Messages: 2064 Location: Illinois, USA
Registered: February 2009
Travelogue of our Tucson get-away...and Happy New Year
Mon, 31 December 2012 17:35
Hi everyone,
Thought I'd share some shots of our recent get-away to Tucson, Arizona. My watch choice for the trip was my latest acq: the Solar Impulse Speedmaster.
Native to the Tucson area is the Saguaro cactus, symbol of the US Southwestern deserts.
My wife says they remind her of motionless people standing guard. They kind of remind me of big telephone poles sticking out everywhere. Look at them going all the way up this mountain.
But not far away from the cactusus, like only 30 miles from Tucson there is snow and a ski slope! More snow than in Chicago! How can that be?
We went on a hot air balloon ride which was a first for us and a significant "bucket list" item for my wife.
We went to about 3000 feet above the valley, although I think these wrist shots were taken lower. No nanny-state seat belts here! Just standing around in the basket.
After about an hour and a half, we landed safely a whopping 2 miles away on a residential side street. We were the instant attraction of the neighborhood. The balloon was walked over to a nearby cul-de-sac or court where it was deflated. Really fun experience.
Next we visited the very cool Pima Air and Space Museum which houses appox.70 acres of aircraft, including this surviving B-17 bomber.
An SR-71 Blackbird
Although not as majestically presented as the one at the Smithsonian Udvar-Hazy center in Washington DC, you can get much closer to this one and actually touch it.
The business end of an A-10 Warthog. This plane protects its pilot with a titanium tub, ya know!
I saw a "guppy" cargo plane down one row of planes...thought I'd get too it later...then ran out of time. Darn, didn't even get a shot. ..would be perfect for a Mark III or Flighmaster wristshot if an owner plans a visit.
The space part of the museum is a bit small, mostly replicas and models, but educational nonetheless.
These are models of lesser known space plane concepts: X-30 top, another X-30 and an X43-A left to right.
X-38 top. Two versions of the X-33 left. Continuing from left to right, X-37, X-38 and X-34.
Didn't see any Speedmasters or any other watches on display here but I had to go though kinda fast...
...because...across the street from Pima is Davis-Monthan Air Force base which is the famous military aircraft "bone yard". They offer a bus tour...so THIS I couldn't miss!!! Sorry for the poorer than usual photos. We were not allowed out of the bus.
Countless C-130 Hercules.
Rows of towering C-5 Galazies.
Can you guess what these are?
Here they are from the front.
B1 Bombers! I count 11 tails! B - ONES!!!
They have a field full of tooling for airplane parts. I never thought about what to do with the TOOLING before!!!
The tour only covers a fraction of it. They said there are 3,800 aircraft here!
Right after this we had a reservation for a copper mining tour a few miles South. Quick shot of the massive earth moving equipment.
They run this operation an amazing 24/7, 365 days a year.
When it was over, it was nice to relax at the hotel swimming pool. OK, I brought a second watch with for this minor mission. The Deep Blue got the nod because I don't have to worry much about it getting stolen when I'm not wearing it.
Finally as the sun sets on 2012...
... wishing everyone a very Happy New Year! Hope '13 brings much happiness and cool watches for all!
PS: Sorry I'm running late with my SOTC posting. Will put something together in the coming few days.
- lpoirier