The drive to Flagstaff took me through two detours, one the painted desert and two the petrified forest. Both were amazing, beautiful and astonishing. Nothing like huge petrified logs on the ground to get my attention.
http://www.nps.gov/pefo/
It was frustrating to spend so much time driving through amazing country and I couldn't stop and see everything. So I missed the meteor impact crater, and the ice caves and the worlds largest petrified tree in a museum and... The list of things I missed is very sad. I just wish I had more time for all of it.
On the other hand, I did get to see a lot of great national parks and monuments and scenery, not to mention all the libraries.
Flagstaff is a gorgeous town and the campus is stunning with all of its ponderosa pine trees. It is high enough up that it had bits of snow lingering about.
There's not a lot to write about most days because all I did was drive and drive and drive and drive. And when I wasn't driving I was working on writing up sabbatical stuff, visiting universities, eating or sleeping. Good think I LOVE to drive.
Photos of the drive: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604332516137/
Photos of NAU: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604328549608/
Showing posts with label arizona. Show all posts
Showing posts with label arizona. Show all posts
Friday, March 28, 2008
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Las Cruces: fourth stop on the southern sabbatical circuit
I began my drive to Las Cruces with a very, very tedious drive through Tucson's morning rush hour. Note to self: do not reserve a hotel on the other side of town from your next destination. Additionally, tis better to sleep in than play stop and go in rush hour.
Chiricahua (http://www.nps.gov/chir/) pronounced "cheery cow ah" is a national monument located in the southeast corner of Arizona. It is a stunning pile of volcanic rock formations with high desert vegetation. My goal to visit every national park and monument I could took me off the freeway to this gorgeous spot. As I got to the park I spotted a few tiny white tailed deer. Later I got to see my first Mexican Jay (arizona variety). The bird was hopping around the parking lot looking for food.
It is so frustrating to be a birder, but not good enough at it to spot all the great birds. Particularly when you're visiting a special 'these birds are only found here' spot. Frustrating to hear the birds but not be able to spot them. AAAAAAAaRRRRRGGGGGH. Melinda and I will have to come back here.
I took the long way back to the freeway and drove on dirt roads past Fort Bowie and lots of nut tree orchards. One of the orchards had this amazingly large flock of crows. They were in the trees, on the ground and everywhere. As I drove up to the fields they would swarm up and over, swirling among the still bare trees.
I finally got to my hotel in Las Cruces only to discover that I had booked myself into a D.I.V.E. The good thing was they screwed up my reservation and had me in a smoking room so I was able to extricate myself from the deal with no costs *phew*. Next problem, how to find a new hotel. Solution - call Nick. He was able to get me into a different hotel, he also helped me get un-lost. This is one of the few towns where I didn't have a map.
The next morning I went to the university. The campus is stunning and the people at the library were fabulous, interesting and innovative. I finished up with them in the early afternoon and headed for El Paso to pick up Melinda.
Road to Las Cruces including Chiricahua: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604113476916/
New Mexico State University: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604122180011/
Chiricahua (http://www.nps.gov/chir/) pronounced "cheery cow ah" is a national monument located in the southeast corner of Arizona. It is a stunning pile of volcanic rock formations with high desert vegetation. My goal to visit every national park and monument I could took me off the freeway to this gorgeous spot. As I got to the park I spotted a few tiny white tailed deer. Later I got to see my first Mexican Jay (arizona variety). The bird was hopping around the parking lot looking for food.
It is so frustrating to be a birder, but not good enough at it to spot all the great birds. Particularly when you're visiting a special 'these birds are only found here' spot. Frustrating to hear the birds but not be able to spot them. AAAAAAAaRRRRRGGGGGH. Melinda and I will have to come back here.
I took the long way back to the freeway and drove on dirt roads past Fort Bowie and lots of nut tree orchards. One of the orchards had this amazingly large flock of crows. They were in the trees, on the ground and everywhere. As I drove up to the fields they would swarm up and over, swirling among the still bare trees.
