Wed Mar 6th - Catalina Highway

Wednesday Mar 6th - Catalina Highway

Looks Like a baseball mitt

 Started off the day at the meet and greet or so we thought but it was a morning choral concert with some old time songs sung by the resident choir, and coffee and donuts! We had heard that there is a mountain road up Mount Lemmon ...the mountains we can see out of the back window of the condo...so off we went, camera at hand and warm clothes, even though it was 27 degrees out.

Near the beginning of the climb

It's a 26 mile road that's called the Catalina highway. Let us say it is a HIGHway not a freeway. It winds and twists its way from about 2600 ft above sea level here at the valley floor, to nearly 10,000 ft at the summit. The topography change in just a couple of hours is truly a geography lesson.

Cactus cactus everywhere... soon to change!!

From the Sonora desert floor, up past cacti fields at the 3000 ft level, into a deciduous tree level, with oaks and aspen at 4000 ft, then by 6000 feet some specs of snow and evergreens, pines and conifers. At 8000 ft snow is banked in the forests at the edge of the road and at 9000 ft the ski resort was closed, but the trails still partially snow covered under the ski lift. Temperature at the bottom was 27 C and the top 9 C.

The Cacti really do fascinate.

Tourist? Me? Nooooo!!!

But the most amazing features were the spectacular views with new vistas every half mile or so. From rocky terrain with dried up creeks at the bottom, yielding to deep canyons, steep V shaped river valleys and cresting along a ridge with 50 mile views on either side. We can only hope the cameras can capture some of the beauty. We are beginning to exhaust our superlatives and we haven't even got to the Grand Canyon yet. 

It was a truly spectacular day. 

Little lizard enjoying the warmth of the desert sun.

Rocky terrain, deep fissures!

Feeling privileged and happy!

Old Faithful - Modern version!!

Getting higher, some changes in the terrain.

And Higher!!

AND HIGHER!!.. Some vegetation in the cooler air.

On top of the world!!

Looking out over Tucson!

Step back a bit Derek..!!!

The photo's never portray the total view.

The winding road up... saw over 100 cyclists on the road.

VERY VERY HAPPY!! Missing the snow...... a little!!

Cute!!!

Coniferous trees higher up the mountain.

Ski Resort at the very top.

Looks like a nice ski area.

View from opposite the ski hill

To put in perspective the size of the cacti!!!!

Hi Y'all... Thanks for coming! Tuscon in background

Cacti field on the way down the mountain!

 A great day.

SOME MORE MISC PHOTOS FROM THE DAY!

Getting closer to the desert at the bottom.

 

Tuesday Mar 5th - Street Party at Rincon

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Tuesday Mar 5th - STREET PARTY

COUPLE OF COWBOYS AT THE STREET PARTY

Day of the the rv park appreciation day party. Yup party time.. A good old street party, with a keg, lunch provided, and the "60's Garage Band" performing all the old r and r faves. We danced, ate and generally had a great time. Then we adjourned back to the house (mobile home) of some folks we met and carried on partying.....a good time was had by all. ( A little too good!!)

DANCING IN THE STREET- SOUNDS LIKE A SONG??

POOL AT OUR RESORT - NICE

OUR RIG .. LOVING IT!!

HAPPY??? ME?? I GUESS SO!!!

MAR 4 2013 - SETTLING IN TO TUCSON ARIZONA

MAR 4 2013 - SETTLING IN TO TUCSON ARIZONA
(Rincon County East RV Resort)

SIDE VIEW FROM SITE 298

FULL SIDE VIEW OF CONDO

Well we weren't too happy with the site (13) they plonked us in last night ...so this morning we wandered the rv sites and had an idea about what would suit us! All we wanted was not to look out of our picture back window at a shed! Had a word at the site office and then headed off to check out a couple of locations they suggested. Rich, the camp manager. had one of his favourite sites on the list and voila... here we are, site #298 - beautiful mountain views out back and to the side, nice neighbours on the passenger side and better email service to boot (we must be closer to the tower) so we spent the morning un-camping and re-camping getting the condo right up close to our concrete pad patio. Weather just gorgeous at 74f and brilliant sun no clouds. Grocery shopping this aft and finished off the day with a great BBQ pork ribs and a $6.95 excellent Merlot, by Blackstone.

HAPPY TO BE RE-CAMPED INTO SITE 298

VIEW ACROSS THE BACK OF CONDO

We certainly are feeling lucky, spoiled and very grateful this evening. Thinking much about friends and family and hoping all is well with you.

VIEW FROM BACK WIMDOW

VIEW FROM SIDE WINDOW

MAR 3RD - VAN HORN, TEXAS TO TUCSON ARIZ.

MAR 3RD  2013 - VAN HORN TO TUCSON

FLAT FLAT FLAT WITH NO CIVILIZATION IN SIGHT

LONG drive today.  It is now 1.45 pm and we started out at 8.30am. However the local time has just changed so we are only 12:45 local time. The drive has been much like yesterday, although much more arid and no greenery in site, other than when we drove past cities like El Paso and Las Cruces. We made a few phone calls to get in touch with family and friends along the way. The scenery is indescribable. Breathtaking just doesn't seem adequate.

WONDERING... OVER, THROUGH OR AROUND????

As we continued the drive the landscape changed so subtly. In west Texas it had become increasingly barren, the straggly oak trees gave way to mesquite brush and nothing grew taller than five feet. 

EL PASO, TEXAS FROM THE ROAD

FINALLY OUT OF TEXAS!!!

Then we crossed into New Mexico and the landscape became like a Lunar surface. Dirt, rocks, red mountains in the far distance, some 50 miles away and in-between flat, flat high plains of dirt. Now the brush seldom more than 3 ft high, arid landscape that looked like it hasn't seen water in a thousand years......yet occasional dry creeks and substantial traces of former rivers. Eerie, bizarre and amazing all at the same time. No longer did it look like cowboy country but just uninhabited and uninhabitable desert and we wondered why did Mexico fight so hard  (and in the end lose) to keep it. Land for sale at about $150 an acre but without water what would anyone do with it!!!!

HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY

 And so into Arizona, the valleys and mountains start to look like valleys and mountains, not really lush fertile valleys but some evidence of a shade of green in the undergrowth rather than just dirt. We saw sagebrush and our first tumbleweeds ...some 3 ft diameter and just rolling across the highway.....

Arrived at the RV resort in Tuscon after 435 miles (700km) drive tired but happy to be here.

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THE CONDO IN NEW MEXICO!!

 SOME SIGHTS FROM THE ROAD THROUGH NEW MEXICO AND INTO ARIZONA

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BIGGEST PLANT WE SAW

GHOST TOWN ALONG THE SIDE OF THE ROAD

JUST ARRIVED IN ARIZONA

VERY CLOSE TO TUCSON NOW!!!!