Tucson Phase III

Monday, Feb 18

Bill is getting to see another side of motorhome ownership - equipping it.  Wal Mart and Camping World are starting to see more of the B's as they prepare to take possession of "The Big House", the affectionate name that has been hung on their new motorhome because it's a little bigger than ours.  It appears that they will take possession this Thursday (maybe Wednesday) after all the cleaning and mechanical checks have been completed.

After checking on some dimensions on their motorhome and a visit to Camping World today, we headed to the Titan Missile Museum Historic Site.

We  visited the Titan Missile Museum last year and came away with memories of a time in our lives when we all lived under the threat of "Mutually Assured Destruction".  Many of the signs and procedures that were apart of the missile crew's
 life were very similar to those we used when we were on alert with nuclear weapons on the B-52.

The two man policy was standard policy whenever anyone was in the area of nuclear weapons . This was to insure that no single individual could ever tamper with or launch a nuclear weapon

This key, along with another one similar to it had to be turned at the same time in order to launch a nuclear missile. There was no physical way that one person could turn both keys.

This year was the same - a time for deep reflection on a part of our history that we hopefully never see again.

For Evan and Anna:  Anna, you and I have had some discussions about what Papa did when he flew airplanes.  It has been very difficult to explain to you what I did and why I was doing it.  Visiting this museum today and seeing many of the symbols of the times when I was involved in the military reminded me of the difficulty I have in explaining what it was like in the 1960's and 1970's - a time that is vastly different from today.  Hopefully, the following will help you understand.

For over forty years the world's International relations were defined by the ideological conflict between the United States and Soviet Union (Russia).  Most nations were pushed into choosing between Capitalist and Communist economic theories creating a bi-polar world in which the two superpowers held sway over the destiny of virtually the entire planet.  Conflicts that had raged for centuries were redefined in terms of the worldwide conflict as the United States and the Soviet Unions provided support to one side or the other.  This low-level war in which the proxies of the major powers fought each other while the larger nations remained in the background quickly came to be called the Cold War.

In an earlier age two nations as bitterly opposed to each other as the United States and the Soviet Union would have inevitably gone to war.  The new element that prevented a full-blown conflict was the development at the end of World War II of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.

Once both sides had the ability to exterminate not only each other, but the entire human race as we know it, a direct conflict between the two became virtually unthinkable.

Each side soon sought other means of confronting the other.  This resulted in the innumerable civil wars that wracked Africa, Asia , and Latin America through the middle part of the Twentieth Century.  Supported by floods of weapons from from both sides, old grievances flared up into small regional wars that allowed the superpowers to try to extend their influence without fighting each other directly (the Vietnam Conflict, in which I participated in 94 combat missions in the B-52 is an example of regional conflicts that supported by the two superpowers, the United States and Soviet Union).

The Titan II is the largest ballistic missile developed by the the United States.  It can carry a warhead of over nine megatons, or the equivalent of nine million tons of TNT and deliver it anywhere within 5,500 miles in less than a half hour.

The Titan II and the other missiles that sat waiting in their silos, along with B-52's and other bombers and Nuclear Submarines, represented humanity's ability to destroy itself.

The Soviet Union had the same capability with its missiles, bombers and submarines.

This resulted in a "Mutually Assured Destruction" (MAD), and "Peace through Deterrence".  No one was willing to start a war which would result in the end of the world as we know it.

The Cold War as we defined it ended in the 1980's.

The Titan II Missile in its silo.  

Tuesday, Feb 19

We didn't have any specific plans for today.  After Bill checked on progress of the preparation of the "Big House", we decided to go to a Copper Mine that we had visited last year, or at least we had visited their Visitor Center.  They offered tours, but the day we were there last year we couldn't get on one of the tours.  This time we called ahead and made reservations.

The Asarco open pit mine is just South of Tucson.  It is over 2 miles across and 1/4 mile deep. It produces 132 million pounds of copper each year, along with over 1 million ounces of silver.

Evan, can you find the big trucks in the picture?  The trucks have tires that are 11 feet tall and the trucks weigh nearly 500,000 pounds (for comparison, our motorhome only weighs 30,000 pounds).

On the way, we had some time to kill, so we stopped by San Xavier del Bac Mission.  We had been last year and wanted to share it with Bill and Jan.

San Xavier del Bac Mission

The mission was completed in 1797 is the oldest intact structure in Arizona.

Wed, Feb 20

A very unusual day for Tucson - it snowed.

