Tucson Week 3

11th March.  Litter Picking.

Paul finally gets to the weekly camp meeting before all the donuts have gone!

Afterwards we volunteered for Highway Litter Pick-up duties.  The USA has a scheme called ‘Adopt a Highway’ and community-spirited people take on a responsibility for a road; which involves keeping it clear of rubbish (little or no expense involved just time and effort).  Many organisations such as local businesses, church groups, schools and even individuals or families “adopt” a road and this Camp Site has adopted one of the roads nearby.  So twice a year residents team up and spend a couple of hours picking up litter.  Arrangements are then made with the local authorities to collect and dispose of the collected rubbish.

In the evening we cooked a meal for Charlie & D and then attended the presentation by the Site owner on his trip to India.

12th March. Pima Air & Space Museum

We spent all day at the Pima Air & Space Museum where there were hundreds of aircraft from across the decades.  Alison recognised many, including the Harrier and Lightning, from her days at Boscombe Down.  There was also a Blenheim and a Hurricane as well as modern aircraft.  We did not get to see the “Bone Yard” side of the Museum as it was on an active Air Base and Alison did not have the necessary photo ID on her.

 

As the sun was setting we saw a Comet in the night sky which was passing between Earth and the Moon.  Then we went to listen to the Mariachi Band that were playing that evening.

 

 

13th March. Shooting Club

Alison joined everyone for the shooting club and had a go at firing Charlie’s hand gun.  Then everyone went for lunch at Fred’s Arena and Restaurant where there were many wagons, and stage   On the way home we saw smoke and passed a bush fire near the road.  A fire engine was on its way.  There is dried grass among the cacti which can be a hazard in such a hot dry environment.

coaches to get a close look at.

We spent the afternoon by the pool as the temperature was getting up over 30C and then Games evening in the Rec-Hall.

 

 

 

14th March. Ventana Canyon Hike

 

 

The Hiking Group climbed up Ventana Canyon today.  It was hard work with a temperature of 34C, 6 miles round trip and ascension of approximately 1400 feet (?).  The lunch stop was a delightful spot near a waterfall with several rocky pools and water slipping over the rocks.

 

Back home we dived into the pool and then Charlie and D treated us, and our new neighbours, Larry and Penny to a delicious pork roast.  We then sat by the camp fire all evening chatting.

 

 

 

 

 

15th March. Geo-caching

 

Alison joined LeVon and the Geo-caching group for the morning, exploring different places in search of the geo-cache points – with success.  All the cars then met for lunch at a Mexican Restaurant.  Paul had a quiet day back at the camp site and when Alison returned he had inflated the Kayak ( what's missing)
We then spent the afternoon by the pool again.

More live music in the Rec-hall in the evening.

 

16th March. Rest Day

 

 

 

A quiet day doing domestic things and sitting by the pool followed by the St Patrick’s Day dance in the Rec-hall. Ground squirrels run around all over the site.

 

 

 

 

 

17th March. St Patrick’s Day

 

We joined Charlie and D and their friends at an Irish Pub in the centre of Tucson for lunch.  There was an excellent band playing Irish music and everyone was wearing green. 

We then spent the evening at a St Patrick’s Day meal organised by Susan and Reve for many from the Hiking Group.  We had Irish stew and home-made soda bread, along with a selection of Irish whiskey’s to wash it all down.  We brought along our home-made cheesecake decorated with a green M&M shamrock.