Arizona -Sonoran Desert Museum

More than a museum, more than a zoo, more than a botanical garden this beautiful place has something for everyone.  Many of the animals roam freely behind "invisible fences" which really are nearly invisible.  A sleeping coyote nearly within touching distance, and roving bands of javalina are everywhere.  The "big kahunas" like the bear, ocelot, big cats  and wolves were somewhat more contained in their habitats yet still close enough to see clearly.  The big horn sheep put on a good show and the birds were snuggling in making nests for their young.  The walk through the "museum" was about 2 miles. It was a nice 4 hour stroll looking up close and personal to what nature has provided. There are many ramadas with benches and water if you need to rest and several small cafes and restaurants.  It was a great day and I recommend this as a "must see" while in Tucson.

Big Horn Sheep

 I am not certain but it could be a Black Headed Grosbeak

Very rare crested saguaro cactus

Wolf

Javalina

After our trek through the desert we headed to Target. Yep, Target. Once again we left our house without an ice chest. Our last trip we had done the same thing and splurged on a $1.99 styrofoam one. This time we went all out and got a collapsible cooler made by Target. We just couldn't stand the thought of spending twice as much for one made by Igloo since we have FOUR of them at home! So now when we get home we will have FIVE.  Soon I will be able to replace my refrigerator at home with a pyramid of soft sided coolers.

We were sorry to lose our companions today. John and Lora are on their way home as are Rick and Colleen. It just wasn't the same this evening at "beer-o'clock" without them.

Tomorrow we are off to Saguaro National Park for some hiking.

Sign of the times ....

 

Doesn't everyone want to save higher taxes?

Apparently bicyclists need to be careful going over the bridges. Head first over the side must be a problem here in Tucson!

Who do you suppose this was describing?

Biosphere2....where the surf meets the turf!

The rain forest in Biosphere2

Yes, there is a rain forest in the Biome! It is monitored and connected to the actual temperature and conditions of the Amazon.  When it rains in the amazon it rains in the Biome. When the temperature fluctuates in the Amazon it is automatically adjusted in the Biome. AMAZING!  It was not raining while we were there.

Exterior of the rain forest

The lung

The plants and the ocean (yes, there is an ocean in the Biosphere2) produce the oxygen but you still need lungs. This is one of two lungs that breath for the structure.

The apartment

Each of the 8 researchers had their own small apartment.

An amazon rain forest complete with bugs and mosquitoes, a piece of the ocean from San Diego complete with fish, kelp, sand etc., different desert landscapes and a Savannah are just some of the unique individual Biomes in Biosphere2.  If you aren't familiar with the experiment you really ought to Google it as I just couldn't do it justice.  

Our tour lasted just short of 2 hours and was everything I had hoped it would be.  I have been interested in this since it's inception back in 1984 when they started building this unique complex. Completely sealed from the outside world, 8 lucky researchers were chosen to live in this amazing environment for 2 years. These 8 vegetarians grew all of their own food.  They also had chickens, goats for milk and cheese, etc. (and  something else which I can't remember)which they eventually ate as they found they weren't getting enough calories. I used to imagine what it would be like to have been one of those scientists and had always hoped to see this amazing creation. It was just as I had imagined.  If you ever find yourself in Tucson...this is a must see.

Tomorrow our friends and family will be leaving us.  It has been fun to share the fist part of our trip with them.  We wish them fair winds and calm seas on their travels home. No....wait....that was from our other life at sea.  We wish them whatever the equivalent of that is to land travelers. Good bye John, Lora, Rick and Colleen.  We'll miss you guys......

Tucson or Bust!

All of us were heading to Tucson. Rick and Colleen were in their cute little hybrid car and John,Lora, Bill and I were in our motorhomes.  The wind was fast and furious but we managed to all make it safely.  Our first stop was the mission San Xavier del Bac.  Very old and very beautiful,

Next we decided to take the walking tour of downtown Tucson so we checked in at the Visitors Center. "Follow the Lizards" to the Visitors Center we were told. Really? Lizards? Yes, they are painted on the concrete as a guide to the center.  After a quick explanation of how the tour worked we were  off. "Follow the turquoise line" we were told. Again...really? Can't you just tell us how to get where we want to go?  Well, apparently the good folks of Tucson think that it's tourists aren't smart enough to figure it out without a turquoise line or lizards to follow around the city. I am sad to say that THIS group of Californians only reinforced their thinking. No wonder they think we are idiots. I mean, if the shoe fits.....