It snowed hard off and on all day.  From conversations with locals, this hasn't happened in over 10 years.  Occasionally, it would snow hard enough for some accumulation, but as soon as it stopped it started melting.  The mountains received several inches.

I had new tires installed on the motorhome today.  The tires we had installed in Albuquerque had some problems, so we got 6 new ones.  That should be good for 6-7 years.

Tonight we went to a small restaurant, Poco and Moms, that Clara had found on the Internet.  It was definitely local.  Some great Mexican food, and another hit with the sopapillas.  Poco and Moms joins Sadie's and Wisdom's at the top of list.

Thursday, Feb 21

Bill and Jan take delivery of their "Big House" today.  It's exciting for Clara and I to see the excitement of our friends taking possession of their first motorhome.

Orientation to the "Big House"

Bill brings the "Big House" home (or at least to the Agave Gulch Campground at Davis Monthan AFB) for their first night aboard.

The B's move from the Little House to the Big House

Friday, Feb 22

Bill needed a couple of things checked on the "Big House" which we quickly got done this morning.  Then we were off to the Arizona-Sonara Natural Museum.

Clara had wanted to come back here since we visited last year.  There is a hummingbird aviary which is fascinating.  She got to spend as much time as she wanted there.

Saturday, Feb 23

We're off on the B's first real trip on their new motorhome.

The B's in the rearview mirror

Why Senior Citizens?  'Cause I am one!

We head toward the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.  After about 4 hours we arrive at Why, Az.  We had initially thought we'd stay in the Monument campground, but found an interesting campground in Why.

Cayote Howling Campground.  We didn't hear any Cayote howl.

It advertised 600 spaces.  It turns out to be a "park where you want to" open space, with a mixture of winter residents, monthly, weekly and daily campers.  It was quite interesting riding around on bikes looking at all the set ups.  Probably about 1/5 of the area is filled.  There is lots of open space.

Why, Arizona is a real small place and it's claim to fame is its name.  It was originally called "the Y" because of the Y intersection in the middle of the settlement.  Somehow, the Arizona Department of Transportation got involved and required that all towns in Arizona had to have at least 3 letters in their name.  So, the inhabitants got together and decided they would change their name to "Why".   Local supplies come from "Why-Not Travel Store".

After settling in (with no hookups - we're in a desert), we take off to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.  It is located adjacent to the Mexican border and it's about a 20 mile drive through it to the border.

For Evan and Anna:  Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is a showcase for the Sonoran Desert and its many plants and animals.  Desert dwellers here must live in extreme temperatures, intense sun, and little rainfall.  Cacti are the most recognizable plants; 28 cactus species live here, including saguaro and organ pipe.

Organ Pipe Cactus

The organ pipe is a large cactus rarely found in the United States, although it is common in Mexico.  The monument protects the bulk of its U S range.  Like its fellow cacti and other desert inhabitants, the organ pipe it attuned to rhythms of the sun and infrequent rains.  A glutton for heat and light, it grows on warmer slopes where it can absorb the most sun.  This is critical in winter months when severe frosts can kill the cactus.  It blooms in the heat of May, June, and July, opening lavender-white flowers after the sun sets.  Other cacti bloom at night, too, but many also bloom during the day, exposing their flowers to the sun.

Saguaro Cactus

Day or night, the summer display of cactus blooms is one of the desert's flashiest spectacles, as yellow, red, white, and pink flowers color the landscape.

As a protected area, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument allows the Sonaran Desert life to flourish under nearly ideals wilderness conditions.  In this outstanding natural preserve one of the Earth's major ecosystems survives almost unspoiled.  Recognizing its significance, in 1976 the United Nations designated the monument as an International Biosphere Reserve.

 We found that the saguaro cactus come in some rather interesting shapes here in the monument.

The "Big House" and the "Little House" at sunset

Tonight is very dark and very quiet.  We parked close to each other and it is quite a distance before another camper.

Tucson Phase 11

Saturday, Feb 16

We started out with the intent to go to the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, but once we got in line for tickets, we decided that wasn't a good idea.  There were entirely too many people.  We had forgotten that it was a weekend - weekends don't count when you're retired.

We were near the Saguaro National Park (West), and spent a beautiful afternoon in the park.  Last year we had visited the East part of the park.  It seems unusual that the Saguaro National Park is separated into two sections, with the city of Tucson between them.

It was a very warm day here, with temperatures reaching the mid to upper 70's.  It was very comfortable, especially considering that there are supposed to be snow flurries in Beaufort today.  I'm glad I'm here and not there.

