Tues Mar 26th - Senora Desert Museum

YOU LOOKIN' AT ME??? WELCOME TO THE DESERT!! 

 

One of our 2 favourite photos of the day

Arizona - Senora Desert Museum

Desert fanatic turned loose!!!!

The second  of 2 Favourite photo's of the day... Derek with his Nikon

Yo Liz!!

Desert view through Mesquite wood trellis

What a fabulous day. We were up a little late but made the hour drive to the Desert Museum. WOW!! We thought we were in for a day of wandering around finding out interesting information about the area. We were blown away with how 

prickly pear cacti

much we would be fascinated by the desert!! From the huge variety of Cacti and their uses, to the raptor flights, to the humming birds, to the animals (Javelinas, Lizards, coyotes, ocelots,  K rats, prairie dogs, and the list goes on. Janice has discovered that she has a fascination with cacti... who knew!!!! (although it could be because tequila is made from a cacti plant! (The blue Agave)). On a beautiful sunny day we spent 5 hours totally engrossed with this massive area that has become a 'classroom' for those of us that knew so little about the life of the desert. If you ever come to Tucson.. do not miss this one. It seems that they have cordoned off a few acres, left it untouched except for a few dirt paths and some hard pathways, so we felt safe wandering through the untouched desert without the fear of rattle snakes etc which are so prevalent here (even though Janice managed to fall backward into a prickly bush, much to her embarrassment and Derek's amusement, as he picked the little thorns out of her skin and t-shirt) 

awwww.... love hummingbirds

Cute little hummingbird

Look like daisies .. desert flowers

Colours of the desert

Just the numbers and different shapes and sized of Cacti was amazing.  The docents (experts) that walk around the area, and do some formal walking tours around, are very informative and helpful, and at times amusing. One said that rattlers are usually not interested in biting you... but there does seem to be an interesting positive correlation between snake bites and young beer drinking men with tattoos!!  This proved itself later when another docent mentioned that she had a rattler on her patio last week, that didn't seem to want to leave, so she had to call the fire department to come and remove it. A young man in the group with tattoos and a beer gut asked her why she didn't just grab a stick and flip it off the patio. Enough said!!

Weird looking cacti

We took a little picnic lunch with us, so we weren't tempted to buy more restaurant food (although after Janice's  fall in the bushes Derek settled her down with an ice-cream on the terrace for being brave!!) (echos of dentist visits as a kid when Mum would buy us an ice cream afterward for being brave having cavities filled with no freezing).

Red tailed hawk ready to take off

A Javelina... related to Hippo's not pigs

Red Tailed Hawk (I think!)

Back to the desert.... If you ever consider visiting this area of the U.S.... do not hesitate. We have been here over 3 weeks and there is still so much to see and do. We will not see it all before we leave next week. The weather is predictable, although we have heard tales that it was unusually cold this January/February, including a very rare, but short lived, snow fall. Certainly March has been the best weather we have experienced. It is hot but not too hot during the day - high 70's and 80's mostly, and cool at night... going down to the 50's. No heating and very little air conditioning needed. On top of the weather, the surroundings are phenomenal. Mountains, desert, great cycling, walking, hiking and trips up mountains that have panoramic views that a camera just cannot do justice to.

More Cacti flowers

Senora Desert!

Prairie Dog... funny when they flip backward!!

WHHHOOOOO's lookin at me?

Top of cacti stem.. look like little bananas!

They do have big cacti here!!!

Two very different cacti

Would love to see all the cacti when they flower

Honkin' big cactus

Saw this hummingbird feeding the babies (TINY!!)

Love the colourful hummingbirds

Big Lizard trying to find a way in!!!  Yuk!

Handsome dude with his Nikon

Strangest Cactus ever!!!

Stepped back taking this cactus shot... fell into prickly bush

Sunset at the RV park

moon from the 'condo'!

Moon from our 'condo'

QUESTION

Hi there,
We have been checking our blog on a different computer and note that it 'views' differently IE that some of the words are sporadically at the side of photos in a thin vertical line and the layout is not as readable as it is on my computer.
Can anyone let me know if they have problems reading the blog or if the layout is strange. This blog site is not easy to edit etc and has been the cause of some frustrations, but now we are concerned  that other people may be having difficulties reading it. Could you let me know via email (if you have it) or on the blog as a comment to this post if you have this difficulty.
Cheers and Hugs
Janice and Derek

Sun Mar 24 - Golf andThe Settlement Restaurant

Today we used the foursome prize we won in the raffle at the RV Park Golf tournament a couple of weeks ago and we took our partnmers from that day Keith and Jean. We had a great round, though each of us had our frustrations we had fun and enjoyed the beautiful Arizona weather, mid seventies, a slight breeze... and good company ...lovely. Janice had a rough front nine and a better back nine and Derek reversed this although he played amazingly (in Janice's opinion). Back at camo Janice set to to update the blog (long overdue) and Derek fixed some stuff around the place. We arranged to go for dinner with our cycling buddies to a restaurant near the Saguaro National Park. It is called The Settlement.
So... definitely worth the trip to The Settlement restaurant....went with  Fay, Bob and their friend Doug who is visiting them for a week or so. The ribs are excellent and the Apple cobbler dessert that Derek had was awesome. No photos today... makes for an easy blog!!  Live music (one guy with a guitar, but great sound, and good, mostly country music).
Home in time to watch a movie we bought at the street sale. Empire of the Sun... great movie.

