A

rizona: Canyons, Cactus, and Heat

 

August 1, 2003



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Quiz Answer: Old Route 66, between Kingman and Flagstaff, AZ

Route 66 Accicent evacuation

We were en route from Las Vegas, our last major stop, to Phoenix, our next major stop. Tooling along (but not capable of singing "Get Your Kicks on Route 66" — what is the real title?) off in the hazy distance, several miles ahead, we saw something touching down on the tarmac that we soon confirmed as a helicopter. The highway patrol woman who stopped our car told us it had come to evacuate an accident casualty. We were assured that the injury was slight. The helicopter is needed because of the distance to the hospital from this remote location. Five minutes later we were tooling along again. We hope the accident victim was soon well, too.






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July, which comes before August (and August 1 is the date of this page) was Arizona Month. In fact, we also spent the end of June in Arizona, making a total of nearly six weeks, something that might make the Arizona Tourist bureau proud. We didn't plan it this way — as you know, "plan" hardly has any real meaning for us — but we enjoyed it. And that is inspite of choosing the worst month in the worst year to visit as new highs were constantly being recorded.

Gerry on the trail at Mt Charleston
Gerry on the trail at Mt Charleston

After two weeks in Las Vegas only daring to go out in the relatively cooler evening heat, we thought nostalgically of our cool days in the Sierra Nevada. So just before heading for Arizona we drove up to Mt Charleston and spent two nights in the delicious cool of a very nice tree-shaded campground at 8,000 feet. We worked off some of those buffet calories with a circular hike from the campground that stretched our muscles as well as our lungs.

Next stop was Flagstaff, Arizona, for another dose of mountain air before returning to the desert. In Flagstaff we visited the Observatory, shopped, swam, and drank in the smell of pine before moving on through Sedona and its startling red rock scenery to Phoenix.

Gerry and Allen in Chandler's pool
Gerry and Allen in Chandler's pool

Phoenix was our home from home for the next two weeks. Hosted by Gerry's brother Allen and his wife Barbara again, we were thrilled to have access to a real kitchen once more. Allen and Barbara were a little bemused at the fact that we actually volunteered to cook dinner for them. We fought the mid-summer desert heat by soaking in Allen and Barbara's pool.

We only expected to stay for three or four days, but then came the opening battle in the Fujitsu Wars. And that is how we came to extend a week in Arizona into a month.

Gerry's Fujitsu Lifebook, bought in New York City last November because it was equipped with a DVD burner was not reliably burning DVDs. Everybody with any electronic device knows what a pain help lines are and Fujitsu was no exception. But finally, and very relecutantly, Fujitsu agreed to examine the Lifebook in its own shops, so we sent it off to Tennessee for repair. Making a problem into an opportunity, as they teach in business school, we decided not to wait around for what would undoubtedly be a return later than promised.

Kachina doll in Heard Museum, Phoenix
Kachina doll in Heard Museum, Phoenix
Padre Kino Statue, Tucson
Padre Kino Statue, Tucson

In every trip to Arizona we had looked at the map, at the northeast corner of Arizona, at Indian Country, and said, "Not this time." But now we set off and drove up to the area where we saw Petrified Forest, Canyon de Chelly, Monument Valley, Navaho National Monument, the Grand Canyon, and much more.

Our trip took us in a large counter-clockwise loop that brought us back to Flagstaff, where, having been there so recently, we felt quite at home. We relaxed another two days and then, hearing the Fujitsu Lifebook had been returned, off we went to Phoenix. Back in Phoenix, we picked up the computer and continued on our way towards Mexico. Once again a short stay in Tucson turned into a two-week stay, while we fought battle two of the Fujitsu wars. Things were worse for the DVD and back went the Lifebook to Tennesse. Thus we spent two weeks in the Tucson area.

In Tucson for the first time we had a real car problem when it overheated in a minor traffic jam on the outskirts of Tucson. It was a bit of a shock. After 10K miles we were beginning to take the car for granted. We took it to a mechanic, who replaced a valve, topped up the coolant, and assured us all was fine, but the same problem has dogged us periodically ever since.

In Tucson we did some great hiking and got ourselves an education in the flora and fauna of the desert. We celebrated Jan's birthday by getting up early that day and hiking in the relatively cool morning heat up to Wasson Peak in the western section of Saguaro National Park.

Kitt Peak Solar Telescope
Kitt Peak Solar Telescope

We got over to Kitt Peak for some great desert views from a — dare we say it — sky high mountain. And then for our last day and night in the USA we camped and drove through Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.

Our other great activity (besides swimming, eating, and computer dawdling) was getting acquainted with the Spanish/Mexican heritage of the area. We enjoyed hearing how the downtown statue of Pancho Villa was not appreciated by all. And we played visits to the founding sites, in town and out, including the Tubac Presidio, Tumacacori ghost town/museum, and the beautiful Father Kino church, San Xavier Bac. These played a great introduction to northwestern Mexico, and Sonora in particular.

When we arrived in Arizona we had got our little Escort almost up to 10,000 miles and thought that we would soon be in Mexico. Well, the delays here and there put another 3,000 miles on the Escort. Instead of passing briefly through Arizona and being in Mexico by the first week of July we finally got to Mexico on August 1.

 



November 13, 2003