A blog about our experiment in living a simple and itinerant lifestyle.
Day 90: Boynton Canyon!
Location: Cococino National Forest, Red Rock District, Sedona, AZ
First spot of cloudy weather in a long time, for this 6 mile hike! This was a pretty hike, but revealed how commercialized Sedona is. There were helicopter tours overhead and jeeps everywhere. Still, it's quite beautiful!
Day 89: Jake Shimabukuro!
Location: Yavapi College, Prescott, AZ
We saw Jake Shimabukuro — ukulele phenom— last night. In the event you haven't hear of him, watch this!
Day 88: Work Day!
Location: Refrigorator at our Munds Park House
We are thinking about tattooing the alarm instructions on our wrists, because there is no way we will remember them. So, wait...was 3 seconds on 6 seconds off and attack or an all clear?
Day 87: Work Day!
Location: Montezuma's Well
Day 86: Montezuma's Castle!
Location: Montezuma's Castle National Monument
A cliff dwelling that was inhabited between 1,100 and 1,400s and which became an National Monument in 1901. It has nothing to do with Montezuma, but we've kept the name. The park closed the actual dwelling to visitors in 1950 due to deterioration of the structure, which has five stories and twenty rooms.
Day 85: Altitude Adjustment!
Location: Cococino National Forest, Munds Park
Munds Park is a mile-high, and we found out we are among the 25% of the population affected by the altitude. Lots of water, a little exercise and a nap all helped.
Day 84: Headed North!
Location: Sunset Point Rest Stop, Rt 17 N, Arizona
Day 83: Packing!
Location: Kitt Peak National Observatory
Day 82: Kitt Peak!
Location: Kitt Peak National Observatory, Tohono O'odham Nation.
We took part in the nighttime observation program at Kitt Peak tonight.
Day 81: Work Day!
Location: Titan Missile National Landmark; Sahuarita, Arizona
Things were different in the 60s! They put up fake radiation warning signs around the amateur radio tour near the titan missile base, to "keep curious people away".
Day 80: Phone Line Trail!
Location: Sabino Canyon, Coronado National Forest
Curt's Mom did a fabulous job on the 4.1 mile Phone Line trail!
Day 79: Easter!
Location: San Xavier Mission
Barrel Cactus at the San Xavier Mission
Day 78: Madera Canyon!
Location: Madera Canyon, Coronado National Forest
Wait? Where did the desert go? An hour south of Tucson we found pine trees...and even snow! This 8 miles hike took us to 8200ft!
Day 77: Center for Creative Photography!
Location: University of Arizona, Tucson Az.
This photo is by Graciela Iturbide.
We visited the Center for Creative Photography, which focuses on acquisition of full archives of significant photographers, research and teaching about the art of photography. The exhibition space is small, but the current exhibition is a celebration of the center's 40 year anniversary. So we got to see A LOT!
Day 77: Saguaro Bloom!
Location: Saguaro National Park, Tucson Mountains
Got to visit with a friend from Seattle today and saw my first Saguaro bloom! It's not the best shot, but we both got cactus all over us and didn't dare go back to try again!
Day 76: Work Day!
Location: San Xavier Mission.
Day 75: San Xavier Mission!
Location: San Xavier Mission
The Mission dates back to the 1700's and was previously part of New Spain and then Mexico. It became part of the United States in 1854. Throughout this time, the mission has served the Wa:k O’odham people, who are part of the Tohono O’odham Nation, whose ancestors have lived in the area for the last 10,000 years.
Day 75: San Xavier Mission!
Location: San Xavier MIssion. Ohono O'odham San Xavier Indian Reservation
The chapel had so many lit candles in it, a burst of hot air hit you on entry. It was like a campfire. This photo shows about 1/16th of all the candles in the room!
Day 74: First Cactus Bloom!
Location: Blackett's Ridge, Sabino Canyon, Coronado National Forest
We saw 1 and only 1 cactus bloom on our hike today. We are hopeful to see more before we leave next week!
Day 74: Blackett's Ridge !
Location: Sabino Canyon/Coronado National Forest
Day 74: Ocotillo in Bloom!
Location: Blackett's Ridge Trail, Sabino Canyon, Coronado National Forest
Ocotillo is a shrub that likes rocky, well drained areas. It can live to be between 60-100 years old. It was blooming everywhere on our hike today!
Day 73: Bike Ride!
Location: Loop Path, Tucson AZ
First bike ride in over 4 years! Took advantage of the Loop Path, that offers over 100 miles of trails in and around Tucson!
Day 72: Biosphere2!
Location: Oracle, AZ
Biosphere2 is a research facility outside of Tucson, now run by University of Arizona. But it was once host to "biospherians" hoping to learn how to live on other planets!
Day 71: A Family Affair!
Location: Saguaro National Park, Loop Drive
Curt and his Mom take in the sunset!
Day 71: Sunset!
Location: Saguaro National Park, Loop Drive
Got my lens fixed and some new filters - but haven't yet bought the filters for sunset. We will work on it!
Day 70: Rasta Cactus!
Location: Sabino Canyon Recreation Area; Coronado National Forest
A big fan of reggae music in high school, Wendy's wardrobe was no stranger to red, green and yellow color combinations. So you can imagine her excitement to see a Rasta cactus on the trail today!!
Day 70: Nice view!
Location: Coronado National Forest. Blackett's Ridge Trail
Nice view from 4183 FT!
Day 69: Work Day!
Location: Downtown Tucson, AZ
Acacia Tree - we had to look it up!
Day 68: Work Day!
Location: Saguaro National Park -Tucson, AZ
This is the weirdest looking cactus!
Day 67: Cactus Forest
Location: Saguaro National Park, Tucson AZ
Short hike today in the cactus forest. The sun was bright and hot- our pictures didn't do it justice! We'll aim to go in more pleasing light in the future (for the sake of both our comfort and our photos!)
Day 67: Cactus Forest!
Location: Saguaro National Park, Tucson AZ
Day 66: Downtown Tucson!
Location: Downtown Tucson, AZ
We decided to do an urban hike today and took in some of the old signs - of which there were many - around downtown Tucson. There was an airshow at the Air Force base... so we also got to see the Thunderbirds do their thing over the skies of the city.
Day 65: Work Day!
Location: Sabino Canyon, Coronado National Forest .Tucson, AZ.
Day 64: Sabino Canyon!
Location: Seven Falls Trail, Sabino Canyon, Coronado National Forest
First hike in 10 days. It was hot! hot! hot! but we were glad to be out in it.
Day 62: Kitt Peak Cancelled!
Location: Somewhere above Tuscon, AZ
We were supposed to be looking up at the sky today at Kitt Peak National Observatory, but our sky gazing tour was cancelled due to weather. We'll try again!
Day 61: See ya, Seattle!
Location: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
Three walls of Pearl Jam concert posters are part of an exhibit at the airport. Who knew there were so many!?
