We are staying in Tucson for 9 nights!
Tucson: Departure
Good-bye, Arizona. We had a ton of fun.
Tucson: Day 9
Our last full day here in Tucson. Trying not to think of it.
We had coffee and decided to head out early to hike even though we'd be arriving at the trailhead at noon, in the heat of the day. I didn't want to get back to the campsite and have the day gone.
We went someplace new: Sabino Canyon. We did the Bear Canyon Falls Trail to Seven Falls. We hiked for 3.25 hours. It was a beautiful hike! I'm so glad we decided to try a new one.
We parked at the visitor center, which was packed. People were swarming all over. Fortunately, it was easy to find the trail we wanted looking at the map they had posted.
The trail starts in a flat area; it's sandy and wide. There were a lot of people on it, but not so many as to be too off-putting. About half a mile in, the trail narrowed and headed up. The scenery was very nice—lots of saguaro and prickly pear, mountains in the distance, cool rocks on the ground. The only distracting thing was that this part of the trail ran along side of a blacktop road. It wasn't busy or anything, it's just I like to feel I'm a little more removed from civilization, I guess.
After about 1.5 miles, we crossed a bridge where we saw a roadrunner, basically waiting until we passed to cross the road. Hahaha.
We had coffee and decided to head out early to hike even though we'd be arriving at the trailhead at noon, in the heat of the day. I didn't want to get back to the campsite and have the day gone.
We went someplace new: Sabino Canyon. We did the Bear Canyon Falls Trail to Seven Falls. We hiked for 3.25 hours. It was a beautiful hike! I'm so glad we decided to try a new one.
We parked at the visitor center, which was packed. People were swarming all over. Fortunately, it was easy to find the trail we wanted looking at the map they had posted.
The trail starts in a flat area; it's sandy and wide. There were a lot of people on it, but not so many as to be too off-putting. About half a mile in, the trail narrowed and headed up. The scenery was very nice—lots of saguaro and prickly pear, mountains in the distance, cool rocks on the ground. The only distracting thing was that this part of the trail ran along side of a blacktop road. It wasn't busy or anything, it's just I like to feel I'm a little more removed from civilization, I guess.
After about 1.5 miles, we crossed a bridge where we saw a roadrunner, basically waiting until we passed to cross the road. Hahaha.
Then the trail headed higher, not too steep. It was a little more rocky but still very comfortable. A little ways after the bridge, the trail turned into the canyon. It was fantastic! At the bottom of the canyon there are huge boulders laying across what would be a wide stream were there any water, of which there was none.
The canyon walls were lovely and the trail was fun to hike. Eventually we arrived at an impasse and the apparent end of the trail. This must be the famed Seven Falls, but none was evident today.
The canyon walls were lovely and the trail was fun to hike. Eventually we arrived at an impasse and the apparent end of the trail. This must be the famed Seven Falls, but none was evident today.
We didn't see much wildlife except for a lot of lizards, all the same kind. Like over 20, always scurrying out of a crevice and away from the path right as we passed.
We sat for a bit next to a rock casting a shadow. It was so cool I was chilly after 5 minutes or so. Then we headed back
Scott wore his new running shoes. They're the same brand as my hiking boots (Topo) and have a wide toe box. He loved them and said it was like walking with a tiny masseuse inside his shoes the whole time.
Scott wore his new running shoes. They're the same brand as my hiking boots (Topo) and have a wide toe box. He loved them and said it was like walking with a tiny masseuse inside his shoes the whole time.
When we got back to the campsite, I took a shower and then we headed to Tierra del Sol for our last dinner. It was good! Then we had our last hot tub. We met another interesting couple, this time from Minnesota.
Tucson: Day 8
We had coffee and exercised. Scott went down to fill up the basketballs with air and shoot some hoops while I finished exercise.
Then we relaxed for a while and had an early lunch to kill time before heading off for another hike. We decided not to do it in the very hottest part of the day since it was already 80 and since we had a bit of PTSD remembering the heat of yesterday's hike.
While we were sitting outside, a roadrunner went by!
While we were sitting outside, a roadrunner went by!
We did the Guindani Trail at Kartchner Caverns State Park, one of our favorites.
It was an awesome hike. It took us only 2 hours, which was good for my foot anyway. There was a nice breeze, so even though it was hot, we were comfortable. The climb was very steep (elevation gain is 900 ft) and at times a bit scary with the narrow, rocky path and the drop-off next to it. Scott says one wouldn't die if one tumbled down it, but I am pretty sure I would.
