On the street behind us a group of Canadians has taken up residence, eh. The social hours with them have been very enjoyable. It's a kick to hear about different regions and to hear differing opinions of what the rv lifestyle is like....some good stories, and, of course, some bad. Graham and Pam are from British Columbia and have told us about a lot of things to see in that province and in particular, the Okanagan Valley.
Donna's Facebook friend, Diane and her husband, Bill, who are staying in an rv park some forty miles north of Tucson, have become good friends. Bill is an expert in grilling and BBQ in general, and we were fortunate to be invited to eat some of his handiwork! Good job, Bill! Diane is recovering from an injury to her foot, but has gotten to the point where she is in a walking cast, on the way to recovery. Good on you, Diane! Our friends from previous years of staying in Tucson, Ted and Phyllis, have been here again this winter, and we've been happy to enjoy a number of lunches with them. They have been wintering in Tucson for some 14-15 years, and know most of the hot restaurants by now!
The weather has been screwy in Tucson this last February and March, as it has across most of the US. February was cold and windy, while March started out very warm, it has ended with rain, cold, and wind. Forty mile per hour gusts woke us up on 3/30, and it rained enough to ruin the look of the car this morning on the 31st! As our Canadian friends say, the weather is balmy (compared to minus something Celsius), but to us it has been chilly!
So what have we been doing for the last two months? Uh, let me see....we get up at about 8:30, walk the dog, have coffee. By then it's lunch time. Or time to think about a late lunch at about 2. Then something productive like laundry and television, and we fall into bed exhausted from having had such a strenuous day....
We've visited Biosphere II, an ecological laboratory operated by the University of Arizona. Originally built to explore how humans could survive without external input, i.e., food, water, clothing, etc, the experiment has morphed into an environment where climate changes can be controlled and the resulting changes in plant life can be measured. With rainforests, savannas, and deserts inclosed in strictly controlled environments, a variety of experiments can be designed to measure, for example, how much water soaks into a specific type of soil over a specified length of time. A bit esoteric for the likes of us, but valuable research, nevertheless. Sad that it will take generations to explore the many possibilities.
Ted and Phyllis had been to Biosphere several times, but enjoyed another visit.
One lazy afternoon, we drove north to the town of Florence, AZ. Along the way, we stopped at a Memorial to the cowboy actor Tom Mix. A checkered past and a self-promoting demeanor catapulted Tom into the Cowboy Movie genre of the 30's and 40's. Tom had been in Las Cruces, New Mexico on October 10, 1940, when, at the age of 60, he headed west toward Tucson. He was to attend the christening of his grandson, Tom III, in Phoenix, and stopped at the Santa Rita Hotel in Tucson for the night. The next morning, Tom left Tucson, but stopped in Oracle Junction, just north of town for a few hands of cards with his friend, Death Valley Scotty and some other old friends. A few rounds of moonshine and many tall tales later, Tom climbed into his custom-built yellow Cord roadster, and took off north toward Phoenix.
Unbeknownst to Tom, highway construction had left a large pile of debris and dirt at what is now known as Tom Mix Wash. At about 2:30, the construction crew heard the noise of an automobile approaching at a high rate of speed. The distinctive Cord sound was the only sound heard, and then stopped abruptly. A cloud of dust marked the spot where the car had hit the barrier. Later estimates of 80 mph speeds were noted, with no evident effort to slow down prior to the accident. Now, Tom had loaded his Cord with luggage, the largest being a leather bound trunk. When the workers approached the overturned car, they miraculously saw a figure crawl out from below, and stand, a bit unsteadily, beside the ruined car. Their relief turned to horror as the large leather-bound trunk slid off of the car and struck the Tom Mix in the back of the head.
The King of the Cowboys was felled by a piece of luggage.
In the car were found jewels, $6,000 in cash and traveler's checks. Rumor has it that the trunk that caused Tom's demise was full of silver dollars, but that has never been substantiated. At that place, near Tom Mix Wash, a memorial stands to one of the most colorful of the Cowboy Heroes.
One of our day trips took us to Saguaro National Park. Divided into two sections, East and West, we decided to tour the West section. Thousands of Saguaro Cactus and blooming Ocotillo and Barrel Cactus were a delight to see. There's nothing quite like the desert to take advantage of a bit of rain and some warming temperatures!
And how could we not enjoy an Arizona sunset?
So, after some motorhome repairs, some shopping, some naps, and a lot of food, we are about ready to leave Tucson for this year. We are going to work our way west to celebrate my Mom's 97th birthday (Yaaah, Mom!) and then home to NorCal for a bit. A few projects around the house will keep us busy, and hopefully Donna will get a chance to enjoy her new dune buggy before we run away from home for the summer! We have enjoyed the Arizona desert, but look forward to seeing our family and friends again!
Until about June.....Take Care!
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