Photo Album Update

Somehow, the link I had to my photo album quit working (some time ago actually) but I think I have a fix (sort of).  I use to have a link that you just clicked on to open a new window and my photos (left corner of this page).  The best I've been able to do is post the link but you will have to either 'right-click' and then 'go to' that page or 'cut and paste' the link into a new window.  But it's worth the effort, I think.

I have my 'good' camera with me this trip so the picture quality is nice.  I have two folders on the home page.  Bowlins TT contains photos from around The Thing - where I'm working.  There is a major remodel going on that will double the existing showroom floor space and then add a new 11,000 sqft building for the museum -- a tribute to aliens and dinosaurs ... and The Thing.

The other folder -- Arizona 3.2018 -- has multiple folders inside with pictures from each of my side-trips.  While each pix is NOT captioned, I typically include pictures of signs at the location that describe what's there.

The folder labeled 'animals' is a collection of photo's of the wildlife (mostly birds so far) that I have 'baited' into camera range.  Yes, I feed the birds.  Then using my bird book, I research what I'm looking at.  One of the more unusual visitors has been a covey (10-12) of quail.

I will continue working on the link and perhaps figure out a way to make it work like it use to.

I spent a small amount of time in Tucson back in 1974 when I flew into Davis Monthan Air Force Base a couple of times.  One of my memories was going to nearby Mount Lemmon early one day to sight see.  It must have been in the spring because I remember there being snow on the ground at the summit, although it wasn't particularly cold.  Then later that same day we sat around the pool back at the motel in town for Happy Hour -- in our swimming suits!  The temperature range from the mountain to the valley was dramatic.

Today I am about 65 miles south and a bit east of Tucson, sitting on the rim of Texas Canyon at about 4900 feet elevation.  The temps here have gone from the mid-30s in the morning to mid-70s by afternoon ... and then back to the 30s again!  I moved from southern Illinois because I do not like the cold.  (My definition of cold is anything below 45 or 50)

And then there is the wind.  OMG!  Yesterday was one of the worst -- 30 MPH steady winds with gusts to 45!  Today it's 18 MPH and gusting to 25; but it's still early yet.  They don't get much rain here either.  In the 6 weeks I've been here about all I've seen was Virga -- rain that falls from the cloud but doesn't reach the ground because the air is so dry .. it just dissipates.  A typical day has 10-12% humidity.

And let's not forget the dust.  It's EVERYWHERE; including my nose.  Cleaning my camper is a full-time job.  I quit opening the windows.  I run my heater early in the mornings and then my AC from late morning until sunset.  About 20 miles east of me, they have shut down the interstate twice lately because of dust storms creating zero-visibility situations.

I've decided (at least this part of) Arizona is not for me.  But I talk to people everyday that wouldn't live anywhere else.  And that's GREAT!  I did spend two days further north in Phoenix and that seemed more to my liking.  But AZ just get's much colder than I thought, at times.

If you can get past the temperature extremes and the blowing dust, this is beautiful country.  I have enjoyed the rock formations (Chiricahua Monument #1) and the different mining operations (silver, copper and gemstones).  There is also a lot of history here both new (westward expansion of the settlers in the mid to late 1800s) and old (this area was underwater some 35 million years ago which has led to these incredible rock formations ).  I have a lot of pix in the photo album.

I am hopeful the weather starts warming up in the next few weeks, particularly in the mornings.  There is a lot more of AZ (and NM, CO and NV) that I want to see before going back to FL in early June.  I should probably be careful what I wish for.  I understand the summers can be quite brutal also with afternoon temps in the 110s or more.  And I don't care to hear about how it's a 'dry' heat.  Hot is hot!