Davidson Canyon/Arizona Trail

                    I really enjoy Exploring in all senses of the word.  As my family and I drive around the area---I enjoy pointing out local places that I have hiked.  Mostly around our humble home in Benson.  I must say all of this is much more exciting for me than for anyone else in my family.  Many of these areas I have talked about in past picture filled posts.   Today a new one that led to an great even more hike filled discovery for me.  For more Exploring please check out my first blog page at www.wyomingjack.blogspot.com   
   Last Monday I had a very needed day off work---with the holidaze and all it has been extra busy-and it was a nice 65 outside!  That soon changed to snow and ice --a huge rarity in Arizona, but that is in stories to come.  I have many posts in the works--from our recent trip to Mt Lemmon to play in the snow, to our trip further down the road to Lego Land, California.   Many to come, all picture filled!   Thank you for being patient.  

       At least five days a week for work and such I drive past this area, and always say to myself that I should add the Exploring to my list.   On this day I drove just past the highway sign, around the bend, and parked on the gravel road.  

Like many of my hikes, I might or might not soon have been on private property.

The other side of this abandoned road took me right into the canyon.

Old metal -near a fence I just needed to get a shot of.

The hugely varied amount of vegetation found in the desert always amazes me. 

I try to add new pictures and forms in each blog post. 

In the Benson area, one is never very far from rail road tracks and trains.

The start of today's journey is about 20 miles out of Benson, heading towards Tucson.

One of the largest cactus I have found. 

Closer up view.

I was soon surrounded by mountain ranges. 

This one, far in the distance  begs to be hiked on a later date.  

Near the start of my hike with I-10 in the background.

Ready to head into the dry river bed--This shiny marker quickly caught my eye.

This long abandoned traffic cone caught my eye also.

Huge house in the distance that seems to me, to need a new owner. 

Every time I feel I am in a place few have been before me---I find stacked rocks

a silent reminder that many have been here before me and will be along the dusty trail after I am gone.   I used to find these along the bay in Bellingham, Washington ALL the time. 

Back in the canyon.

Just beyond the large rock above this small oasis. 

Complete with running water.

I started this Exploring rather late in the afternoon--and did not wish to try and find our car in the dark.  So I soon ventured up the canyon walls.

Where I was soon greeted by a perfectly groomed trail system.  

That led to a trail head complete with parking area. 

I was not aware that the famous Arizona Trail came so close to our home.  

And now have a great starting point for several Exploring adventures to come.

You are here   Thanks REI!

This trail gave me a flat and quick route back to our car. 

I tried to locate the car and snap some sunset pictures. 

But on this day the sunset just was not that spectacular. 

Although the setting sun shadows on the surrounding mountains was a sight.

This turned into a great day for sure. 

With the chance for many more hikes--just in this area.  

Much more Exploring and pictures on my Washington state blog page

http://exploreb-ham.blogspot.com/

And my first blog page  www.wyomingjack.blogspot.com

Please check them out.

As always

**HAPPY TRIALS!!**

Pima Air & Space Museum

  

                    A few months ago a long time buddy of mine came through town to visit for a few days.   We got in a lot of Exploring while he was here.  Hopefully he is moving to Flagstaff in the near future, and our Exploring can continue.  Flagstaff is across the state, but compared to Seattle, much closer to me.  And between Benson and Flagstaff--so many great Exploring sights are waiting to be checked out.   We both lived in the town in the past and many other parts of beautiful Arizona, but the pictures I have from then are old---and I want to keep this blog page as recent as possible.     On this day we made it to the Air and Space Museum in Tucson.    In past blog posts I have ventured close but never have actually went inside the museum. 

Looking back at one of the many hangers to Explore.

Past visits found me outside the great fences.

One of the few places --be it the air force presence or the razor wire fences-that

I stay out of when the signs say "Stay  out!"

                    On this day we actually started out on a hike -nearby and happened to drive by part of the very large plane bone yard.   We were told at the museum that there are nearly 4000 planes here at the moment.   And that is actually a greatly reduced number.   Plane parts are used on other planes, or sold to other countries that still use such -outdated- to our government planes.  And it is actually one of the few aspects of local government that makes a profit. 

I jumped out of the rental car to snap a few pictures of the bone yard.

But these do not do justice of the massive size of this place.

It is much like attempting to take pictures of the Grand Canyon.

Seeing this sparked my buddy's interest in visiting the museum.

We had some time to kill--and he said he would foot the entrance fees.

This is an amazing museum--but tickets are not cheap.

I hope to return very soon with our boys  because they would love it!

This is the amazing greeting visitors see when they first turn into the museum.

The clouds were again amazing on this day.

All day we fought the heat hoping the clouds would bring rain.

Tons to see and learn

Inside and out of the hangers.

The main building also holds a food court and a very large shop to buy souvenirs.

Although  I am not sure how many people would wish to come to a museum to eat.

The old men /workers in the hangers are super informative on all things plane related.   And life related I am sure also.

"Professor Getty" by a missile.

Checking out the cockpit.

All paper air planes and super kool!

Cramped in a cockpit.

Super shiny!

We got to see this amazing team perform a few months back.

Replica of one of the first flyer's.

This is a very hands on museum.  And great for youngsters.

Near the above flyer is also an amazingly large collection of patches worn on flight jackets from around the world.  

I do not believe TWA exists any  more

Time to brave the heat and venture outside. 

If you are willing to pay more--you do not have to walk, and get a guided tour.

Several presidential planes can be found here.

All huge aircraft.

It seems like a huge waste  but welcome to big government I guess.

This planes history is amazing.

Equally amazing is how it can even fly!

It was over 100 outside on this day  and in the middle of the huge air field I found this bench.

I do not know who would want to sit here--and sweat like crazy  but I guess it's nice it's an option. 

Airplane graffiti

We have had many a flat tire on all of our cars.

But I can't imagine changing one on an airplane.

Than it was past time to find some lunch.

This brings us to today's unofficial official business of the blog!

I need to work on the title but basically I pick a local business that gives great service and with

out there knowledge tell about them here.

Today it is Cracker Barrel. 

We received so much food   quickly  for a relatively small price.  And although it was all

very fattening it was super good!

And that is not just because we were both starving. 

Next post   some more great Exploring around Tucson

with "Professor Getty."

Much more Exploring and pictures on my Washington state blog page

http://exploreb-ham.blogspot.com/

And my first blog page  www.wyomingjack.blogspot.com

Please check them out.

And as always

**HAPPY TRAILS!!**