After climbing the summit and heading around and down the back side of the mountain, we were in shade. It was actually chilly then! But I wasn't complaining.
The climb up is beautiful with the expansive view of the valley and mountains, and the climb around and down is a different kind of beautiful. There is lots more vegetation, beautiful rock formations, and the dry creek bed you crisscross several times.
After climbing the summit and heading around and down the back side of the mountain, we were in shade. It was actually chilly then! But I wasn't complaining.
The climb up is beautiful with the expansive view of the valley and mountains, and the climb around and down is a different kind of beautiful. There is lots more vegetation, beautiful rock formations, and the dry creek bed you crisscross several times.
We got back around 6 so I made dinner. We ate, played cards, and lay down to watch some TV. We're rewatching For the Love of Dogs, a series not a movie, since one of us is usually asleep after 10 minutes in.
Tucson: Day 7
Ah, our trusty coffee maker. We love the coffee out of this thing. The only problem is that it takes a lot longer than drip coffee. But we've gotten a routine.
First, Scott gets up earlier and he gets it going. Sometimes he comes back to bed while it percolates. It's usually ready by the time we want to get up, well, I want to get up. Scott is often up earlier. Second, we started filling it up the night before with water and coffee. I don't like to put the coffee in it too early, so I'll fill it with water in the am and add the coffee in the pm. See where this is heading?
So today, we lay in bed while it boiled. I was ready for coffee before coffee was ready and Scott said "10 more minutes." I stayed in bed for a bit and when I got up, he said "2 more minutes." Finally, I had to have coffee. When I got up to get it, I realized no coffee had every been put in. But it was the cleanest, most boiled water in the history of water.
After coffee, we took a bike ride around the campground. It's a beautiful day! Sunny and about 72 right now. Unfortunately, something big is on fire upwind and after about 20 minutes, the air was too awful to breathe, so we headed back to the RV. But then we went a little past it and biked over to an area of the KOA we hadn't seen before. It's cute: a basketball court, a short path, trees, a small pavilion with table and chairs, a lake, some horseshoe stations, and a racetrack for remote-controlled cars.
New license plates: Cherokee Nation, North Carolina, Delaware, Nova Scotia.
So then I said to heck with the foot, we must hike. We headed to Saguaro National Park to do the Bridal Wreath Falls hike we did last year. According to last year's post, we did it in 3 hours. I thought I could handle that.
Well it was a stellar hike, simply beautiful landscape with mountains, cool rocks, varied cacti and trees, some lizards, blue sky, and warm temperatures. No water though. Last year, there was so much water in the stream on the down side of the dam that we had to scramble over some rocks to cross. This year, dry as a bone. There was a bit of rusty water in a pool just in front of the dam.
So today, we lay in bed while it boiled. I was ready for coffee before coffee was ready and Scott said "10 more minutes." I stayed in bed for a bit and when I got up, he said "2 more minutes." Finally, I had to have coffee. When I got up to get it, I realized no coffee had every been put in. But it was the cleanest, most boiled water in the history of water.
After coffee, we took a bike ride around the campground. It's a beautiful day! Sunny and about 72 right now. Unfortunately, something big is on fire upwind and after about 20 minutes, the air was too awful to breathe, so we headed back to the RV. But then we went a little past it and biked over to an area of the KOA we hadn't seen before. It's cute: a basketball court, a short path, trees, a small pavilion with table and chairs, a lake, some horseshoe stations, and a racetrack for remote-controlled cars.
New license plates: Cherokee Nation, North Carolina, Delaware, Nova Scotia.
So then I said to heck with the foot, we must hike. We headed to Saguaro National Park to do the Bridal Wreath Falls hike we did last year. According to last year's post, we did it in 3 hours. I thought I could handle that.
Well it was a stellar hike, simply beautiful landscape with mountains, cool rocks, varied cacti and trees, some lizards, blue sky, and warm temperatures. No water though. Last year, there was so much water in the stream on the down side of the dam that we had to scramble over some rocks to cross. This year, dry as a bone. There was a bit of rusty water in a pool just in front of the dam.
There is all kind of vegetation on this trail and in some places, it is much denser than the pictures make it seem. There are a ton of beautiful saguaros, as you might expect in the Saguaro National Park.
