
Page 1 of 4
Tour Directions - Thursday – Spanish Settlements – 158 mi
A bit of a long drive today, first through rolling country to Sonoita
(Oklahoma! was filmed here!) then a coffee stop in Patagonia. Next, on
to Tubac and the ruins of a Spanish mission and the oldest Spanish
settlement in Arizona – c.1754. The morning drive is 79 miles. Watch
your time in order to get home before dark (Sunset is at 6:11 PM).
→ RIGHT (S) leaving motel onto AZ92 for ‚ block – GET IMMEDIATELY in
Left Lane
U TURN at stop light onto AZ 92/becomes AZ90 and turns to LEFT for 6
miles
→ RIGHT (N) onto AZ90 for 6 miles
← LEFT onto AZ82 at Shell gas station for 45 miles
Patagonia is in 32 miles. Park/Restrooms/Restaurant
→ RIGHT (N) onto South River Road (about MP #6) for 5 miles Narrow
Road
→ RIGHT (N) onto Via Frontera (yellow junction sign) for 200 yards
← LEFT (W) at ‘T’ onto Ruby Road for 2 miles
→ RIGHT (N) onto West Frontage Road just past Pilot gas station for 3
miles
↖ LEFT (N) at Tavapai onto I-19 north for 5 miles (8km)
↗ RIGHT at EXIT 25 / Palo Parado Road for 100 feet
← LEFT onto West Frontage Road for 7 miles
2014_0210-05 South Central, AZ, Sierra Vista – 158 Mi
Page 2 of 4
 Tumacacori National Monument is on your RIGHT in 3 miles.
1800s mission – free with National Parks pass. Excellent stop for
about 45 min.
 Wisdoms Restaurant is just past Tumacacori – GREAT food in an
historic building that needs repair. There are lots of places to eat
in Tubac, too.
 Tubac is 4 miles further. The main entrance to Tubac is via Plaza
Road. It has lots of restaurants – all good, many shops & galleries
and the Tubac Presidio State Park. Tubac has become a fairly
famous art center.

Calle Iglesia to Bridge Road has homes over 200 years old.
RETURNING TO SIERRA VISTA:
← LEFT (S) onto Frontage Road for 7 miles
→ RIGHT (W) onto Palo Parado Road across I-19 freeway
← LEFT (S) onto I-19 for 10 miles - 13km
↗ RIGHT at EXIT 12 / Ruby Road
← LEFT across freeway onto Ruby Road for 1 mile
→ RIGHT onto Via Frontera for 200 yards
← LEFT (E) onto South River Road for 5 miles
← LEFT (N) at ‘T’ onto AZ82 toward Patagonia/Sierra Vista for 45 miles
→ RIGHT (S) onto AZ90 for 6 miles
2014_0210-05 South Central, AZ, Sierra Vista – 158 Mi
Page 3 of 4
↑ STRAIGHT onto Business AZ90/Buffalo Soldier Road for 4 miles
← LEFT onto Avenida Cochise for 2 miles (HI Express visible on LEFT)
← LEFT onto AZ92 for 1 block
U TURN when possible and turn into Holiday Inn Express.
IF YOU GET CAUGHT BY DARKNESS, CALL FOR AN ESCORT – PLEASE
2014_0210-05 South Central, AZ, Sierra Vista – 158 Mi
Page 4 of 4