We packed the rv and left City of Rocks State Park in New Mexico to head for Tucson, Arizona. It was about 280 miles so it took about 5 hours. We went from the Chihuahuan Desert into the Sonoran Desert. As we approached Tucson saguaro cacti started dotting the landscape. At a rest area about an hour from Davis Monthan AFB, Joyce called to determine campsite availability. We were told we would go into overflow for one night and then have a full hook-up site the next day.
When we arrived in Tucson, we drove through part of the airplane boneyard on the way to the AFB.
We went into overflow and were last on the list to get a site the next day. If we had been 20 minutes later, we would have waited another day for full hook-up.
We set up in overflow and drove around base to see where everything was located. We splurged and had fast food for dinner from the PX's food court.
Thursday, January 10
Thursday, January 10
We had to be in the FamCamp office at 9 a.m. to be sure we got our site. There was someone who came in after us hoping for a no show so they could get a site. We are in site 38, one of the few back-in sites. Our site is paved and desert landscaped with rocks. There is a bunny living in the area near our site.
The temperature dips into the 30s at night, but is in the 60s during the day--very comfortable once it warms up.After setting up camp, we went to the commissary to replenish our groceries. After putting everything away we started looking at all the material we were given when we registered. There are so many things to do and see around Tucson that we had trouble deciding what to do first. Several places are closer to Fort Huachuca so we are going to see if we can get reservations at their famcamp.
We decided to go into downtown Tucson Friday to see where it all began.
Friday, January 11
Tucson reminds us of El Paso, situated at the foot of mountains in the desert. As we drove downtown we went under the rattlesnake pedestrian overwalk that is one of the sights to see in Tucson. I don't think I want to walk through a rattlesnake (it is the official snake of Arizona)!
We found a parking spot near the visitor center where we would pick up a map of the presidio walking trail. It is a 2 1/2 mile trail through the downtown area with many historic places marked. In fact, the trail is marked by a turquoise line painted on the sidewalk.
The visitor center is number 7 on the trail so we walked the trail in reverse to get to Presidio San Agustin del Tucson is number one. The presidio was Tucson's first fort. It was established by that fine Spanish officer Colonel Hugo O'Conor in 1775. The presidio is being restored and has many artifacts found on the site. This is the gate at the entrance.
The mural depicts life in the late 1700s, early 1800s. You can see the office buildings of Tucson all around the presidio.
We found a spot in the sun for a picture. Yes, Bob was cold!
In the original fort this tower was 20 feet tall.
After leaving the presidio we walked most of the trail through Tucson. It went by the train depot where Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday killed one of the Clanton gang. Bob posed with Wyatt and Doc.
We stopped short of walking the full trail because we were parked at a 2 hour meter. We got to the car as the meter went to zero. You are allowed 2 hours on the meters with no feeding the meter to add time! We were parked nest to St. Augustine Cathedral which was started in 1896. Renovation work is being done on part of it now. We took this picture from several blocks away as we didn't realize we were parked next to it! Our view was hampered by construction safety walls.
When we returned to Davis Monthan, we ate lunch, rested, then walked to Warrior Park at the entrance of the base. There are planes on display with tags telling about them and their duties. Joyce is standing next to an OV10. It was used for forward air control.
The paths through the park were either concrete or gravel. Some areas would have grass in summer and spring.
Here we are next to the C130 named for Tucson.
This U2 was interesting. The landing gear fell off after take-off and the plane landed on the downturned skids at the end of each wing.
We enjoyed walking through all the planes and reading the stories.
Saturday we will venture to the area southwest of Tucson to see Tucson Studios and the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.
If any of you have been to Tucson and know of something we should see, please let us know!
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