So....after getting lost a number of times we gave up and headed to a small restaurant that I had read about.  The local laborers eat there and the food was supposed to be great. I warned everyone that it was in the Barrio and that it was not what they were used to. However Taqueria De Pico De Gallo did not disappoint.  Well, not me anyway.  Dinette chairs and small square tables, paper plates and no table service but homemade tortillas, the best horchata EVER and really good food.  I don't know that the others will ever trust my judgement again when I tell them it was a 5 star restaurant. I didn't lie...trip advisor and the City of Tucson gave it 5 stars and I would have to agree. If you're ever in Tucson you ought to try it.

Day two in Tucson finds us going to Sabino Canyon.  Bill and I left the others to see it their way while we saw it our way.  We took a tram up to the top and hiked our way down. A couple of miles along the ridgeline, then down to the canyon floor. We found a spot along the river for a picnic lunch and made it back to the Sabino Canyon Visitors Center in about 4 hours.  There were a few wildflowers in bloom and a zillion killer views. 

Tomorrow is Biosphere 2.  Can't wait!

 John, Bill and Rick on the Queen Mine Tour

Queen Mine Tour

Lora, Colleen and Jo Ann

Bill and Garrett

A Kiss for luck and We're on our Way!

Our mechanic came through for us and had us on the road by 11am.  The trip down to Kartchner Caverns was uneventful and boring…and we were ok with that! The campground was nice with large spaces and a lot of room between the sites.  Bill’s brother, John, and our sister-in-law, Lora, had arrived just a few minutes ahead of us. Bill’s son, Garrett and his fiancée Carrie and Carrie’s mother Ginny showed up just a few minutes behind us.  All present and accounted for we proceeded to pop open the beer and exchange stories of our trips down.  Dinner was “on us” that evening and we were all finished and in bed by 9pm.  Real party animals! We didn’t tell them what was in the chili that Bill made for dinner for fear they wouldn’t eat it. Everyone raved about it and there wasn’t a smidge left.  What was in it, you ask?  Bison and soy protein.  Low fat and yummy. That’s how we do it. Our friends Rick and Colleen came down from Benson (the following day) where they are staying since they are “motor-homeless” right now.

The rest of our time here was spent enjoying each other’s company, taking day trips and touring the caverns.  The caverns were amazing, Bisbee was “cute” but not really a place Bill and I wanted to spend our time.  We did take a tour of a copper mine  called the Queen Mine while we were there which was something different and made for a few good photo ops but, again, not really all that exciting.  We “peeled away” from the others who stayed and enjoyed themselves in Bisbee and headed to Tombstone.  Tombstone had a fabulous museum and we spent a lot of time learning all about the history, the gunfights, the hangings and the brothels.  A Sarsaparilla at Big Nosed Kate’s Saloon, seeing some of the old playbills at the Bird Cage Theater and a visit to Boot hill were the highlights in this extremely “touristy” town.  It was fun and I have a zillion photos to prove it!

The weather has been warm but windy. Too windy.  We are at 4600 feet and the temperature has averaged about 75 degrees. We have to hunt down Rufus’s outdoor water dish every morning even when we fill it with rocks. Were we a bit smarter we would probably just bring it inside.  But it is kind of like hunting for Easter eggs and gives us something to laugh about every morning.  So far we are 3 for 3 and have located it every day!

So, in summation, Kartchner Caverns is beautiful and I am so glad we came here.  We were lucky enough to see both of the caverns.  The Big Room closes on April 16^th each year so that the migratory bats can use it as a nursery.  How they know the date is beyond me but on April 16^th at 5:30am the bats could be seen coming into the campground. I saw them. The Throne Room was very different.  If you can only see one of the caverns I would recommend the Throne Room. When we actually got to the room and they turned on the lights it brought tears to my eyes.  Awesome just isn’t an awesome enough word. The time with Garrett and getting to know Carrie a bit better was worth the drive in itself. We can’t wait to see them again in about a week up at their home in Fountain Hills.  I wish the wind would go blow somewhere else. But not in Tucson as that is where we are headed tomorrow.  John, Lora, Rick and Colleen will be migrating to Tucson with us for a few days.  Then they will peel off to their respective homes.