Titan II Tour

One of the main attractions in Tucson is the Titan II Missile Museum. The Titan II was the largest Intercontinental ballistic missile in the United States Air Force inventory and was on ALERT from 1962-1987. I remember in grade school having bomb shelters and practicing drills during the Cold War.

The Titan II measures 110 feet in length with a 10 foot diameter, utilizing in excess of 200,000 lbs of propellant and produced 530,000 lbs of thrust. It had a target range of 5,500 miles that could be delivered within 30 minutes....scary.

There were 3 sites during that time. One being in Tucson at the Davis-Monthan AFB which is the only one still open as a museum and conducts tours. The other two were in Wichita, Kansas and Little Rock, Arkansas. These 3 sites housed 18 missiles each. To this day the proposed targets for any of these missiles is still classified.

With the end of their life as weapon systems reused Titans became the basis for rockets that have launched dozens of satellites into orbit. The existence of the Titan as a weapon helped to prevent a massively destructive war between the United State and The Soviet Union. And has also served to advance human knowledge and begin the exploration of space. The tour was very interesting and highly recommended if your ever in this area.


One of the missiles on display. Your able to see the entire missile and realize the massive size...but it was hard to get a picture.


T
Command Center. There were 2 retired USAF on our tour who were able to interject some interesting stories. One actually worked on the Titan in Little Rock.


Rocket Engine. One of many exhibits on display. Way over my head...but Ron enjoyed it.


The bowels of the operation. To get here you had to walk 55 steps (down but of course then you had to come back up). Luckily I was able to control my claustrophobia. I'm never sure.



Anyone over 5' 11" had to wear a hard hat...I, of course, had no problem with the low tolerance areas.


Hope all is well!

Joan & Ron

Early Morning is for the Birds!

Yesterday we set the alarm to get up at 6:00 am to participate in a bird-watching event. Setting the alarm to get up early is now foreign to us. "Wake up with the Birds" is a weekly event at the Agua Caliente Regional Park, a 45 minute drive from our site.

Armed with our camera & 2 pairs of binoculars off we go. We never realized how difficult it is to be a bird-watcher. Besides learning how to identify all the species by coloration, sound and flight pattern you have to be able to spot them. There were about 30 in the group with 2 leaders and I think we were the only 2 who couldn't find the little creatures hiding in the trees.

We just aimed our binoculars in the direction everyone else did and pretended we saw them. We did see a spectacular great horned owl, wood-warblers, red-shafted norther flicker & gilded flicker woodpeckers. But that is a very short list compared to the numbers who use this park as there habitat. Also saw alot of robins. This group got so excited over the robins who apparently are only here for a short period of time then migrate to the mountains for the summer. We, on the other hand were ho-hum about the robins although this species where truly large-breasted and deeper in color.

Visiting the park was enjoyable. You enter the park to a very loud serenade of singing birds and the trees and ponds are beautiful. However, we decided we would rather see nature through geo-caching than bird-watching.


Wood-warbler. We were only able to spot it because it was sitting on mostly bare branches.


One of many ponds scattered throughout the park.


Walking Path




Sunning turtles.


Flowers are starting to bloom.


Ron lasted 45 minutes then went back to the car to make some phone calls. I meandered behind the group and just enjoyed the walk. Got a few good pictures. I actually enjoyed the park and the turtles more than the bird thing.

Since we got up so early I didn't make coffee, so after we left the park we found a donut shop and had coffee, donuts and read the morning paper.

The rv park is jammed!! They are hosting a Monaco Rally this week so every site is filled and there are people everywhere. We tried to sneak into one of the seminars but they threw us out. We are affectionately (or maybe not so affectionately) know as S.O.B 's.....some other brand.


Jammed park due to over 340 Monaco rally participants

Going to sight-see today, I think, not sure where.

Hope all is well!

Joan & Ron

Water...water everywhere but not a drop to drink..."

We woke this morning to no water…ugh!!! Up until now, my idea of roughing it was staying at a Holiday Inn instead of the Ritz. One of the RVers drove away without unhooking their water hose, which tends to create a mini Old Faithful. I think this happens often...hopefully it won't be something we experience personally. Luckily they were not near us, but they had to shut off the water to the entire park for repairs. It was back on within a couple of hours. Now we are experiencing 20-30 mph wind gusts which tend to shake the coach. We are hoping someone pulls in on both sides of us soon to act as a buffer. The park is starting to clear out some; they are getting the spots ready for a Monaco rally on the 15th.


