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Written 1/15/2003
Camping In Style
I’m typing this as I sit in my camp chair under the moonlight in a campground near Saguaro (sah-WAH-roe) National Park, Tucson, AZ. Drinking a Tecate beer of course. My new lantern is also providing some comforting ambient light. I was just witness to a beautiful multi-colored sunset as I feasted on my rice and tasty Indian Jaipur Vegetables mix I cooked up. My portable camping stove and cookware worked like a charm.
A coyote has wandered around my campsite a couple of times. This is the closest I’ve ever been to them on foot. I’ve seen and heard coyotes while biking near my former home in Aliso Viejo, CA and driving around other National parks. Just in case - my photography unipod serves as a nice baton! - though I doubt I will need it.
This is my first time camping out in the wilderness by myself. It is a sweet feeling. Being “self-sufficient” is a good feeling. Being close to nature is good too. Yet, at least for the moment, I yearn for none of the creature comforts of living under a roof. I have a comfy air mattress to sleep on. A full size pillow. A nice warm down sleeping bag to cozy up in. Probably even more comfortable than my previous night at an Econo Lodge in Tucson. I type on my notebook. I gaze at the stars from the open air sunroof in my tent. All the preparations I made for learning how to camp in style have paid off. This is in sharp contrast to my first night on the road! More on that in a minute.
Tucson, AZ
Tucson, AZ is my first primary stop on what I call “21 days to Washington.” My goal is to make it to WA State by early February for a couple of weeks before heading off to South America. I’m pleasantly surprised by all the interesting things to see in Arizona. I can’t believe I never explored this area after 6 years in Southern California. Must be the "I can see it anytime attitude."
I had the pleasure of visiting the largest independent air museum today - Pima Air & Space Museum, as well as going on the fascinating AMARC tour. (A bunny rabbit just went hopping by 3 feet in front of me!) AMARC is short for Aircraft Maintenance and Regeneration Facility. Aircraft, mostly military, come here from all the US branches of service to be either brought back into flying shape (20% approx I’m told), or to be stored and used as spare parts or scrap metal. The interesting thing about it is that there are over 6000+ aircraft parked there . From large bombers, to fighter jets, and helicopters. From some of the latest, to one of a kinds. It is a surreal sight indeed. The DESTINATIONS section Arizona page has some links related to this. I’ll write more about my thoughts and post pictures from this visit later in an overall trip report.
1st night shivers
So what about that 1st night on the road, two days ago. I got a late start leaving Orange County, CA on Monday - Jan.13th. My first mistake? I ended up driving in the dark in new territory for a few hours. I prefer to travel in the daylight in new areas so I can see the surroundings and get my bearings. I think I was just eager to hit the road. I envisioned a warm toasty night in a motel aptly named Jacumba Hot Springs Spa. Largely due to my stupidity, I ended up sleeping in a nearly freezing motel room while watching A&E Channel’s Benedict Arnold, a story of a famous figure from the American Revolution in the 1770s. The thought of the living conditions back then was the only thing keeping my spirits “warm!”
Arizona Republic newspaper review of Benedict Arnold
Newsday review of Benedict Arnold
I can’t say I was unprepared for the cold - I have snowshoes in my truck. Rather, I was unprepared mentally for how cold it could get out in the desert. Only later would I realize that it got below freezing in part because Jacumba is at 3000 feet.
From the Desert View tower in nearby Ocotillo
As I type this in Tucson - it is nowhere near that cold at night. So why didn’t I go in the hot springs? The main pool, which is the only pool I tested, isn’t as hot as one would think. In the morning the German owner informed me that it was this way because the water had to travel under the street, cooling several degrees in the process. He did inform me about the 24 hour hot Jacuzzi. Alas - I never found it that night. If I had arrived during the day, I’m sure I would have seen it. The entrance was almost right next to where I parked my car.
Yet the most stupid thing I did was to not turn on the heater in the room! I saw an air conditioner - didn’t want that. I also saw a long vertical vent on the wall which I thought was the heater. I even saw a small knob/handle. Yet when I went to turn it nothing happened. It wasn’t supposed to turn. It didn’t occur to me for reasons unknown that I had to pull on it to expose the heating dials. I just figured the heater was broken. I didn’t bother requesting help that night - it would have meant having to get dressed and going outside. There are no phones in the rooms. So...my first night on my two year trip – another exercise in toughening up for the road ahead. Perfect.
