Where is it cool in Arizona?

bisbee in the cool summer rainGo north to get cool, say the denizens of Arizona’s urbs. In Tucson, it’s up Mt. Lemon. In Phoenix, it’s up to the Rim.

After all, south is hot! Not! Not always, at least.

Bisbee, with its mile-high elevation, has average high/low temps in June of 89/59, while Payson, up on the Mogollon Rim where Zane Grey once rode, is 88/51. Not a lot of difference. In July, the numbers are 87/62 for Bisbee and 91/59 for Payson, after the rains start. (Here’s the source for these figures.)

The summer rains don’t just cool things off in Bisbee. No, no, no. They add a beautiful dimension to the scenery as well. The thunderheads often start in the valley below the city and come right up into the canyons, a-flashin’ and a-roarin’ and dropping the temperature 20 degrees or so within minutes, while soaking and cooling folks who are out in the streets dancing, ’cause they can. Okay, perhaps that’s a bit dramatic, but we’ve given rainy-day tours, in our open Jeeps, to folks from Phoenix who dearly love getting a soaking. Because they can’t get it at home. Continue reading “Where is it cool in Arizona?”

New Joanna Brady novel coming

A new Sheriff Joanna Brady novel is coming Sept. 6, and though it’s a mystery novel, it’s announcement also solved a mystery for us.

Some weeks back, we had the pleasure of providing a J.A. Jance/Joanna Brady jeep tour for some of her fans. That had just spoken with the author at one of here booksignings and she had recommended the tour (thanks, again!) and had told them to have us point out Geronimo.

Joanna Brady, DeadfallNow Geronimo is a peak in the southern end of the Mule Mountains, in which Bisbee and its suburbs sit, and it’s alternately known as Gold Hill. (Here’s a piece Gary wrote on Bisbee hills with two names.) I couldn’t figure out why she wanted them to know about Geronimo.

Then I saw the notice about the upcoming new novel, Downfall, which will be available Sept. 6. Here’s what the blurb has to say:

Two women have fallen to their deaths from a small nearby peak, referred to by Bisbee locals as Geronimo. What’s the connection between these two women? Is this a case of murder/suicide or is it a double homicide? And if someone else is responsible, is it possible that the perpetrator may, even now, be on the hunt for another victim?

Now we know. All that remains is awaiting the 15th Joanna Brady novel.