Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and Saguaro National Park

Hello again,

The morning was spent getting some things done* and packing for travel.

We were on route to the Desert Museum via downtown Tucson (which we had pretty much avoided, but it was mid-day and R2D1 thought it would be OK. R2D1 (we can converse and she helps me navigate, but she but can't actually pilot the ship) notified us that the 86 was closed and she would re-route. After a missed turn (sometimes her instructions take longer to relate than the time it takes to drive past the required manoeuvre) we toured some more of downtown. Finally outside of town we came upon a fire truck and were told there was a gas leak and we had to turn back. Another tour of Tucson suburbs: interesting because of the old growth saguaro in the backyards (they are protected) and the building style of this area.

Eventually we were out in the desert and on our way through the fantastic world of saguaro forests and desert landscapes. The connection to the All-Seeing Tower is weak tonight so I'm not going to attempt photos. I have the phone hanging on its charging cord outside the van towards the signal so I can have a hotspot that works. We are using a metallic insulating material to line the windows of the van for warmth and privacy. It's like wearing a tinfoil hat. Keeps those spying radio waves out. 

So I just deleted a whole bunch of stuff I wrote about what I learned about the desert and saguaro. That is not what we are here for. Go search Wikipedia. Or come see for yourself.

We spent a lot of time in the Desert Museum. Lots to see. Because of that, as usual, we arrived at our campsites late, when the office was closed, and we were setting up and making supper as it grew dark. We wasted a lot of precious sunshine finding our site (the signage in Arizona on the whole has a lot of room for improvement. You'll often find the much needed sign when you are already in sight of your destination.)  But the moon and Venus were with us, Orion was brilliant, and we are settled in Catalina State Park with the mountain range of that name at our back. Very nice.

Tomorrow we will head toward another State Park near Phoenix and we are going to try to get there early. Just to change it up a bit.

stay calm,
j
*Getting an appointment with an MD, to get replacement meds for Jane, and a getting a replacement window for the van because someone broke in and stole our cooler... Next weekend was an international gem show and several out of state vehicles in the hotel parking lot were looted that night.