Mt. Lemmon

Another gorgeous Arizona day to do some touring. So we decided to drive up Mt. Lemmon. What an awesome trip. The rock formations were spectacular. Pretty cold at the top though, and we were in shorts. Yikes! Definitely worthwhile and enjoyable anyway.

View from about 2000 Ft Looking out over Tucson. Another 7000 ft to go!

"Mt Lemmon Scenic Byway is the only paved road that leads to the upper reaches of Mt. Lemmon and the Santa Catalina Range. It is one of the most scenic drives in southeast Arizona. It provides access to a fascinating land of great vistas, outlandish rockscapes, cool mountain forests and deep canyons spilling out onto broad deserts. Because the road starts in the Lower Sonoran vegetative life zone and climbs to the high forests of the Canadian zone, it offers the biological equivalent of driving from the deserts of Mexico to the forests of Canada in a short stretch of 27 miles."

"Jutting up 9,000 feet above sea level in the Santa Catalina Mountains 25 miles north of Tucson, Arizona, this magnificent mountain peak stands amidst the pale backdrop of the sparse desert sand and cactus."

At about 5000 ft, it was starting to get pretty cold, as you can see by this snow plow pile that isn't melting...

Now I am ready to go down to the warm air again. This reminds me way too much of Home. Brrrrr

The Ski Valley at the top! There is also a Ski village called Summerhaven, which is reminiscent of Banff or Jasper

in miniature.

A city divided by a border: Nogales, Mexico

It was just a beautiful day, so we decided to drive the 1 hour south to Nogales, Arizona/Mexico, which is Arizona's largest Mexican border town. Nogales, Arizona sits across the border from Nogales, Mexico. It is the most popular border town in Arizona with plenty of shopping. Nogales is a great place to experience the Mexican culture, attested to by the large number of tourists who visit each year. It is a friendly place with a certain old-world charm, located about 65 miles south of Tucson.

We found a nice restauant and had a traditional Mexican meal. It was delicious.

Lots of these Curio Shops. Managed to come away with a couple bobbles. Believe it or not, we found better bargains on the Arizona side.

The drive to and from Nogales was lovely and very scenic with gorgeous views of the Santa Rita Mountains and the Huachuca Mountains

San Xavier del Bac Mission

"The White Dove of the Desert"

Mission San Xavier del Bac is situated in the Santa Cruz Valley nine miles south of Tucson. The celebrated Jesuit missionary and explorer, Father Eusebio Francisco Kino, first visited Bac in 1692. Eight years later in 1700, Father Kino laid the foundations of the first church, some two miles north of the present site of the Mission. He named it San Xavier in honor of his chosen patron, St. Francis Xavier.

The Chapel

Inside the Chapel

Inside the Church

The Mission School

The present church was built from 1783 - 1797 by the Franciscan Fathers. San Xavier Mission is acclaimed by many to be the finest example of mission architecture in the United States. It is a graceful blend of Moorish, Byzantine and late Mexican Renaissance architecture. After more than two hundred years, the Francisan Friars are still here serving the needs of the faithful. San Xavier del Bac Mission is a fully functioning parish church within the Diocese of Tucson. We also hiked up the nearby hill located right of the church. There is a path around the hill, (photo above) and you will find a 'prayer fence', or at least a wrought iron fence where people have left candles, ribbons, photos etc. Susan, you and your camera would have loved this! It was a beautiful day and a truly awesome experience!

"A" Mountain (Sentinel Peak)

The weather is fair and is still hovering around 70F, but a storm coming in from California is supposed to bring us rain tonight and tomorrow. With that in mind, we decided today would be a good day for a hike, and there was a good one close by. "A" Mountain/Sentinel Peak. A perfect outing for Buddy. He loves to hike.

The original name of this mountain west of downtown Tucson was derived from its function as a lookout point for the Spanish. In 1915 fans of the University of Arizona football team whitewashed a large "A" on its side to celebrate a victory, and the tradition has been kept up ever since -- the permanent "A" is now red, white, and blue. The Pima village and cultivated fields that once lay at the base of the peak are long gone. During the day, the peak's a great place to get an overview of the town's layout; at night the city lights below form a dazzling carpet.

We had heard that the view from the top was spectacular, and we weren't disappointed. Besides the view of the city, you can also see all five of the mountain ranges that surround the valley.

Trail Dust Town

Lovely sunny day today so we thought we'd see a little bit of Tucson. While touring, we found this quaint little bit of western history right in the middle of the city! Had fun exploring the place. Great Museum too.
















Trail Dust Town has been a Tucson landmark for over forty years. Originally constructed as a movie set, it features wooden boardwalks, red brick streets, detailed old-fashioned town square, and centerpiece gazebo. Considered Tucson’s premier “in-town” western town, over 500,000 people visit each year to enjoy the fine specialty shops and old-fashioned ambiance.
















HOWDY PARTNERS!

Happy New Year!

A Toast to our friends and family for a very happy and prospherous 2008!

A New Year's Prayer

May God make your year a happy one! Not by shielding you from all sorrows and pain, But by strengthening you to bear it, as it comes; Not by making your path easy, But by making you sturdy to travel any path; Not by taking hardships from you, But by taking fear from your heart; Not by granting you unbroken sunshine, But by keeping your face bright, even in the shadows; Not by making your life always pleasant, But by showing you when people and their causes need you most, and by making you anxious to be there to help. God's love, peace, hope and joy to you for the year ahead.

The New Years Gala at our Clubhouse here at Rincon Country Resort was lovely. The sounds of Champagne corks popping, laughter, and dancing was the order of the evening. After the Midnight celebrations, a yummy lunch was enjoyed by all. Good Time!

The countdown to Midnight!

The Strike of 12:00 and 2008 is here!

Just a little frightening...