Actually, it was a little too warm with a little too much sun for me. I was feeling it. Scott was carrying plenty of water and we drank it. We got 1.5 hours in and we were still 2 miles from the falls. Something was wrong with my reporting skills last year or my reading skills this year.
So we decided to head back. Good thing. By the time we reached the truck, we had hiked for 3.5 hours (having made it to the Steel Tank of the three-tank trail), and I was spent. My foot hurt. But it had been a beautiful hike and I'm glad we did it.
We decided to hit the KOA restaurant for dinner. Before going, we showered. When we were walking back and past the pool area, someone in the hot tub whom we had chatted with there a couple times—an artist and former architect named Dick Graves—called out "Is that Monica?" He said he had something for me. He had painted a watercolor of the pool area and wanted to give it to me! I almost cried I thought it was so kind and generous. It's a very nice painting and a sweet remembrance of our time here.
So we decided to head back. Good thing. By the time we reached the truck, we had hiked for 3.5 hours (having made it to the Steel Tank of the three-tank trail), and I was spent. My foot hurt. But it had been a beautiful hike and I'm glad we did it.
We decided to hit the KOA restaurant for dinner. Before going, we showered. When we were walking back and past the pool area, someone in the hot tub whom we had chatted with there a couple times—an artist and former architect named Dick Graves—called out "Is that Monica?" He said he had something for me. He had painted a watercolor of the pool area and wanted to give it to me! I almost cried I thought it was so kind and generous. It's a very nice painting and a sweet remembrance of our time here.
Richard Graves, R. Graves Watercolors
After dinner I suggested taking a drink over to the firepits. The sun was just setting, and it was a very pleasant place to relax for a bit. Nice KOA.
Tucson: Day 6
After we drank coffee and Scott had breakfast, we exercised for a while. Then I had lunch and we got ready for a bike ride.
There are a lot of miles of paved bike paths in Tucson. It's just hard to tell for any given one you're considering what the scenery will be, how hilly it is , or how much it weaves across streets or goes by homeless encampments, decomposing buildings, or trash. The one we were on last year was nice but short before it got too steep for me to manage.
So I researched it for a bit and found one that looked promising. On Traillink it's called the Canada del Oro trail, but once we go to the trailhead, it's called the Loop. There are no maps but fortunately Scott asked a couple of bikers which way we should go and they said the way we would not have gone. We rode 2.5 hours and it was a fantastic ride.
The views were mountains on one side and fields on the other. In front of the mountains but generally obscured by a wall or landscaped ridge were beautiful homes or developments, some commercial buildings, golf courses, and a a ranch before it started to get more industrial about an hour in.
There are a lot of miles of paved bike paths in Tucson. It's just hard to tell for any given one you're considering what the scenery will be, how hilly it is , or how much it weaves across streets or goes by homeless encampments, decomposing buildings, or trash. The one we were on last year was nice but short before it got too steep for me to manage.
So I researched it for a bit and found one that looked promising. On Traillink it's called the Canada del Oro trail, but once we go to the trailhead, it's called the Loop. There are no maps but fortunately Scott asked a couple of bikers which way we should go and they said the way we would not have gone. We rode 2.5 hours and it was a fantastic ride.
The views were mountains on one side and fields on the other. In front of the mountains but generally obscured by a wall or landscaped ridge were beautiful homes or developments, some commercial buildings, golf courses, and a a ranch before it started to get more industrial about an hour in.
I heard verdin a few times as we were riding and we saw two beautiful birds but didn't get pics, a phainopepla and a scarlet flycatcher!
Just as we were finishing, Thome called me for my birthday, and we chatted a bit.
When we got back, I practiced and Scott went to the pool to read and listen to podcasts. Then I cooked dinner and for my birthday, Scott wrote me a nice card and we had Haagen Das!
When we got back, I practiced and Scott went to the pool to read and listen to podcasts. Then I cooked dinner and for my birthday, Scott wrote me a nice card and we had Haagen Das!
Then we started playing cards and Thomas called for my birthday, and we chatted. For a movie, we started Little Dorrit. It's well-done, but it's like 8 hour-long episodes and Scott was asleep 5 minutes into the first one. So I changed to Would I Lie to You.