Written 1/15/2003
Camping In Style
I’m typing this as I sit in my camp chair under the moonlight in a campground near Saguaro (sah-WAH-roe) National Park, Tucson, AZ. Drinking a Tecate beer of course. My new lantern is also providing some comforting ambient light. I was just witness to a beautiful multi-colored sunset as I feasted on my rice and tasty Indian Jaipur Vegetables mix I cooked up. My portable camping stove and cookware worked like a charm.
A coyote has wandered around my campsite a couple of times. This is the closest I’ve ever been to them on foot. I’ve seen and heard coyotes while biking near my former home in Aliso Viejo, CA and driving around other National parks. Just in case - my photography unipod serves as a nice baton! - though I doubt I will need it.
This is my first time camping out in the wilderness by myself. It is a sweet feeling. Being “self-sufficient” is a good feeling. Being close to nature is good too. Yet, at least for the moment, I yearn for none of the creature comforts of living under a roof. I have a comfy air mattress to sleep on. A full size pillow. A nice warm down sleeping bag to cozy up in. Probably even more comfortable than my previous night at an Econo Lodge in Tucson. I type on my notebook. I gaze at the stars from the open air sunroof in my tent. All the preparations I made for learning how to camp in style have paid off. This is in sharp contrast to my first night on the road! More on that in a minute.
Tucson, AZ
Tucson, AZ is my first primary stop on what I call “21 days to Washington.” My goal is to make it to WA State by early February for a couple of weeks before heading off to South America. I’m pleasantly surprised by all the interesting things to see in Arizona. I can’t believe I never explored this area after 6 years in Southern California. Must be the "I can see it anytime attitude."
I had the pleasure of visiting the largest independent air museum today - Pima Air & Space Museum, as well as going on the fascinating AMARC tour. (A bunny rabbit just went hopping by 3 feet in front of me!) AMARC is short for Aircraft Maintenance and Regeneration Facility. Aircraft, mostly military, come here from all the US branches of service to be either brought back into flying shape (20% approx I’m told), or to be stored and used as spare parts or scrap metal. The interesting thing about it is that there are over 6000+ aircraft parked there . From large bombers, to fighter jets, and helicopters. From some of the latest, to one of a kinds. It is a surreal sight indeed. The DESTINATIONS section Arizona page has some links related to this. I’ll write more about my thoughts and post pictures from this visit later in an overall trip report.
1st night shivers
So what about that 1st night on the road, two days ago. I got a late start leaving Orange County, CA on Monday - Jan.13th. My first mistake? I ended up driving in the dark in new territory for a few hours. I prefer to travel in the daylight in new areas so I can see the surroundings and get my bearings. I think I was just eager to hit the road. I envisioned a warm toasty night in a motel aptly named Jacumba Hot Springs Spa. Largely due to my stupidity, I ended up sleeping in a nearly freezing motel room while watching A&E Channel’s Benedict Arnold, a story of a famous figure from the American Revolution in the 1770s. The thought of the living conditions back then was the only thing keeping my spirits “warm!”
Arizona Republic newspaper review of Benedict Arnold
Newsday review of Benedict Arnold
I can’t say I was unprepared for the cold - I have snowshoes in my truck. Rather, I was unprepared mentally for how cold it could get out in the desert. Only later would I realize that it got below freezing in part because Jacumba is at 3000 feet.
As I type this in Tucson - it is nowhere near that cold at night. So why didn’t I go in the hot springs? The main pool, which is the only pool I tested, isn’t as hot as one would think. In the morning the German owner informed me that it was this way because the water had to travel under the street, cooling several degrees in the process. He did inform me about the 24 hour hot Jacuzzi. Alas - I never found it that night. If I had arrived during the day, I’m sure I would have seen it. The entrance was almost right next to where I parked my car.
Yet the most stupid thing I did was to not turn on the heater in the room! I saw an air conditioner - didn’t want that. I also saw a long vertical vent on the wall which I thought was the heater. I even saw a small knob/handle. Yet when I went to turn it nothing happened. It wasn’t supposed to turn. It didn’t occur to me for reasons unknown that I had to pull on it to expose the heating dials. I just figured the heater was broken. I didn’t bother requesting help that night - it would have meant having to get dressed and going outside. There are no phones in the rooms. So...my first night on my two year trip – another exercise in toughening up for the road ahead. Perfect.
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