Travelin' Road Show

Friday, March 22, 2013

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 19, 2013

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.

Monday, March 18, 2013

Monday March 18th - Tombstone, AZ

Mon Mar 18th- Tombstone
Well pardner, we headed out on out 70 mile drive to Tombstone. Checked out the OK Corral, and saw a reenactment of the gunfight/showdown between the Earp brothers (Wyatt, Morgan and Virgil) with Doc Holiday, and the Clantons with the McLeurys.

From top left clockwise, Virgil Earp, Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, Morgan Earrp

Gallows at the Tombstone Courthouse Museum

Love the 1884 ans 1886 diary entries of a Tombstone resident.

Ride 'em cowboy .. foolin around!

Tombstone courthouse

Photo of Geronimo and his warriors

Last known photo of Geronimo

Wyatt Earp's diagram of the gunfight.

In the Okay Corral

Actual site of the gunfight (models to show positioning)

Plaque showing more info

Great looking cowboy!!

Derek outside of jail... and glad to be free!!

Rare original woman's side saddle!!

Had a great lunch with live music at "Big Nose Kate's Saloon" (she being Doc Holliday's girl).
The town still preserves its old west image and we were at the scene of the fight at 3rd and Freemont. The museum was very cool, with old certificates, wanted posters, costumes and the history of the town from its mining strike, through the Wild West to the "town that will never die" and of course a few guns. At Boot Hill cemetery, there were many graves from 1879 to 1882 from gunfights (including the Clantons and McLeury's), murders, lynchings, disease, Indians, and even one that said "natural causes". Guess that was rare!
We then took the scenic route back to Tucson after we passed through the border patrol with their sniffer dogs. Set up randomly on the highway.
The wide open valleys, rolling mountains and panoramic vistas still amaze us.

Tacky but effective!!

View from the graveyard

Clanton and Mcleury graves from the gunfight.

Friday, March 15, 2013

Fri Mar 15th - El Charro & Suquaro National Forest.

Decided to head into Tucson for lunch at a Mexican Restaurant that according to the website: "Established in 1922, El Charro Café of Tucson, Arizona is The Nation's Oldest Mexican Restaurant in continuous operation by the same family. Featuring traditional Northern Mexico-Sonoran style and innovative Tucson-style Mexican Food, El Charro Café is truly as Gourmet Magazine wrote: "A Taste Explosion"".
We tried the Carne Seca (shredded beef dried in the Sonora desert sun) with Mexican rice, beans and corn tortillas and a Mexican beer we like ... Modello Negro.

Enjoying views of Sequaro Nat Forest

We then headed in the mountains and through the next valley, all part of the Suquaro National Forest. Our journey ended up on a deserted dirt mountain road, where we passed through huge fields of massive cacti, and breathtaking views of mountains. The scenery here never ceases to amaze. We took a few photos but we really, our photos can never do justice to the amazing panoramic vistas we have been treated to. During our trip today we passed the Old Tucsan movie set where hundreds of western movies have been filmed from the 1940's to today. We may take a trip to actually go in one day and have a tour, as it does look intriguing, if not a little 'touristy" (a la pioneer village with a cowboy flavour!!)