Tuscon: Day 5
Today, we got out soon after we drank our coffee. We headed to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, which was about 30 minutes away. We wanted to see the raptor show the hot-tub couple told us about, and it started at 10. We arrived just in time. The guide told us to head down there asap to see it.
Unfortunately, the museum was really crowded. Lots of others were headed to the show and they were all manner of slow walkers and baby carriages. We all arrived in plenty of time. But so many people. My worst nightmare.
Unfortunately, the museum was really crowded. Lots of others were headed to the show and they were all manner of slow walkers and baby carriages. We all arrived in plenty of time. But so many people. My worst nightmare.
But the show was super cool and it didn't matter that there were so many people. We saw three types of birds in total. First, was a great horned owl. Then was a caracara. (BTW, the bird we thought was a bald eagle in Mesa at Usery was definitely a caracara, not a bald eagle.) Finally, we saw Harris's hawks, four of them, because they live in family units and hunt as a pack.
In fact, we got to witness them hunting. The show consists of trainers spread out among the trees and brush off the path right next to the crowd. They entice the birds to fly down on the trees next to the path with little bits of meat. The Harris's hawks were doing their thing, flying from tree to tree, squabbling sometimes over one, but all of the sudden, they flew to the same point in the air about 10 feet above the ground, and then all together swooped down to the ground. One flew up to a branch and started tearing at the catch: probably a small bird. It was pretty cool.
So we got close up looks at these beautiful birds, plus we got to see them soaring above our heads.
In fact, we got to witness them hunting. The show consists of trainers spread out among the trees and brush off the path right next to the crowd. They entice the birds to fly down on the trees next to the path with little bits of meat. The Harris's hawks were doing their thing, flying from tree to tree, squabbling sometimes over one, but all of the sudden, they flew to the same point in the air about 10 feet above the ground, and then all together swooped down to the ground. One flew up to a branch and started tearing at the catch: probably a small bird. It was pretty cool.
So we got close up looks at these beautiful birds, plus we got to see them soaring above our heads.
Then we walked along the path through the exhibits: landscaping with all sorts of cacti, flowers, bushes, trees; animatronic dinosaurs, and animal enclosures. We saw javelinas, a beaver, a rattlesnake, a scorpion, a gray fox asleep in its den, an ocelot (no pic), and a bighorn sheep.
Lots of cool geology, igneous and sedimentary. They had a cave exhibit and inside was also a rock museum. Lots of different copper ores, which are mined in Arizona, plus some meteorites and other cool rocks.
There were two bird enclosures, one for hummingbirds and one for regular birds. Neither had much wildlife inside. We saw as many birds outside as we did inside. We saw 1 hummingbird inside and 3 outside. Inside the aviary we saw a male and female hooded oriole and a bunch of white-winged doves. Outside we saw a cactus wren, and that orangetip moth we had seen at Usery Mountain.
I get that the enclosures need to be true to life so the animals can enjoy them, but sometimes it's discouraging like this promising sign located right next to the prairie dog enclosure.
We happened to be near the theater when the live-animal show was about to start, so we saw that too. We saw a Gila monster and some other related Mexican lizard and a spotted snake. The snake's coloration helps it blend in with the rocks where it lives, like in the picture below.
In the evening, we went to the hot tub, like for hours. Scott just loves the hot tub. We had company for about half of our time. Nice folks, but it was nice when we got to be alone. A beautiful night, and right next to the hot tub are beautiful palm trees.
Tucson: Day 4
Coffee, laundry, exercise, bike ride 45 minutes. New plates: Quebec, Manitoba. Here are the ones we haven't seen yet: Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, North Carolina, Vermont, and Virginia.
Here's the huge rig in the spot next to ours.
Here's the huge rig in the spot next to ours.
Exercise pics that Scott took and told me to post.
Scott spent a few hours on the phone with Thomas while he worked, and we played cards. Then I practiced until they were done. After that, we went to the hot tub. We stayed until it was dark. It was a cool evening and the stars were out. Very pretty. Lots of activity in the hot tub. We met some interesting people.
To close the day, we ate dinner and watched a movie.
To close the day, we ate dinner and watched a movie.
Tucson: Day 3
Sadly, it was another day I had to rest my foot. The day was almost identical to yesterday: coffee, reading, exercise, an hourlong bike ride, then I practiced and Scott read by the pool. I have just barely enough room to practice in the camper. I'm not sure my form is the best though.
