Travelin' Road Show

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Wed Mar 13-Pima and Space Museum, Tucson

Wed Mar 13th - Pima Air and Space Museum, Tucson

Tiny little plane.. but it flew.

An old ' US Thunderbirds' plane

Nuclear Bomb - hmmmm!

Plaque for Nuclear Bomb

Took a trip to the Pima Air and Space Museum and took the optional visit to the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, where they have a 'bone yard'. According to the website "Pima is one of the largest air and space museums in the world, and the largest non-government funded aviation museum" There are "more than 300 aircraft and spacecraft including many of the most historically significant and technically advanced craft ever produced, both from the United States and throughout the world" We did not visit the hangar where the 'space' exhibits were housed as we had recently visited the Houston (Johnson) Space center and didn't feel this would add much to our experience. The Davis-Monthan Air Force Base visit involved boarding a large bus for the trip from the museum over to the base . According the the Air force base website The AMARG was set up as follows : "Immediately after World War II, the Army's San Antonio Air Technical Service Command established a storage facility for B-29 and C-47 aircraft at Davis-Monthan AFB. Today, this facility is the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (309 AMARG), which has grown to include more than 4,400 aircraft and 13 aerospace vehicles from the Air Force, Navy-Marine Corps, Army, Coast Guard, and several federal agencies including NASA"

All lined up at the 'boneyard'

Apparently 25% of the planes will never fly again and are used for parts to keep others flying. Many countries store planes here in the dessert as the humidity is so low (1-5% year round) and this helps preserve the planes. They spray the cockpits and noses of the planes with latex (you can see it on the photos). Most of the planes stored can be readied for flight within 48 hours.
We had a great day and after dinner a couple (Jim and Kathleen) from the resort (from St. Thomas, Ont) came and joined us for some cheese and wine. Had a fun evening.

Janice's Favourite plane, used to transport parts for spacecraft.. and launching equipment, which are too big for regular aircraft to carry. (the one in front shows how big the plane is)

More lined up at the Boneyard

Monday, March 11, 2013

Monday Mar 11 - Golf Tourney

Mon Mar 11 2013 - Golf Tourney.

Golfing doesn't get much prettier

What a fun day we had today. Attended the annual golf tourney for the RV resort at a great little golf course. It was 'best ball/scramble' and they managed to put together 17 foursomes. We were matched with a lovely couple (Keith and Jean). He is still out there golfing at 87. In fact one of the foursomes averaged 90 years of age... impressive!! There were a wide variety of golfers, ages and abilities and a great time was had by all. The game was followed with a BBQ, awards and a raffle. We won a round of golf for 4 with carts... pretty nice end to a great day.

Keith and Jean - happy golf partners. Lovely people.

The grin says it all

Uhhhh!!... Where'd it go???

Lovin' the day

Tree-time - Okay... so time for a 'foot-wedge'!!!

And the prize winner is..... Happy!!

Saturday, March 9, 2013

Mar 8/9 2013 -home base!

The last couple of days were spent at home base. the weather turned a little cooler with some rain, so we took the opportunity to do some more research / phone calls / skype etc. We did see a lovely view of the mountains from our rig as the sun was setting. It was good to catch up with family over the last couple of days.

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Thursday Mar 7th - Mission San Xavier Del Bac

Thursday Mar 7th - Mission San Xavier Del Bac

Another beautiful day and another adventure. Took Derek's bicycle to a bicycle shop to have it looked out (sounds a bit 'cranky') and then took of to see the Mission San Xavier Del Bac, located just SW of the city out in the desert. This mission was built in the early 1700's by a Jesuit priest (Fr. Kino), but was not completed. Later in the century it was taken over by Spanish Franciscans and they completed the building (but never quite finished - see unfinished tower) It was originally meant a teaching mission to convert the local native Indian tribes to Christianity. It is now a working catholic church with an active parish, and runs free tours every day. We joined a tour and were quite fascinated with the history of all the renovations that have taken place over the years, all were aimed at returning the Mission to it's original condition (including the unfinished tower). After the tour we wandered the outisde area and bought an Indian (native) fried bread... it is a plaible dough they deep fry for about 20 seconds... and then put honey or cinnamon, or beans or cheese etc on... Derek and I shared one with honey. MMMM good.. but would not want to see the nturitional chart on this one!!

Self explanatory photo - 1894

Photo - pre 1887... very interesting.

Printed on Sheepskin - used to teach service

Inside the church

Cactus garden in the grounds

Side view from gardens

Enjoying the Indian fried bread from a vendor

Oh Yes.... Definitely a winner!!

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

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.