The past two days have been really Intersting. Yesterday I stuck around in Tuscon and went to the Pima Air and Space Museum as well as Saguaro National Park. Today an hour side trip turned into an all day affair at Chiricahua National Monument; such a beautiful place.
I learned of Pima accidentally the night before as I got misdirected looking for lodging. It was dark but I could sense the silhouette of dozens of planes off to my left. This turned out to be the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) attached to at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. Basically most military planes (from all branches) come here to either die, get fixed up or be scavenged for parts. Pima is a civilian outfit but they are able to offer tours in AMARG.
In addition, Pima has hundreds of military planes on site as well as lots of interesting displays. They have a whole building dedicated to the 390th Bombardment Group, a WWII bomber wing. The missions, crews and nose art are all lovingly catalogued. Though very successful, many in the 390th died in action and many more were shot down to become POWs. Reading the accounts got me a bit emotional, especially when I thought about what a mess of a war we are sending our young people into today.
I made it to Saguaro NP an hour or so before sunset. It was quite pretty. I came home with some good photos as well as a couple dozen hair-like cactus needles stuck in my leg. :)
Like Oregon Caves NM, I went to Chiricahua NM on a whim and was very pleasantly surprised. Within the first hour I had taken over 100 pictures (which I will go with the 1500 or so I still need to sort.) I saw several eagles soaring and lizards sunning. On the way out I ran over a snake (without it hitting my wheels.) I backed up to check it out and found a very angry rattlesnake coiled and shaking its tail.
Next up is the Las Cruces, New Mexico area with White Sands NM followed by Guadalupe Mountains NP and Carlsbad Caverns NP.
My Yosemite pics. Burning Man pics (and what stories I recall) will be next.
6 comments:
You used the word "lovingly" in a sentence, double word score!
we need more pictures of you in them. Especially the ones that you were silly!!! Didn't I manage to capture quite a few^-^
I went to White Sands NM about 20 years ago. From what I remember it was pretty fun, seems like I recall people riding down the hills as if it was snow. Might want to pick yourself up a sled of some sorts to take and try.
Hi Ed give me a fuckin call when you get the chance. Miss you man. plan on spending a couple days in in c-bus
Hey Ed -- you are in my old stomping grounds! I grew up from 5th grade thru High School in Las Cruces! You gotta find "Old Mesilla" its an old village mostly made of very old adobe houses and buildings, shops, etc. Two restaurants I'd recommned are El Patio (bar/grill, they used to have really good enchiladas) and La Posta (yes it's a tourist type place, but good food!) they used to have live parrots and mocking birds, you must sit in the patio part)--try the flautas and the sopapillas for dessert.
if you have time, there is very good rock climing --either Piccacho Peak (oceanic fossels are all over the place) or you can go to the base of the Organ Mtns… cool old rail road ruins somewhere in there...
If you stay in Cruces, you've got to stay the Holiday Inn, it won various awards for its design with lots of Mexican tile and an indoor pool (for all I know that's now a dump)...
I guess that's about it for interesting sites to see. White Sands Monument is really great, bring sun screen, sun glasses and lots of water! It's like going to the beach with no ocean.
Hope you're having a great time!
See ya!
Megan
Next time your out tucson way, try to spend some time at kitt peak. it's pretty cool.
did you see the blackbird sr71 at pima? Last time I was there they had a couple of (huge) B52 bombers, and even a couple of MiGs . Great place if you like old planes. My oldest son loved it.
Post a Comment