For Anna and Evan:  The saguaro (pronounced sah-WAH-row) has been called the monarch of the Sonaran Desert, supreme symbol of the American Southwest, and a plant with personality.

It is renowned for the variety of odd, all-too-human shapes it assumes - shapes that inspire wild and fanciful imaginings.  Since 1933 this extraordinary giant cactus has been protected within Saguaro National Park. The area is one of the hottest and driest regions on the continent.

Summer midday temperatures commonly climb above 100 degrees.  Less than 12 inches of rain fall in a typical year.  Between the summer and winter rainy seasons it's not unusual for months to pass without a drop of rain.

Plants and animals able to survive in this environment, with adaptions specially designed for desert survival, make up one of the most interesting and unusual ecosystems in the United States.

A saguaro begins its life as a shiny black seed no bigger than a pinhead.  One saguaro cactus produces tens of thousands of seeds in a year and as many as 40 million in its lifetime of 175 to 200 years.

Saguaros grow very slowly, mostly in spurts in the summer rainy season.  After 15 years it may be barely 12 inches tall.  At about 30 years saguaros begin to flower and produce fruit.  By 50 years the saguaro can be as tall as seven feet.  After 75 years it may sprout it first branches, or arms.  By 100 years the saguaro may reach 25 feet.  After 150 years they may tower to 50 feet.  They are the largest cacti in the United States.

Fish Hook Cactus

A thorn between tow beauties

A forest of saguaro

Sunday, Jan 17

This weather is wonderful!  Beautiful blue skies, light winds and the temperature is perfect - cool at night and comfortable in the day.  However, by Wednesday, it's supposed to turn cooler.  We'll see.

 Clara and Jan took off shopping, primarily for the B's new RV, which they will get by Wednesday next week.  They dropped Bill and I off at the Pima Air and Space Museum.

We enjoyed about 4 hours of looking at every kind of aircraft ever built.  It is indeed fascinating how many shapes and forms that aircraft have been built - and they all fly.

Bill stands in front of the "Guppy" 

Dave and the B-52 - 94 combat missions

T-37 - I flew in pilot training

T-38 - I flew in pilot training

Tucson, Phase 1

Sunday, Feb 10

This morning we had tentatively planned to take the back roads toward Tuscon from Sedona.  However, once we got on the road, we saw that we could get to Tucson in about 5 hours on the Interstate and decided to go.

We arrived around 4:30, cleared in the Davis Monthan AFB and checked in at the RV Park and moved to the overflow parking.  There are 279 spaces here at Agave Gulch Campground, and they stay full all winter.

Monday, Feb 11

I finally can start swimming again.  The Base has a nice pool and I really enjoy it.

We get a start on the B's looking for a motorhome.  We managed to get through a couple of the many dealerships here today.  We find a real nice 35' Tropi-Cal much like ours and that seems to be the best thing we've seen so far.

Unbelievably, it rained a good portion of the day.  Rather unusual, but a perfect day for looking for a motorhome.

Tuesday, Feb 12

Another day of RV shopping for Bill and Jan.  They have identified a nice one a Le Mesa.

Wednesday, Feb 13

We take the day off from RV shopping and go to one of our favorite spots around Tucson, Sabino Canyon National Recreation Area.  We had been here twice last year, once with Betty and Kent and once by ourselves.  It is one of the more impressive sites in the country.

We hike the same trail in the wilderness on the side of the mountain we did last year, about 1.8 miles.  It's a moderately difficult trail, and for a bunch of senior adults (one (Jan) to have double knee surgery soon), we did very well.

Our third visit

On top of the world (or at least a little mountain)

The beauty and the cactus

The intrepid hikers

Bill and Jan

They're pointing at Dave on the hill

Quite a series of switchbacks to get up the trail

Thursday, Feb 14

To celebrate Valentines Day, we drive down to Tubac, one of our destinations last year.  We go to Wisdom's, one of the two best restaurants we've visited our West.  Wisdom's has great Mexican food, but most importantly, they have the most delicious dessert IN THE WORLD - a fried apple burrito.  Last year we drove the 70 mile round trip just for the burrito.  This year was no disappointment.  I would not be surprised if there isn't another trip to Wisdom's in the near future.

Lunch at Wisdom's, the best in the West

Fried apple burrito

Clara savors the fried apple burrito

After lunch, the we drove to 2 miles to Tubac, a great area of arts and crafts.  Once again, Bill and I were able to find a bar, and the ladies could shop to their pleasure.

