Chances are you've never heard of Portal, Arizona. It is a tiny place with only ONE store and a small Post Office. The store sells the basics but no gasoline. They do have a restaurant there. It is not bad. No linen napkins as I remember. So why would anyone want to spend six days in a place like this? The answer is simple. Birds! Portal is a birder's mecca. It attracts birders from around the world, especially in August. They come to see the great variety of hummingbirds that will drop in. The BIG DRAW is the Elegant Trogon that comes over the border from Mexico. Look it up. I can't send you a picture. There are also owls of all kinds there. Other animals inhabit the area in and around Portal. Javelina parade through the town when they wish. Cougars are sometimes seen. Quail, including the elusive Montezuma can be there.
We will be at 4760 elevation. I had us a bit higher yesterday. We can easily drive to 8500 in the nearby mountains. Other "towns" nearby are Apache and Rodeo. Rodeo has a gas pump. Portal does not. The place we are staying has no TV, etc. We will be lost to the rest of the world for a few days. One can bird from the front porch or get out and hike. I failed to mention; Portal has a library! I want to find out more about that. It is in Cochise County. This was the great Chief's land until it was taken from him. It is in Mountain Standard Time Zone. Portal, AZ.