I finally got to my hotel in Las Cruces only to discover that I had booked myself into a D.I.V.E. The good thing was they screwed up my reservation and had me in a smoking room so I was able to extricate myself from the deal with no costs *phew*. Next problem, how to find a new hotel. Solution - call Nick. He was able to get me into a different hotel, he also helped me get un-lost. This is one of the few towns where I didn't have a map.
The next morning I went to the university. The campus is stunning and the people at the library were fabulous, interesting and innovative. I finished up with them in the early afternoon and headed for El Paso to pick up Melinda.
Road to Las Cruces including Chiricahua: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604113476916/
New Mexico State University: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604122180011/
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Tucson: third stop on the southern sabbatical circuit
I left Phoenix at an impossibly early hour in desperate need of an ATM and gas. I found both at a corner quick stop. The desert between Phoenix and Tucson is very different than the one between Las Vegas and Phoenix. On the way to Tucson the cacti get bigger, the ground gets barer, fewer shrubs and bushes, and more cacti varieties.
My first stop was the Saguaro National Monument. It was AMAZING. The short path I walked included signs with the names of the cacti. It was very hot, even though it was only Match 11th. The pictures on flickr just don't do this desert justice.
I then drove on into Tucson. Funny thing about maps, they just don't stay current with road building. I had to do some zen driving to find my way to town, cause I was literally not on the map and it wouldn't be the for the last time.
I had extra time, so I went to the public library and looked around and took a few pictures. I had a good meeting at University of Arizona, and really liked lunch at their outdoor Bookend Cafe.
Dinner came from Safeway and then I headed to my hotel, and drove, and drove, and drove, and drove.
The website said the hotel was in Tucson. It lied. The hotel was about 45 minutes outside of Tucson. Still, it was a great hotel the first of many best westerns to come. I was still nervous about traveling alone, so I wasn't unhappy that the hotel was so far outside of the main city and set in a beautiful, rural, area.
Saguaro National Monument photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604111511622/
Tucson Public Library photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604113314788/
University of Arizona photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604113438130/
My first stop was the Saguaro National Monument. It was AMAZING. The short path I walked included signs with the names of the cacti. It was very hot, even though it was only Match 11th. The pictures on flickr just don't do this desert justice.
I then drove on into Tucson. Funny thing about maps, they just don't stay current with road building. I had to do some zen driving to find my way to town, cause I was literally not on the map and it wouldn't be the for the last time.
I had extra time, so I went to the public library and looked around and took a few pictures. I had a good meeting at University of Arizona, and really liked lunch at their outdoor Bookend Cafe.
Dinner came from Safeway and then I headed to my hotel, and drove, and drove, and drove, and drove.
The website said the hotel was in Tucson. It lied. The hotel was about 45 minutes outside of Tucson. Still, it was a great hotel the first of many best westerns to come. I was still nervous about traveling alone, so I wasn't unhappy that the hotel was so far outside of the main city and set in a beautiful, rural, area.
Saguaro National Monument photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604111511622/
Tucson Public Library photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604113314788/
University of Arizona photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604113438130/
Monday, March 10, 2008
Phoenix: second stop on the southern sabbatical circuit
Friday March 7th - Monday March 10th 2008
Friday I drove to Phoenix. I know I've seen Hoover Dam before as a kid, but I just can't believe how stupendous it really is. The drive also took me through a piece of Joshua Tree forest the first of many desert terrains. I started remembering the various cactuses as this trip progressed.
It took some time but I finally started to realize that the problem with my pictures wasn't only due to shooting through the windows while driving. There had to be something wrong with the camera. Jamie confirmed it when I got to Phoenix. Jamie says that people pay lots of money for a lens with a softening effect. This old camera of Nick's has dust in the lenses. Perhaps it is due to the many dusty places he has taken it. In any case, it takes a great portrait, blurring out any imperfections...