On the way back "home", we stopped at another RV sales center, and Bill and Jan have found another very promising motorhome.

Friday, Feb 15

Yesterday on our return trip from Tubac, we stopped at another RV Dealer here in Tucson, Pedata RV Sales (there are 4 or 5 RV dealers within a mile of each other) to look at a motorhome Bill had found on the internet.  It seemed to hold a lot of promise.

This morning, we went back for a more thorough inspection.  It didn't take long, and Bill and Jan made an offer. and it was accepted.  The coach is very similar to ours, but a little larger and one year newer.  It's a Monaco Caymen XL 34.5 feet.  It's perfect for their needs.

We later learned that there was another higher offer on it within an hour or so, but they had locked it in.

The happy new motorhome owners

The happy new owners with their happy salesman, Bob Sutherland

Now, what does this switch do?

Montezuma Castle National Monument/Sedona

Fri, Feb 8

First order of the day is to empty the holding tanks because we don't have sewer at the site, but there is a dump station in the park.  So we disconnect ourselves and go down the hill.  Now we're ready for a few more days.  We thought we had an electrical connection problem with our 50 amp cord, so we had that checked out at a repair center.  Nothing wrong.

Cliff Dwellings in Montezuma Castle National Monument

We had planned to go to Sedona today, but with the slow start, we decided we'd just take in a local attractions and go to Sedona tomorrow.  Montezuma Castle National Monument is only about 30 minutes away, and I've always found that National Parks and National Monuments are among the most interesting places to visit, no matter where we are.

For Anna and Evan:  Southern Sinagua farmers began building this five-story, 20-room dwelling early in the 1100s.  It stands in a cliff recess 100 feet above the valley.

Early settlers marveled at the structure and assumed that it was Aztec in origin, hence the name Monezuma Castel.  A short distance from from the Castle, a once an imposing six-story apartment-like building with about 45 rooms existed.  It is now badly deteriorated.

A creek below these dwellings was a reliable source of water, and there was fertile land on a terrace nearby.

Tonight, we went to the Blazin' M Western Dinner and Show.  It is just outside the gate of the RV Park.  We met a couple (Doug and Cheryl Matthews) from Washington State when we got here  who have camped near us and we invite them to go with us to the show.

We have a great dinner of chicken and ribs with the trimmings and then an hour of so of music and entertainment.

Saturday, Feb 9

Today proves to be an unusual day in our RV travels.  It snows all day.  They don't get much rain (or snow) in this part of the country and today it seems that they got a good portion of their annual average.

When we woke this morning, the ground was covered.

We had planned to stay another day at Dead Horse Campground and drive the CRV to Sedona and come back.  But after a very brief discussion, we decide to cancel the reservation for tonight at Dead Horse and move the motorhome to Sedona (about a 23 mile trip).

Bill and Dave struggle with the utilities getting ready to leave Dead Horse RV Park

A little surprise in the desert

We've settled in the only RV Park in town, Rancho Sedona.  It's nice, overpriced, and convenient.  It's about the most we've ever spent to spend a night in an RV park ($75).  Commercial campgrounds are generally overpriced, but this one is a little too far out of line.  A one night stand  for us for sure.

We settle in at Rancho Sedona RV Park

It snows all day!  Although we would have loved to have seen the beautiful red mountains around Sedona in clear weather, I guess seeing them in the snow is even more unusual.

To take maximum benefit from not being able to see the beauty of the land, Bill and I park ourselves at a bar in downtown Sedona and send the ladies on a shopping mission for as long as they want to shop.  We enjoy ourselves and they enjoy themselves.

Glasswork art where we ate lunch in Sedona

We stopped by a Safeway grocery this afternoon to pick up some provisions.

First, realize that Sedona is a rather exclusive, overpriced resort.

But, what Bill and I saw as we sat outside the grocery surprised us, even for this eclectic community.  There was a homeless man snuggled into a corner by a bench off to the side of the entrance to the store, listening to music on some type of player and working away at his computer, covered by a sleeping bag.

Tonight we continue on the Downton Abbey series.  We finished one disc (3 parts) and start to load the 2nd disc (out of 3) and realize it's missing.  Clara remembers that she had loaned it to a friend, so tomorrow we'll get it sent out to us.  We're hooked on it now.

We leave Sedona Sunday morning under a cold overcast.  We're going South where it's warm!!!

Leaving Sedona