Tombstone, Arizona

The town to tough to die! That’s what they call Tombstone, Arizona. You probably know it as where the famous Gunfight at the O.K. Corral occurred.

When you are in southeastern Arizona…you cannot be here…and not go to Tombstone. So yesterday Mary and I made the 50 mile round-trip. I believe I’ve been here at least two, perhaps three times, before. Mary told me she has been here once…about 50 years ago.

if you are not familiar with Tombstone, the below Wikipedia link will inform you…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tombstone,_Arizona

The way the crow flies…presumably in a straight line…Tombstone lies about 65 miles distant.

Here’s a Google Earth image…

As always you may left click upon an image to see an enlarged view and then click once again to see an even larger view…

Mary and I spent an enjoyable five hours wandering around Tombstone. While there we visited Boot Hill, Allen Street (the main drag) and the old courthouse…which has a great museum and is also an Arizona State Historic Park.

Here are some photos that I took while there…

To see the other 77 photos that I took, click this link…
https://picasaweb.google.com/110455945462646142273/TombstoneArizona

Tombstone is perhaps the most authentic (though somewhat touristy) Western town left in the West. If you want to experience a taste of the Old West, you need to visit Tombstone.

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2012
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust

Kitt Peak Observatory, Arizona

Yesterday Mary and I took the Bronco 55 miles west of Tucson, Arizona to the Kitt Peak Observatory. We climbed a 12 mile 8% grade road to get to the top at 6,800 feet. The site is set on 200 acres atop the mountain and has 25 telescopes, most of which are run by numerous universities from across the United States. We lucked out and caught a beautiful sunny and warm day despite the elevation.

Here’s The official museum website link…
http://www.noao.edu/kpno/

and here’s a Wikipedia informational link…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitt_Peak_National_Observatory

Here are a couple of Google Earth images. First a general site view…

As always you may left click upon an image to see an enlarged view and then click once again to see an even larger view…

And then a closer view…

Under terrible photography conditions…harsh sunlight on a bright white light-colored structures and dimly lit interiors…we nonetheless ventured forth. Here are some of the photos that I took…

To see the other 40 photos that I took, click this link…

https://picasaweb.google.com/110455945462646142273/KittPeakObservatory

During our six-hour visit we took two different guided tours. The first was a 1.5 hour tour of a solar telescope that studies only the sun. The second was a 1.5 hour tour of the 4 meter telescope…the largest telescope on the site. On both tours we had the same docent. Jerry, a retired electrical engineer, was both very knowledgeable and very humorous. He kept us laughing while describing these very complex technologies. Another enjoyable day of full-time RVing.

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2012
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust

Titan Missile Museum, Sahuarita, Arizona

Yesterday Mary and I took the Bronco about 10 miles south of our current Moose Club RV parking location. We went to the Titan Missile Museum which is located about 20 miles south of Tucson, Arizona. The site is an actual former ICBM launch site. It is the only one that has survived to become a museum. After the Cold War ended all the other 53 silos were destroyed per the SALT Treaty.

Here’s The official museum website link…
http://www.titanmissilemuseum.org/

and here’s a Wikipedia informational link…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titan_Missile_Museum

Here are a couple of Google Earth images. First a general site view…

As always you may left click upon an image to see an enlarged view and then click once again to see an even larger view…

And then a closer view of the missile silo half-opened…

Under terrible photography conditions…harsh sunlight on a bright white light-colored structures and dimly lit interiors…we nonetheless ventured forth. Here are some of the photos that I took…

In the above photo all three underground components of the site can be seen. The middle is the access portal. On the left is the control center and crews quarters. On the right is the missile silo. The highest state of alert ever reached was on the day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. On that day the launch keys were taken out of the safe and set on the control console desktop. They were not inserted into the control panel. This complex was built for a one-time only launch. None were ever launched.

We spent two hours here…one hour of which was a guided tour. Another enjoyable day of full-time RVing.

In other news…

More than 12 hours late with today’s entry. A 2.5 hour Verizon Internet signal outage early this morning…then another full day out exploring…then an evening meal at Moose Lodge #1964…the friendliest Moose Club in the United States where we are currently parked…and finally a little time to post today’s Blog entry this evening.