We visited 4th Avenue, an area in downtown Tucson similar to the Delmar Loop in St. Louis. We stopped 3 coeds to ask them about the area and if it was worth a visit and their reply was its fun if you like the hippie era…..well…we ARE the hippie era!
The Hippie Gypsy brought back lots of college memories with its shelves stuffed with tie-dye T-shirts, Jimi Hendrix posters and hash pipes. The colorful murals on the sides of many of the buildings and their trash cans made out of old bicycle parts were fun to see.





Hope all is well!

Joan & Ron

Poor...Poor...Pitiful Ron

I apologize to anyone who tries to follow our blog on a regular basis. I realize it is frustrating to log on only to find nothing new posted. I will try to do better…can’t get any worse! I haven’t been blogging mainly because our activities have been limited because of Ron’s knee, back and shoulder pains. We had an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon March 17th but the pain was getting too bad so we made a trip to the emergency room. Eight hours later we had a diagnosis of arthritis in the knees (which we knew), and a start in his back. He walked in saying “give me drugs” and we walked out with 3 prescriptions. They have helped him sleep which is a plus in itself. We got into another orthopedic doctor 2 days later and have a follow up visit in a couple of weeks. Which means we will be staying in Tucson at least another month. The temperature has been in the 60’s & 70’s so I am not complaining. Some of Ron’s other symptoms were fatigue, loss of appetite, a cough and rash – which, in talking to a lady who has been coming to Tucson for the last 8 years, are symptoms of valley fever. Valley fever is an airborne spore that lodges in the lungs and for some is very hard to kick. Luckily Ron has gotten over it and is back to his normal self. He keeps saying it was like nothing he has ever experienced before.


I went out to the Tucson Skeet & Trap Club to visit with our dear friends Carmel and watched Mel shoot. It is the first time I have seen a trap shoot tournament and it is amazing at the number of men & women who participate in this sport. The grounds are wall to wall RV’s and vendors. Very interesting. We were able to spend some time visiting and attending another shoot even though Ron was not at his best.

We spent an afternoon in Tubac, AZ which at one time was an Indian village then home to Spanish explorers, Mexican ranchers, Mormon farmers and American settlers. It was established in the early 1700’s and became home to hundreds of artists & galleries in 1972. Today, besides the art galleries, there are many unique boutiques & restaurants.


Representative early 1700's Tubac street.


Neat tiled street signs in the artsy village.


We also viewed the Diamondbacks’ & Colorado Rockies’ opening spring training game. Our goal is to try to see the Cardinals in as many different parks as we can as we travel around. But in the meantime it was great to see a pro game even though the D-backs lost 11-1 so it was not a very exciting game. Ron was rooting for the D-backs since he felt a loyalty as we are residing here for 2 months. I on the other hand was hoping for a Rockies win since Colorado is my birth state. So we knew, either way, one of us was going to bring home a winner. This is the last year the D-backs will use the Tucson Electric Park for their spring training. They are moving to a soon to be built stadium in Phoenix. A sad day for Tucson – they built a very nice stadium that seats 11,000 in 1991 and now the team feels they need bigger and better…does that sound familiar?


Opening ceremony at first game of Diamondbacks spring training.


D-backs badly beaten....Ron's disappointed look.

Yesterday we attended the Fiesta de Saguaro, an annual event featuring native Mexican dancers, Mariachi bands, food and a pinata for the children. We will go back again to take the 8 mile scenic drive and some short walks in the Saguaro National Park.


Dancers from Tucson High School. Costumes are so colorful!


Another group of dancers. Each dress has over 200 yards of ribbon.



Tucson High School Mariachi band. These talented students not only have mastered their instrument, but also sang!


Pinata.


We are such tourist....but having fun.

Hope all is well.

Joan & Ron

Nothing too exciting.

The last couple of days have been our opportunity to do grocery shopping, cleaning & laundry.

Ron's knee is bothering him again so alot of walking and golf for sure is out of the question. He has an appointment with a doctor here to take a look at it. He has been treated for arthritis and received a cortesone shot that lasted 16 months. He's hoping this doctor will be able to give him some relief again. Although I'm not thrilled using a doctor we are not familiar with, we probably are in an ideal area with the aging population and snowbirds that frequent Arizona in the winter.