Sat Mar 23 - 48k on the bikes

Having fun on the ride

Feeling great

Lovely views along the way

Up and out by 9am to head out with Bob, Fay, Tom and Doug for a bike ride from the RV resort to the Saguaro National Park for a one way loop around the park, then down the Spanish trail a few miles further to a farmers market, where we had some coffee a walk around and then our first taste of Tamales (beef and green chile) ... We have never had them before and were impressed. Derek and I headed back to camp while they took a detour for some groceries. We then went to costco and bought some supplies, wine and some lovely lamb to BBQ tonight. (it was fabulous). We treated ourselves to a bottle of Californian champagne with Kirsch while we BBQ'd. After dinner we went over to our neighbours Jim and Kathleen for a drink and a visit. An active and fun day.

Very Hilly ride

Happy to be on a flat bit of road (there wasn't much!!!)

Celebrating with the traditional cactus hug

Thurs and Friday Mar 21/22 - Phoenix and Hockey

View of Jobing Arena from hotel room

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Sedin twins

Score in 3rd period (and at the end of the game!!! YEY!!!!

Now now boys ... lets keep it friendly!!!

Sedin's focusing on the play

What a great day. We packed up quickly and headed to Phoenix. Actually we went to Glendale which is North West of Phoenix, which is where the Jobing Arena is located )the home arena for the Phoenix Coyotes (locally known as 'The Yotes', who were scheduled to play the Vancouver Canucks that night. We had bought great seats on-line (6 rows back at the blue line) We checked into the Renaissance Hotel which we were delighted to find was truly 'next door' to the the arena (across the parking lot). We could see the arena from our window.  We wandered into the entertainment district and had a fabulous lunch and a couple of beers at a pub (The Yard House) that advertises the largest selection of draft beers in the US (it is quite awesome). After a lovely lunch we wandered back to the hotel and hung out in the lobby watching  several Vancouver players checking out and putting their bags on the bus for the 200 yard trip to the arena!!!!! Luongo, Sedins, Coach etc.  We assume they were going to fly out straight after the game. Janice then enjoyed the extreme luxury of the first of her 2 baths during the one night stay. Walked over to the arena and had a fabulous time enjoying our only hockey game of the year. We reveled in the fact that Vancouver won, as there were some very loud and not-too-polite Phoenix fans in our vicinity. We smiled sweetly at the end of the game and hightailed it over to the pub for some post game revelry (beer and margarita). Great night. The next morning (after another bath!!) and breakfast on the hotel restaurant patio, we headed back to Tucson, via Marana to check out the facilities which we have booked to store the "condo" and truck when we go to UK/Canada from April-Jun.  We were thrilled. It is indoor storage and is clean and very secure and professionally run. After we got back to camp we shared a beer with the folk who we went cycling with last week and arranged for another ride tomorrow

Score in 3rd period (and at the end of the game!!! YEY!!!!

Coach in action

Taps at The Yard House, continue round the bar (about 150-200)

The entertainment district by Jobing Arena

Tuesday March 19th - Kitt Peak Observatory

During the day we did some catch-up tidying and planning etc and headed out late afternoon toward Kitt Peak, the summit of which is home to the most diverse collection of telescopes in the world, run by many different organizations. The observatory runs night viewings which we booked a few weeks ago, and we were quite lucky to have good weather, although it was very cold at the summit when the sun went down. the drive up was quite an excitement and at times we clung to the mountain edge, on a small road and Janice was leaning in toward the centre of the truck feeling rather nauseous.. (it gave her 'the willies'). We arrived before sunset and were treated to a packed meal, which was very edible (turkey on croissants, cookies, fruit etc). We were then split up into three groups of a dozen or so and each group were treated to amazing sunset views before dark, followed by a short lecture and briefing on the night sky. We then went outside for some star gazing using binoculars and charts, before heading up to a telescope. Were privileged to see several distant nebulae, open and closed clusters, Jupiter and the grand finale view of the moon. It was truly amazing. We had been warned that we would have to go down the first mile back down the mountain with no headlights. I had giggled nervously at the 'joke', but it was not a joke. 15-20 cars following one brave guide for over a mile down the mountain.  Funnily enough it wasn't so scary in the dark.  Went through another border patrol on the return to camp, and were told we were supposed to carry our passports, but we didn't cross any borders, so we believe it was just a slow night and they like a little intimidation to brighten their long night's watch. We have done some research and there is no such requirement. These border patrols are not at the border with Mexico, they are set up several miles from the border and are just checkpoints, looking for illegals etc. Anyone wanting to see the view from the on site webcam go to http://www.noao.edu/kpno/kpcam/index.shtml

VARIOUS PHOTOS OF THE TELESCOPES AND SUNSET.