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2012
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust

Ansel Adams…The View From Here

Ansel Adams is probably the best known photographer of all time. While in the Tucson, Arizona I stumbled upon the fact that an Ansel Adams exhibit was currently in progress at the University of Arizona. If you are a regular follower of my Blog, you know that I have been an avid photographer since 1974. Along the way, I in addition to many other classes, I have studied at The Camera Club of New York City and also attended the Nikon School of Photography. During these classes I have studied the works of Ansel Adams.

The Center For Creative Photography is located at the University of Arizona Libraries in Tucson, Arizona. Mary and I visited there this past Sunday after our visit to Barrio Historico. Much better to be in downtown Tucson on a Sunday than on a weekday with all the traffic and people. Yuk! The exhibit is entitled…The View From Here.

Here’s a link…describing the exhibit…

http://ccp.library.arizona.edu/exhibitions

This is the entrance to the building…

As expected…photography was not allowed in the gallery. So I snuck this photo through the window of the door…

If you are not familiar with Ansel Adams, you should click this Wikipedia link…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ansel_Adams

You might also enjoy the information contained in these two links…
http://www.anseladams.org/
http://www.anseladams.com/

When you enjoy doing a particular thing, you generally cannot go wrong studying the masters of the thing. When you consider the equipment of the day back in Adam’s time…huge bulky cameras on tripods…then be willing to haul all this stuff into the back wilderness…that is what makes a master.

Years ago I was much more serious about my photography. When I moved out of my last regular home in 1995 (to begin my life as a full-time RVer)…in which I had a studio and darkroom…I also decided to sell all of my expensive camera equipment. The truth be told…back then…good photography required a lot of work. When I decided to retire…I also decided I did not want to work that hard on my photography any longer. So I bought a $100 Nikon film camera and went along my way.

However…with the advent of digital cameras…good photography is not all that much work any longer. A basic knowledge of composition/lighting rules and use of a basic image altering program such as Picasa 3 is all that is needed today to create some nice photographs. I wonder what Ansel Adams would have thought about today’s equipment and technology associated with photography? I bet he would really have enjoyed a camera like my Sony DSC-HX5V…

Sure beats hauling around a huge bulky camera on a tripod and all the associated equipment!

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2012
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust

San Xavier Del Bac Mission, Tucson, Arizona…

Yesterday Mary and I visited this mission located about 9 miles from our current parking location and also about 9 miles from downtown Tucson, Arizona. It is also known as the White Dove of the Desert.

From their brochure…

Some 200,000 visitors come each year from all over the world to view what is widely considered to be the finest example of Spanish Colonial architecture in the United States.The oldest intact European structure in Arizona, the church’s interior is filled with marvelous original statuary and mural paintings. It is a place where visitors can truly step back in time and enter an authentic 18th Century space. The church retains its original purpose of ministering to the religious needs of its parishioners.

To read about the mission, you may click this link…

http://PatronatoSanXavier.org

Under terrible photography conditions…harsh sunlight on a bright white structure and dimly lit interiors…we nonetheless ventured forth. Here are some of the photos that I took…

As always you may left click upon an image to see an enlarged view and then click once again to see an even larger view…

To see the other 71 photos that I took, click this link…

https://picasaweb.google.com/110455945462646142273/SanXavierDelBacMission

I’ve been in many missions in Mexico and the United States. This mission is likely in the best conditions I’ve seen. That’s because of the major restoration starting in 1989 and finishing in 1997. During our 2.5 hour visit we watched a 25 minute video describing this painstaking renovation process. The mission is the first historic building of its kind to be entirely cared for and preserved by its parishioners. It was indeed a most pleasant visit during which time a number of local families where having their newborn babies baptized.

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2012
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust

We Move To South Of Tucson, Arizona…

Yesterday we drove about 30 miles and moved to about 10 miles south of Tucson, Arizona.

We are parked in the rear parking area of Moose Lodge #1964 where we have electric, water and sewer hookups. It’s nice to have electrical plug-in even though we have solar panels. The forecast for the next several days is cooler and cloudier normal and running our electric ceramic heater to stay warm is a nice plus. Moose clubs do not charge to park…but donations are always welcome. We are more than happy to donate for the convenience and comfort they provide.

At 5:00 PM yesterday we went into the Moose club for happy hour. Since this is a smaller club there were only about 25 friendly people there. We enjoyed a nice all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner for only $6.00. The portions were so large only one helping was necessary.

We expect to be here for several days while we explore some of the local attractions.

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2012
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust