Travel South For A Taste Of History

I almost forgot to tell you about the south trip of I-17. I have been so busy doing absolutely nada today! That happens to retirees, we often forget what day it is, what month. I can't tell you how much that sometimes frustrates me and other times makes my life so simple. I can always put off yardwork, or work at Debi's house. Those things will be there. But the couch might move if I am not on it... Hey! It's a job, some one has to protect the old homestead.

Anyway, Let's hypothetically talk about if I moved off the couch and went on a trip and took I-17 south, then I-10 east.

Once we get out of the spaghetti that is the highways around Phoenix (the US 60, I-10, 101, 202, I-17) and hit the cozy 4 lane towards Tucson, there are many sights to see depending on which you go. I-17 offers a quick trip as the speed limit is 75 (You can go 82 easily) but the back trip through Florence is more scenic.



The Florence trip has multiple prisons, the Tom Mix memorial, and a verisimilitude of flora and fauna. (And don't forget the antique shops.) I-17 gives you speed, plenty of stops and some historic landmarks. Picacho Peak is the highlight of the trip historically. Picacho Peak is the farthest west battle of the Civil War, and the marker is hidden just off the entry road to the state park. It was here that the Confederacy became complacent after a win over a Union scouting party and retreated to Tucson, only to find that there was a large contingent of Union soldiers close behind. The Union took control of the territory then.

Further down the road, on the south side of the road, you will see tails of airplanes rise out of the desert. This is not a mirage, but a storage area for airlines (particularly Northwest Airline) to store unneeded airliners. There are many different ones that are not used anymore. The airport there used to be a base for CIA operations in Southeast Asia, and is still used by the Arizona Air National Guard for training. Other countries send their helicopter pilots out there to train in the desert. This is nothing, though, when compared to Davis-Monthan Air Base in Tucson.

Davis Monthan is home to the group that trains pilots and mechanics and groundspeople for the Air Force. There are literally HUNDREDS of planes and helicopters of all types and sizes mothballed out there for practice; some will be taken apart and shredded and the recycled metal wil be used for other planes, etc. This is quite a sight to see, and if you go to the Pima Air and Space Museum, there are tours of the facility available.

Just west and south of Tucson towards Nogales on I-19 is the Titan Missile Museum. This Cold War Era Titan Missile base is the only one left in the US with an actual Titan Missile still in the silo. It is bone chilling to think that there were 18 of these in the Tucson area that could have been launched on a moment's notice. This attraction is a DON'T MISS. Everyone should see the base and hear the thrilling descriptions of the guides, some whom served in Titan silos.

"The Town To Tough To Die" is about a half hour to 45 minutes down I-10 from Tucson. Tombstone offers a look back into the faded era of cowboy towns and mining communities. It was here that Wyatt Earp and his brothers and Doc Holliday killed the Clanton gang at the OK Corral. Cowboys walk the streets and readily tell visitors the town's history, Big Nose Kate's Saloon is still in operation and serves some of the best sandwiches around. Visitors should not miss the shoot out. A final visit to Boot Hill Graveyard is a must. Just reading the old epitaphs is worth the visit. If you like ghosts, Tombstone has those too. The Birdcage Theatre is full of spooky feelings and changes in temperature as things have been left untouched for a century. There is also a night time tour where they turn out the lights and let you sit there in the dark. If you are lucky, you may feel a touch, or hear the eerie sounds of pleasure emanating from the basement in the rooms once used by prostitutes to please their johns.

On your way back to Tucson, you will be stopped by Border Patrol agents and asked if you are an American Citizens. A few may be asked to show a drivers license as proof, or the car may be searched.

After all, it is Arizona. Happy Travels!

Doughnut

School leader Searches Lunches

This a warning to readers.... the Fat Guy Is About to Go Ballistic! I can't believe the article I just read about a school in Tucson...I am incensed!

At a private school in Tucson (ok, its private, they can do what they want) the leader of the school has BANNED all white bread, any food made with processed flour, anything with sugar. Only all natural certified foods are allowed. One student had their lunch CONFISCATED because it had a flour tortilla in it.

The leader of this school and founder of this school, Nancy Aiken, apparently sees herself as the food nazi and has banned anything that is processed. Since her school has no cafeteria, all foods must be brought from home, and teachers search each lunch sacks everyday for contraband. Aiken who says she has a PhD in cellular biology, claims to have the answer to childhood obesity. If all families followed her rules,she says, obesity would not be a problem. Did this lady fail at her career as a researcher and decide to open up a school? I mean, she does get state money besides the tuition that is paid.

Can you imagine one day taking the lunch that mom has packed for you and having your teacher take it away because you have "natural" orange juice and not 100 percent fruit juice? Or how about that peanut butter sandwich with jelly? It gets confiscated because you have it on white bread and not 32 grain whole wheat. You get a peanut butter sandwich on the 32 grain bread and some honey! No oreos, no doughnuts, no ham sandwiches (ham after all is processed).

Although I doubt that this will ever become a way of life for schools, it could if budget cuts close cafeterias and kids have to start bringing their lunches.

One question... do the teachers get to eat the lunches they confiscate or do they throw them away? Maybe they could be shipped somewhere to people who are hungry and really do not care if they are getting to much white flour or processed sugar.

I think I will send the school a couple dozen doughnuts.... whole wheat of course.

Doughnut

Flat Stanley and the Border Patrol

I went this weekend to Tucson. We stayed at a wonderful Radisson Hotel near the airport. But that is not what this is about. Today is about my travels with a friend, Flat Stanley.

Flat Stanley was sent to me by my great-nephew Alex Sanders who lives in Hannibal, MO (you know, the "Show Me" state.) His class is doing a project with their reading of the book, Flat Stanley. Stanley Lampchop is flattened in his sleep one night by a bulletin board given to him by his father. Stanley survives, but he now gets to go on some great adventures because he can be mailed to people. Alex mailed Stanley to us, and we have been showing him around Arizona.

This weekend we went to Tombstone and looked around "The Town That Wouldn't Die." We had a great time, and I was amazed at how many people there knew who Stanley was, and were more than willing to hold him while we took their picture! I felt like I was escorting some kind of celebrity around.

Stanley had is picture taken next to cowboys, stagecoaches, buildings, and even cactus. Folks were very accomodating, with one cowboy even recognizing Stanley as we walked down the sidewalk and insisted on getting his picture taken with him! A shopkeeper posed with him, and another put Stanley inside a pair of cowboy boots... We laughed with total strangers all day.

On our way back to Tucson, we had to stop at a Border Patrol barricade. We were certain that we would have trouble proving that Stanley was an American Citizen and we thought that he might get detained and possibly deported. As we pulled up to the officer and rolled down our windows, he asked, "Are you all American Citizens in the car?" We said we were, but we were not sure about our passenger. The officer quizzed us, "Can I see your passenger?"

I held up Stanley, and the officer got a big smile on his face, and exclaimed, "Stanley! It is good to see you!" We had no problem, and Stanley had his picture taken with the Border Patrol.

On Monday, Stanley is going with me to the Arizona Capitol Historic Museum as I talk to them about volunteering as a docent. I am sure we will have a great time. Next weekend, Stanley is going to Sedona so he can see the Red Rocks and maybe experience the magnetism of the vorteces up there!

Oh, and Alex, I have to tell you that we are going to a Suns game, so he will probably learn to like purple instead of that green the Celtics wear!

Uncle Doughnut