Tuesday, June 1, 2021
Prescott: Thumb Butte, The Palace Saloon, Watson Lake
Steve made pancakes and bacon for breakfast - great host! Afterwards, we dropped his car off with the mechanic and all crammed into the Mustang. It was a tight fit, but that's the price you pay to drive a flashy car.
Thumb Butte is the most distinguishing landmark in Prescott, so of course we had to hike it. The trail is a 2-mile loop beginning at 5,700 feet and reaching 6,228 feet at its highest point. A side trail leading to the peak was closed for peregrine falcon nesting. We wound through pine forest, manzanita trees, and cactus, enjoying the expansive views.
Along the Thumb Butte Trail
Blooming prickly pear
Thumb Butte
Steve and Tom with Granite Mountain
Granite Mountain Wilderness
After the hike, we went to downtown Prescott, visiting a couple of antique shops before stopping for lunch at The Palace Restaurant and Saloon, the oldest bar in Arizona, in business since 1877 and once patronized by such tough customers as Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday. The waitresses dress as sporting girls from the 1880s, and ours was quite flirty. I bet she makes a ton of tips!
The Palace Restaurant and Saloon, since 1877
Not currently a brothel
In July 1900, the original Palace building was destroyed by fire, but the 24-foot hand-carved oak bar was carried across the street to safety by its customers, where they continued to drink as they watched the block burn. The same bar is still in use today. Tom and I had a couple of beers with our burgers, but it was a little too early in the day for a whiskey.
The historic bar, saved from a fire
Enjoying a couple of cold ones
At some point today, we'd picked up a nail in one of our tires, so after taking Steve to pick up his car, Tom and I stopped by the local Enterprise office for assistance. They in turn sent us to Bridgestone/Firestone for a tire replacement, and we were soon back in the business of having fun.
After our errand, Tom and I went to see Watson Lake and its Granite Dells. We found a couple of good viewpoints, one at Watson Lake Vista and another by walking a short way along the Prescott Peavine Trail, but we ran out of daylight before having time to climb around on the rock. Maybe tomorrow.
Watson Lake Vista
Watson Lake from the Prescott Peavine Trail
Since we'd had a big lunch at The Palace, for dinner we just picked up some pre-made wraps from Trader Joe's. Later in the evening, Tom and Steve worked on a jigsaw puzzle while I supervised from the couch.
Sundown from Steve's
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