Ray and Debby's RV Adventure: Nov 9-Feb 25 Tucson AZ

We originally planned to stay one month in Tucson. Extensive exploration was called for since we really liked the area when we visited last year and wanted to consider it seriously for retirement. We stayed 4 nights (Nov 9-13) at Adventure Bound (Cactus Country) while we searched for the perfect RV park and toured the Del Webb in Vail.

Our campsite at Adventure Bound

Me at a Del Webb model home

We eventually eliminated Vail as our retirement destination (too far from home with no direct flights), but we did find a wonderful RV park: the Voyager Resort. We booked a site from Nov 14 to Dec 14.

Our first Voyager campsite

Although the site itself was nothing special, we enjoyed the spectacular sunsets and the many amenities.

Jay and Sheana joined us for Thanksgiving, staying in a casita a block or two away. It was a short visit, but we did get to tour the “boneyard” together at the Pima Air and Space museum.

Jay and Sheana in front of their casita

Planes stored in the "boneyard"

During this time we met Bob and Ann Winter whose company we thoroughly enjoyed. We went on numerous outings, including trips to the Asarco Copper Mine and the Franklin Automobile Museum.

We passed trucks like this one on our way to the extraction facility

The 3 mile wide mine. Can you see the truck?

Ray and one of the smaller vehicles

Ray, Bob and Ann in front of a Franklin auto

One month didn’t seem enough so we extended until Feb 14. We moved to a new site and continued our outings with Ann and Bob, especially enjoying a 5 hour astronomy program at Sky Center on Mount Lemmon. The drive up the mountain was amazing. We spent the night in a cabin with a fireplace--we had snow!

Our second Voyager campsite

We viewed Jupiter's moons through this scope

One of many rock formations on the drive to Mount Lemmon

Bob and Ann in front of the fireplace

Our cabin in Summerhaven (Mount Lemmon)

Bob and Ann left in January, but that didn’t stop our touring. Through Gray Line Bus we took a Border Crisis tour which brought us to Nogales, the Mexican border and the desert beyond.

Me in front of our bus

Ray at the border

Water set out for immigrants making illegal crossings

Our friend Mary Lynne visited us, flying from Seattle WA to Tucson. During her visit we went to numerous attractions, among them the International Wildlife Museum, the Amerind Museum and the San Xavier Mission.

Mary Lynne and Ray at the International Wildlife Museum

The Amerind didn't allow pictures inside. This is the entry way to the art museum.

San Xavier Mission from a nearby hill

We were also happy to see our friend Gloria who came all the way from Welland, Canada. Of course, there was more touring, including the Titan Missile Museum, and Sabino Canyon. She inspired us to start playing pickleball—lots of fun.

The Titan II missile

Ray and Gloria at Sabino Canyon

Ray at the pickleball court

When we heard that Ted and Eileen, friends we met last year in Aho AZ, were coming to Tucson we extended our stay yet again, this time from Feb 14 to Feb 25. It was great to see them and their family and great to have extra time at the Voyager. At our home away from home, the Voyager Bar and Grill, we were able to catch a Frank Sinatra act.

Entertainment at the Bar and Grill

Ray and I played some extra table tennis and I was able to finish one more jigsaw puzzle at the library.

This puzzle was a real challenge.

I’ll end this blog entry with a few desert landscapes and a few animal sightings. I suspect this will not be the last winter we spend in Tucson. It's a great place….