When I was done, I went to join him at the pool only to find him napping in the lounge chair. We did the hot tub for a bit. Half the time we were there, it was quiet. Then it got busy, but people were nice.
After showering, we headed to the restaurant located in the KOA for dinner. Someone in the hot tub said they'd heard it was good. I should have ordered something different. Scott liked his wings and cheese sticks a lot.
After dinner, we took another bike ride, this time probably 40 minutes. The mountains surround this area and are pretty. So even though we couldn't leave the campground, we got some exercise and it was pretty.
After showering, we headed to the restaurant located in the KOA for dinner. Someone in the hot tub said they'd heard it was good. I should have ordered something different. Scott liked his wings and cheese sticks a lot.
After dinner, we took another bike ride, this time probably 40 minutes. The mountains surround this area and are pretty. So even though we couldn't leave the campground, we got some exercise and it was pretty.
When we got back from bike riding, Scott read his phone and I wrote up this day. I hope he's going to play some cards!
Tucson: Day 2
We had a pleasant day, but unfortunately, we couldn't leave the campground or do too much because my foot couldn't handle walking.
We exercised in the morning and then went for a bike ride around the KOA. We went around and around for a little over an hour. It's fun to look at all the RVs, the campsites, the fruit trees. We picked some fruit as we were riding. Pretty cool, huh?
We exercised in the morning and then went for a bike ride around the KOA. We went around and around for a little over an hour. It's fun to look at all the RVs, the campsites, the fruit trees. We picked some fruit as we were riding. Pretty cool, huh?
It's a big KOA!
Scott spotted some roadrunners! So cute. There were three but he was trying to photograph them from his bike. There are lots of mockingbirds here, too. It's fun to hear them.
But then a new obsession befell me and I started looking at license plates. We spotted plates from 39 different states, including Alaska! Also, there were plates from Canada: British Columbia, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Alberta.
I also love to look at the bullet-shaped Airstreams, and there are a lot here. There are mostly the big ones, the Classics, Internationals, Globetrotters, and Flying Clouds, but there is also a tiny Bambi. Other campers include mostly these enormous modern rigs that are as big as Greyhound busses, only these also have slide-outs to increase their square footage. There are also a number of Class-B van campers, the ones that cost like $150,000 and up, and some Class-C campers. Travel trailers as small as ours are few, but they are here.
I also love to look at the bullet-shaped Airstreams, and there are a lot here. There are mostly the big ones, the Classics, Internationals, Globetrotters, and Flying Clouds, but there is also a tiny Bambi. Other campers include mostly these enormous modern rigs that are as big as Greyhound busses, only these also have slide-outs to increase their square footage. There are also a number of Class-B van campers, the ones that cost like $150,000 and up, and some Class-C campers. Travel trailers as small as ours are few, but they are here.
After our bike ride, we split up. I practiced and Scott went over and read by the pool. When I was done, I joined him and we hung out in the hot tub. Hallelujah, there was no one else in it for a long time, and when a few people did come and go, they were blessedly silent.
Then we had dinner, one that is becoming a third favorite (after pasta-free spaghetti and Nando's): tofu red curry.
Then we had dinner, one that is becoming a third favorite (after pasta-free spaghetti and Nando's): tofu red curry.
After dinner, it was cards and another cheesy rom-com.
Tucson: Day 1
We arrived at the Tucson KOA 40 minutes before check-in, but our site was ready so they let us check in!
Our site is okay. The location is half great, half bad. We are right by the entrance, so there is a lot of traffic. But we are right next to bathrooms, laundry, the pickelball courts, the pool, and the hot tub. Too bad I just learned Scott has zero interest in pickleball.
Our site is okay. The location is half great, half bad. We are right by the entrance, so there is a lot of traffic. But we are right next to bathrooms, laundry, the pickelball courts, the pool, and the hot tub. Too bad I just learned Scott has zero interest in pickleball.
The campsite itself is nice. We have a tree. Unfortunately, there is no fruit on it! Lots of grapefruit trees on other nearby sites are visible.
After we set up camp, we headed out for lunch and grocery shopping. We ate 5 Guys and then I shopped in Sprouts. We got back to the KOA, went for a short bike ride (this place is huge), and then we saw the distant hot tub had only a couple people in it, so we jumped off the bikes and jumped in. Over the course of our time there (at least an hour), 6 other people were in with us. All very nice but heavens if this hot tub is not popular.