Quartzsite and the Trek Rally

As we were leaving the Benson Saquaro Escapee Park a couple stopped and told us that they also had a Trek motorhome and that there was going to be a rally of the Southwest Trek Fun Group.  We were going to be in the area so we got the information.

We arrived in Quartzsite - it is an amazing site to see hundreds of thousands of RV's of all sizes and type parked out in the Desert.

There were approximately 68 Treks in our group

Mike and Madeline made a delicious breakfast of waffles with bananas.

Tucson made a new friend - Kobi 

The weather was good except for this dust storm that blew through. 

This is the Hi Jolly monument and cemetery.  Haiji Ali came with Camels from Saudi Arabia -  Jefferson Davis had approved a plan to import and use camels for freighting in the Arid Southwest as they could carry heavy weight and did not need much water in the desert conditions.  They proved their worth but the project was abandoned as the sight of them caused horses and mules to stampede.

After 3 days in the Desert and $3,000 for new Springs, Shocks, Bell Cranks, and front end alignment, we head to Yuma.  We decide to boon dock at the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge on our way.

We pick a nice site 

We hike to Palm Canyon 

Where California Fan Palms,  descendants of palms that grew in this region during the last periods of North American glaciation and the only Palm Trees native to Arizona grow in the hills.

Till Later!

Meanwhile, we keep on Trek'n

Melissa, Gary & Tucson

Painted Rock - Are there Aliens among us?

Headed towards Yuma we stop at Painted Rock just outside Gila Bend, AZ.  We run into our friend Shirley and her friend Mary. 

The sites are nice and spacious and only $7 (no hook-ups) 

The Painted Rocks are actually Petroglyphs  

Shirley invited us to a campfire at here site and we were "stargazing"  I had mentioned a brighter than normal object I had seen the night before.  A short time later Shirley noticed this bright object - it was brighter and larger than a star or planet and was bobbing up and down. 

I zoomed in closer

and closer.  It was very strange.  It would suddenly disappear and then reappear.  Through binoculars they looked the circles of LED lights. 

We watch for over an hour as 2-3 in two different locations came and went.  Painted Rock or Twilight Zone?

Till Later,

Meanwhile, we keep on Trek'n

Melissa, Gary & Tucson

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

After leaving Tucson we head West and venture down to Organ Pipe Cactus National Park.  We decide to stay north of the Park and drive in with the Tracker.  We stayed at Coyote Howls Park and yes, that is a Coyote crossing the entrance.

Tucson thinks he can howl pretty good - especially with that megaphone he's wearing. 

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument shares it's border with Mexico and protects the life and landscape of a Sonoran Desert. In 1976 the United Nations designated the monument as an International Biosphere Reserve. 

The Organ Pipe Cactus is a large cactus that is rarely found in the US but is common in Mexico.  The Monument protects the majority of the U.S. range.  It grows on the warmer slopes which is important in winter months when severe frosts can kill the cactus. 

They grow some impressive Saguaro Cactus as well. 

The Ajo Mountain range makes a beautiful background for the cactus. 

There is a 21 mile scenic drive - the Ajo Mountain Drive. 

The Ocotillo are starting to bloom.  The Ocotillo are usually bare thorny branches they are of the Candlewood family not cactus.  Whenever there is a rain it immediately sprouts leaves then loses them once again when dry to conserve on evaporation. 

Here is a sample of a "Crest" on an Organ Pipe Cactus.  Some think it might be genetically caused or others think it is caused by Frost or an imbalance of growth hormones. They are just pretty to me.

Here is an Arch formation in the Mountain 

We hike the trail up

but it gets a little much for the conehead puppy so we turn back.

On our way to the Monument we passed some BLM land that people were camping on and moved over there for our second night.  You can dry camp on most BLM land for up to 14 days.  There are Long Term Visitor Areas where you can stay for up to 8 months but must purchase a permit for $160.

 

Till Later!

Meanwhile, we keep on Trek'n

Melissa, Gary & Tucson

Biosphere 2

Our last day in Tucson we decide to go see Biosphere 2 before leaving.  The size of two and a half football fields, it remains the largest closed system ever created.  The sealed structure allowed scientists to monitor the continually changing chemistry of the air, water and soil contained within. Health of the human crew was monitored by a medical doctor inside and an outside medical team.

Biosphere 2 contained a 1,900 square meter rain forest, an 850 square meter ocean with a coral reef, a 450 square meter mangrove wetlands, a 1,300 square meter savannah grassland, a 1,400 square meterfog desert , a 2,500 square meter agricultural system, a human habitat, and a below-ground level technical infrastructure.

Biosphere 2 had two closure experiments, Missions 1 and 2. The first, with a crew of eight people, ran for two years from 1991 to 1993. Following a six month transition period during which researchers entered the facility through airlock doors and conducted research and system engineering improvements, a second closure with a crew of seven people was conducted March 1994 – September 1994.

Just building this place was a major feat

There was once upon a time a white sand beach but the wave machine broke down and when they  turned it back on after repairs there was a minor Tsunami and it washed out the beach.

We got to go into the depths of it.

This is actually the "breathing" system for the Biosphere.  Sun during the day expanded the air and the cool nights condensed it.  This large diaphram acted like a set of lungs.

You can see how much air was released as we exited the room.

During the 1st experiment about 2 years into the experiment, one of the inhabitants cut off the tip of a finger.  The resident doctor advised them to go to a hospital or risk infection or worse.  They were let out, taken to the Hospital and returned a few hours later.  The Press declared the experiment a failure because of it.

Till Later!

Meanwhile, we keep on Trek'n

Melissa, Gary &  Tucson



Old Tucson Movie Studios

Today we headed to Old Tucson Studios.  It is an old movie studio now an old west town theme park.  It was originally built for the Movie Arizona in 1939.  Many movies and TV shows were later filmed there such as Little House on the Prairie and High Chaparral

It opened to the Public in 1960. Buildings were added one by one with each movie filmed there.  In 1995 a fire destroyed much of it including memorabilia and Costumes.

The Palace hotel has several skits and shows.  This was a travelling medicine man comedy show, followed by a Burlesque Show 

A lot of walking around, Gary when he's dead tired, can nap anywhere!

There are stage coach rides, train ride, Mine tours, Antique Car rides, horseback riding and more 

They even re-enacted a scene from The Quick and the Dead 

Even the restrooms fit right in 

Again, we spent 4 hours there and could have done more! 

Till Later!

Meanwhile, we keep on Trek'n

Melissa, Gary & Tucson