Ajo AZ, Organ Pipe National Monument

It was so nice to be able to get another stamp for our Nat'l Parks book!  We just had a taste of the park with todays hike to Victoria Mine.  We have at least 3 more days of activities planned for this park.  It is lovely here.  We are constantly reminded how close we are to the border, however, and it is a strange feeling that we have to be aware, not of wild animals, but of other human beings who may be where they don't legally belong and may be dangerous!.  The hike was not only very nice but the mine had several interesting things for us to check out:

One of the many reminders we have had so far of the drug smuggling activity

the building used to be the mine's company store

the open shafts had these structures built over them to protect the bats

crazy high huh?  We figured 35+feet tall and some in the distance looked much taller