I told Ron I refused to take anymore pictures of him in his favorite Steston hat. So he wanted to buy this hat instead. I'm very thankful I was able to talk him out of it!! Actually I think he has it on backwards....he just wanted to give credence to his beloved Steston!!



Hope all is well!

Joan & Ron

Tucson..sunny & relaxing!

Since we have been in Tucson we have toured the Biosphere 2, Tohono Chul Park, Catalina State Park and Sabino Canyon.

The Biosphere 2 is the world's largest science center dedicated to exporing life on Earth. You may remember the Biosphere 2 when in the early 1990's a project included the housing of 8 Biospherians, as they were referred to, for a 2 year period. They remained in the Biosphere for the entire time, raising their food, composting their waste and studying the effects of atmospheric changes on recreated global areas of ocean, desert, savannah's, tropical rain forest and wetlands. Although the media at that time reported the project to be a failure, the scientist proclaim it was highly successful based on the knowledge they retrieved. Part of the tour included viewing the 3+ acre Technosphere where the mechanical systems are housed. The Technosphere is where the air is heated or cooled, humidity levels are maintained and where they can generate rain, fog & supply the ocean. Just to recreate the ocean required bringing in 750 gallons of salt water. Pretty impressive.


Biosphere 2 - 7.2 million cubic feet of sealed glass with 6,500 windows.

We enjoyed the Tohono Chul Park which is Tucsons' equivalent of the Missouri Botanical Gardens. Of course their native plants are primarily cactus. I'll spare you this time and not post any pictures, your probably all sick of seeing cactus.

Our ride to Catalina State Park was two fold. They have a campground there that we wanted to check out for a future stay. The campground is surrounded by the Catalina Mountains and makes a very nice setting. The second reason is we wanted to see the park before they close it. Arizona has a 1.6 billion dollar deficit and one of their many cutbacks is to close 21 of their 30 state parks. At this time this park is earmarked to be closed unless they can come up with another way to fund it. As it is they charge a $6.00 entry fee. I'm not use to having to pay to use a state park like Babler, but I guess you pay to see the mountains???

Arizona has also closed several of their interstate rest areas. We were spoiled coming through Texas with a rest area every 100 miles and even New Mexico had an adequate number. We use a publication named "Exit Now" which gives you every rest area, truck stop, fuel stop, restaurants etc by exit number. Of course this resource was printed before the state of Arizona decided to close their rest areas. We like to stop often to change drivers, eat lunch or just take a short walk. It really played havoc with my planning when every other rest area was closed.

We toured Sabino Canyon with friends - Tom & Sue, we met at the Escapees meeting in Gila Bend. They sold their house in Maryland and are renting a condo in Tucson as they try to decide if they want to buy an RV. Although we picked a rainy, chilly day it was still a nice 45 minute tram ride through the canyon. Most of the time it is dry, but they have had enough rain and melted snow from Mtn Lemmon that the washes were overflowing onto the road.


Sabino Canyon rock formations


Felt fortunate that there was water running through the canyon. Makes such a pretty and peaceful site.


Parts of the trip was a little scary with the narrow road and drop offs.


Tom, Sue Ron & Joan

After our tour to the canyon we joined Tom & Sue at their condo's potluck dinner. Not sure we were suppose to be there as non owners or renters but we went anyway...had dinner, meet a few people and had a nice evening.

Hope all is well!

Joan & Ron

Tucson

We arrived in Tucson a week ago - only a 70 mile trip from Casa Grande. On the way we stopped to fill the coach and give it it's first bath. We had tried cleaning it a couple of times but it is not an easy chore. Plus most of the campsites prohibit washing your car or coach at the spot. Of course they do allow commercial companies in the park but they charge at least $5.00 per foot so for us it would cost over $200. We stopped at an RV/Truck wash in Eloy just outside of Casa Grande and on the way to Tucson.

It looks much better and they were able to get all the mud off the jacks that were buried 6 inches in the wet ground from the rain a couple of weeks ago.

Set up home again, visited with our neighbors for a little while, went to dinner then called it a day. It was tiring watching them wash the RV.

We will be in Tucson for 1 month and are looking forward to the relaxation.

Hope all is well!

Joan & Ron