Yesterday morning we continued to be amazed by the loop de loops and barrel rolls we saw up in the sky.  In the afternoon we went back to the Tucson Museum of Art, where we saw a 90 minute documentary about Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.  We saw a photographic exhibit about her a week ago, but by the time we were done our brains were too full to take in the film, too; hence the return trip.

Today we hiked in the Tortolita Mountains about a half hour north of Tucson.  Jim had hiked there a couple of times while I was in Ohio and thought it was very scenic.  I agree.

View at the trail head to the Tortolita's Mountains Wild Burro trail.  We had to go through a gate to a Ritz Carlton resort to get to the trail -- really.  But once you hike a half a mile you can't see the resort and the area seems very remote. 

More wild flowers in bloom.  There were also many honey bees out having lunch.

Jim keeping a tight leash on Cooper as they walk by some cholla cactus on the Lower Javalina trail.  About two weeks ago Cooper brushed against a cholla on the Air Force Base.  The cholla stuck to his coat and Cooper got it in his mouth before Jim could pull it off.  It took a trip to the vet to the the needles out.

Jim near a swirly saguaro. 

Bev and her new hiking hat.  It was supposed to get into the upper 80's here today -- I'm not sure if it got that warm, but it was hot enough that I had to wear both my hat and a long-sleeved, light weight shirt I wear for sun protection.

Really wild blue yonder

This weekend we’re seeing something pretty exciting without even leaving the Air Force Base.

Civilian and military pilots from across the country are training at the base in modern and historic fighters in preparation for future air shows.

According to a press release from the base, the types of planes the pilots are training in are the P-51 Mustang, the P-40 Warhawk, the A-36 Apache, P-47 Thunderbolt and the F-86 Sabre, the F-4 Phantom II, A-10 Thunderbolt II, the F-16 Fighting Falcon and the F-22 Raptor.

I have no idea what any of those planes are ... but below is a great photo Jim got of four of them flying in formation right over our motor home. 

This doesn't even look real to me because the big jets are flying in formation with prop planes -- but Jim  did take this photo just a few minutes ago.  The large plane in the front would leave the formation, race low in the horizon, and then aim straight up and do what I can only describe as a "back flip" followed by barrel rolls.  

Island in the sky

Today we explored the beautiful Sky Island Scenic Byway, a 28-mile road in the Santa Catalina Mountains and that starts just north of Tucson.  The terrain is like a trip from Mexico to Canada, with vegetation ranging from cactus at the beginning to pine, fir and spruce trees at the top -- plus a ski resort.    Along the way were dozens of picnic areas, scenic view points, campgrounds and hiking trails.  Jim had hiked a few of the trails when I was in Ohio, so he was a great tour guide.  At the summit was Mt. Lemon Ski Valley, the southernmost ski resort in the United States (if you don’t count Hawaii, which I read has some skiing.) The ski resort was started during World War II by a group of skiers including novelist and adventurer Lowell Thomas.  We had lunch at the nearby Iron Door restaurant.  It was a very scenic day.

Saguaro near the beginning of the scenic byway.

Cooper playing in the water at the Babad Do'ag Vista, which is Tohono O'odham (the local Indian tribe) for "Frog Mountain."

Pine trees near the top.

Mt. Lemon Ski Valley.

Beer and a hike

Yesterday our big event was to use a “pay ten bucks and get $20 worth of pizza and beer" coupon at Nimbus Brewery, one of four microbreweries in Tucson.

Today we got more active and did a five mile hike in Saguaro National Park. (So I'm feeling better, Mom.)

Both days were lovely.

Action shot of Jim with a Nimbus IPA.

Bev and an oatmeal stout.

Jim at the beginning of the Cactus Forest Trail at Saguaro National Forest East, which is only about 20 minutes from where we are staying in Tucson

I like this shot of a dead Saguaro next to a living one because it shows the "ribs" that make up the inside of the plant --- and that also make great hiking sticks.

A Saguaro full of woodpecker-drilled holes that are now home to all sort of small birds.  

Bev in front of one huge Saguaro.

Wow! A double crested Saguaro.  The top split in two and each section crested -- plus arms grew up on the sides and behind it.  Two more photos are below.

Spring wildflowers are out; some are already gone.

Back in Tucson

I got back to Tucson and our rig at the Davis Monthan Air Force Base 10:30 p.m. last Wednesday -- and by 10:32 Jim had dug in to the chocolate chip cookies my Mom sent him.  Thanks, Mom!

Thursday we went to see an exhibit about Mexican artist Frida Kahlo called “Frida Kahlo:  Through the lens of Nickolas Muray.”  Kahlo is known for her vividly painted self portraits, but on display were photographs of her taken by Hungarian-born photographer Muray (who was also an Olympic fencer) and who the museum described as Kahlo's "long-time lover and friend.”  Kahlo twice married Mexican artist Diego Rivera, and besides Muray (and quite a few others), had an affair with Leon Trotsky. Besides having polio as a child, Kahlo was in a brutal bus accident when she was 18 that caused her to seek help for the pain the rest of her life.  

The next day we visited Tucson’s Mission San Xavier, the oldest  intact European structure in Arizona.  The mission was founded as a Catholic mission by Father Eusebio Kino in 1692 and the church was built beginning in 1783.  Tours are offered (we took one) and mass is still held there.

After two days of education, we decided to visit the Tucson Mall where I wandered the largest mall I have ever been in.  I bought a $12 tube of lipstick (my default purchase when I feel the need to buy something, even though I rarely wear lipstick) and my mall fix was met for at least six months.  Jim also did a bit of looking around, but found a nearby pub called “Sir Vezas” which fit perfectly.  

An art lover in front of the Frida Kahlo exhibit. 

The Tucson Museum of Art.

The Museum entrance, where there is also a very nice cafe.

Bev in front of the Mission San Xavier.  The inside of the building has been renovated, but an exterior renovation ran out of money before the left side of the building was restored.

Close up of the beautiful stone work around the door to the church.

The inside of the church behind the altar.  

One of the 171 angels found in the church.

An interior restoration was begun in 1992.  Before that --- and for years -- people took refuge inside the building and often built fires.  The smoke had blackened the interior walls so completely that none of the detail in the photos above was even visible.  In this photo you can see a restored mural; a small rectangle at the upper left was left as is, so visitors could see how blacked the church interior had become.