Saguaro, Tucson & Coronado N.F.

Trip Start Mar 01, 2009
1
12
59
Trip End Ongoing


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Flag of United States  , Arizona
Saturday, April 25, 2009

We packed in a lot of activity into our three days and two nights in Tucson, AZ.  We arrived in the city early on the first day, and had time to orient ourselves before taking off for the Santa Catalina Mountains in Coronado National Forest (just east of Tucson).  We drove the Sky Island Highway to Mount Lemon (9,000 ft?), passing by amazing rock formations on the way, and reaping the benefits of the altitude's cooler air.  (Temperatures in scorching Tucson were close to 100 degrees that day.)   After viewing Hoodoos, and hiking out to a lookout point, we drove back down, out of the forest and through the city, had some much needed nourishment at Bah Thong (a very good Thai restaurant on Speedway Blvd.), and then proceeded to the other side of Tucson, to Saguaro West, just in time for sunset.  The saguaro cactus is imposing and regal, and thousands of them dot the rolling desert hills and mountains.  The Bajada Loop Drive at Saguaro West took us through 6 miles of the park and provided beautiful windows to the luminous pink and orange setting sun.

Roadrunner Hostel, which was recommended in our "Let's Go USA" travel guide, provided us a private room, shared bathroom, Belgian waffle breakfast and conversation with other travelers and some residents.  I think the value lies in their dorm rooms, though, the upgrade didn't seem worth the price we paid.  It was, however, a good location for exploring the university of Arizona campus and surrounding area, especially 4th Ave.'s strip of shops and cafes between Broadway and University.  

After an early morning oil change for Giwi (short for Sacagawea, our nickname for the little Nissan Sentra), we bummed around town for a few hours, planning our future itinerary a little further, and exploring the UA campus.  Our time at UA's Center for Photography was especially enjoyable.  We saw eight Ansel Adams photographs and a current exhibit by Linda Conner that captured the sacred in numerous images, primarily taken in India and Africa over the last thirty years.  The artist's arrangement of the images, outside chronological order, was especially powerful, revealing fluidity without the aid of external constructs, time and place.

Pleased with our city venture, but ready to escape again to nature, we drove back up to Coronado National Forest to camp at Molino Basin, which lies between 4,000 and 5,000 ft. on Mount Lemon, and even though we only stayed one night, it was by the most enjoyable camping experience we've had so far.  The weather was cool at night, but still warm enough to leave the fly off the tent.  The secluded area had sites that were very well laid out and even provided some shade.  And the lack of wind enabled us to linger over breakfast and watch the birds.  A nice way to start a special day - John's birthday!  We set out for a quick hike up a portion of the Arizona Trail from its trailhead at Molino Basin campground before departing for Scottsdale, AZ.
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Comments

bobnora
bobnora on

Tucson
Dear John and Kelly,

Sounds like you had a good experience in Tucson and environs although hard to believe it is that hot there. Basically we like Tucson a lot; although when we went to the lectures on water reclaimation we heard that had supplies for 60,000 people on a sustainable basis, but they have over 1 million and want more. Their fallback position was a pipeline from the Great Lakes. Oh well!

Have a good time and keep posting.

Dad

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