It was fun to stay with Jamie and Sarah! I got there late Friday. On Saturday morning we hooked up with a friend and went to breakfast (fabulous oatmeal!). Next we stopped at the modern marvel of Phoenix public library. We dropped Robert off and went shopping. I found a great digital camera that uses double a batteries. I also got a huge expansion card so I wouldn't have to worry about uploading photos.
Saturday afternoon we visited and hiked around the White Tanks park. I absolutely love the teddy bear cholla cactus. I told Jamie about my walking to Rivendale goal (trying to walk 10,000 steps a day - using a pedometer for counting). Maybe she'll join me on this big hike.
Sunday we went to the wild animal park (mini zoo actually) and out to Brad's to see his horses. The big gray one kept trying to step into the covered porch. There's a 2.5' wall around the porch, but he really could step through if he wanted to. He was WONDERFUL. I really miss having horses around.
Monday was the big visit to Arizona State University-Tempe. It was spring break for them so the place was pretty deserted. I loved the palm tree lined boulevard in the middle of campus.
Jamie had me watch the funniest episode of the series ANGEL. It's the one where Angel is turned into a muppet. I laughed so hard I thought I would cry. We also watched the movie "Take the Lead" with Antonio Banderas dancing the hottest tango I've seen in years.
Hoover Dam: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604073380583/
Road to Phoenix: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604073398381/
Phoenix Public Library: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604077244253/
Wild Animal Park: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604121985021/
Brad's Horses: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604073052870/
White Tanks Park: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604085964689/
Arizona State University: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604111640972/
P.S. The new camera is FABULOUS
Friday I drove to Phoenix. I know I've seen Hoover Dam before as a kid, but I just can't believe how stupendous it really is. The drive also took me through a piece of Joshua Tree forest the first of many desert terrains. I started remembering the various cactuses as this trip progressed.
It took some time but I finally started to realize that the problem with my pictures wasn't only due to shooting through the windows while driving. There had to be something wrong with the camera. Jamie confirmed it when I got to Phoenix. Jamie says that people pay lots of money for a lens with a softening effect. This old camera of Nick's has dust in the lenses. Perhaps it is due to the many dusty places he has taken it. In any case, it takes a great portrait, blurring out any imperfections...
It was fun to stay with Jamie and Sarah! I got there late Friday. On Saturday morning we hooked up with a friend and went to breakfast (fabulous oatmeal!). Next we stopped at the modern marvel of Phoenix public library. We dropped Robert off and went shopping. I found a great digital camera that uses double a batteries. I also got a huge expansion card so I wouldn't have to worry about uploading photos.
Saturday afternoon we visited and hiked around the White Tanks park. I absolutely love the teddy bear cholla cactus. I told Jamie about my walking to Rivendale goal (trying to walk 10,000 steps a day - using a pedometer for counting). Maybe she'll join me on this big hike.
Sunday we went to the wild animal park (mini zoo actually) and out to Brad's to see his horses. The big gray one kept trying to step into the covered porch. There's a 2.5' wall around the porch, but he really could step through if he wanted to. He was WONDERFUL. I really miss having horses around.
Monday was the big visit to Arizona State University-Tempe. It was spring break for them so the place was pretty deserted. I loved the palm tree lined boulevard in the middle of campus.
Jamie had me watch the funniest episode of the series ANGEL. It's the one where Angel is turned into a muppet. I laughed so hard I thought I would cry. We also watched the movie "Take the Lead" with Antonio Banderas dancing the hottest tango I've seen in years.
Hoover Dam: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604073380583/
Road to Phoenix: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604073398381/
Phoenix Public Library: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604077244253/
Wild Animal Park: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604121985021/
Brad's Horses: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604073052870/
White Tanks Park: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604085964689/
Arizona State University: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604111640972/
P.S. The new camera is FABULOUS
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