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I have been in Tucson at Snyder Hill BLM campground for two days. I had a good time in Why and Ajo last week getting in the loop ride through Organ Pipe NM and hiking the short trail in the mountains. I found a place to get free water in Why, and groceries were plentiful at the market. The biggest drawback to my stay there was high prices for gas and groceries. In a town that is so remote I can understand the prices but it is nice to pay $1.30 / gallon here in Tucson when I paid $2.30 in Why(I would not have thought $2.30 was high a few years ago). One thing you want to remember when drivng into Ajo is the speed limit. The limit goes from 65 mph to 25 mph in the span of a couple miles while coming into town, and the sheriffs were busy working that area every time I went to town.
Ajo also has a museum with a few displays. One of the displays held brochures for attractions in the area and I picked up one that described a walking tour of the town. As you walk around town the pamphlet describes some history and architecture that went on there. It was an ok way to spend a little time in town.
Telescope for looking at the sun.
The temperature in Tucson today hit 90. That’s not an unusual temperature for Tucson but it is unusual for it to happen in the middle of February. I figured it would be a good time for a ride up to Kitt Peak observatory. The observatory is only 40 miles from my camp, it would be much cooler at the top of the mountain, and best of all, there is a fun, winding road for Honda all the way to the top.
Kitt Peak has more telescopes scattered around its summit than you can shake a stick at. I think I counted 26. There are many universities all over the country that have there own telescope up there, and each time they would build one bigger than the one before. It was all quite interesting to walk around to the different structures and read about all the things they have discovered.
I will stay here for a couple weeks and do some more exploring. There are places I remember from 50 years ago, though some are gone and some have changed.
Shouldn’t that be, “There are places I remember…. some have gone, and some remain.” ?
I always liked visiting Kitt Peak. Far enough from the cities that it doesn’t get too many visitors, cool in the summer (or during record breaking heat in the winter).
Did you get to see the image of the sun? They usually allow visitors into a viewing chamber.
Where is Snyder Hill? Send a Google location.
There were signs that said there was sun viewing until 3:30 but I didn’t get there in time.
Not sure this will work:
https://goo.gl/maps/ACW2hz5zzmR2
Those are both fun trips. Kitt Peak sure has changed since the first time I went up there with Dad on a service call before the new road was built.
I have a photo of Dianna, Donna, and Wanda standing around the Kitt Peak sign and all 3 have large bellies. I think they might have been fat then. 😉
Still in Tucson?
Still in Tucson. Not much to write about. The weather has been great! I ride town a lot but mostly to shop or explore or take in a movie. I noticed I eat too much fast food because it is so convenient. Probably move next week, not sure where yet.