TC's Photos

California Cruising 2012

2012-02-14T18:12:00.000-08:00

Southern California Road Trip

Leroy and I took a fine road trip during his visit during January 2012. We had a great time and saw all kinds of cool stuff during our adventure. Enjoy the images!

Cabrillo National Monument

http://www.nps.gov/cabr/index.htm

San Diego Zoo

http://www.sandiegozoo.org/zoo/index.php

San Diego Visitor’s Bureau

http://www.sandiego.org/nav/Visitors/WhatToDo

Birch Aquarium at Scripps

http://aquarium.ucsd.edu/

“Explore where the wonders of the ocean come alive! The mission of Birch Aquarium is to provide ocean science education, to interpret Scripps Institution of Oceanography research, and to promote ocean conservation.”

San Diego Zoo Safari Park

http://www.sdzsafaripark.org/

Buy the pass that gets you into the Zoo and Safari Park! Well worth it!

“The most difficult decision to make when planning a vacation to San Diego is determining what things to do and see among the region's vast and diverse variety of attractions. From the theater to wild animals we've got something for everyone.”

Joshua Tree National Park

http://www.nps.gov/jotr/index.htm

“Viewed from the road, this desert park only hints at its vitality. Closer examination reveals a fascinating variety of plants and animals that make their home in this land shaped by strong winds, unpredictable torrents of rain, and climatic extremes. Dark night skies, a rich cultural history, and surreal geologic features add to the attraction of this place. Come see for yourself!”

Feel free to check out the links to learn more about the places we visited.

More images from this trip,, and others, can be found by going to my Kodak Gallery sharing site at: http://tcbphoto.kodakgallery.com/

Road Trip November 2011

2011-11-30T14:59:00.000-08:00

Road Trip November 2011

This November 2011 road trip found us exploring parts of Arizona, Utah and Nevada. It was a great trip with lots of great sights. I am adding something new this time. In addition to the links for more information on each area, I am also including the link to my Kodak Gallery page. This way you can view more of the images shot during this fine adventure. Take a look and let me know what you think.

Grand Canyon National Park

http://www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm

http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/creativeapps/slideShow/Main.jsp?sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=Share-_-Personal-_-Email-_-Sharer-_-Images&_requestid=372451

Page, AZ

http://visitpagearizona.com/

Overland Canyon Tours

These folks are great and really know what they are doing!

http://www.overlandcanyontours.com/

http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/creativeapps/slideShow/Main.jsp;jsessionid=6179A3456577E27D4493662CA42702F9.ecom602_main?sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=Share-_-Personal-_-Email-_-Sharer-_-Images&_requestid=387401

Arches National Park

http://www.nps.gov/arch/index.htm

http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/creativeapps/slideShow/Main.jsp?sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=Share-_-Personal-_-Email-_-Sharer-_-Images&_requestid=388213

Bryce National Park

http://www.nps.gov/brca/index.htm

http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/creativeapps/slideShow/Main.jsp?sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=Share-_-Personal-_-Email-_-Sharer-_-Images&_requestid=389012

Zion National Park

http://www.nps.gov/zion/index.htm

National Parks Foundation

http://nationalparks.org/

Utah National Parks info

http://www.utah.com/nationalparks/

http://www.fiveutahparks.com/

http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/creativeapps/slideShow/Main.jsp?sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=Share-_-Personal-_-Email-_-Sharer-_-Images&_requestid=389637

Grand Circle Association

http://www.grandcircle.org/

Valley of Fire State Park, NV

http://parks.nv.gov/vf.htm

http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/creativeapps/slideShow/Main.jsp?sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=Share-_-Personal-_-Email-_-Sharer-_-Images&_requestid=389637

Colorado 092011

2011-10-06T15:39:00.000-07:00

Beer and Buffalo Bill

A recent run to the Denver area found me visiting Golden, CO for the day. A fine experience captured in photographs.

Coors Brewery – Golden, CO

Worth the time to visit and explore!

“Since 1873 the Coors brewery has thrived on a legacy of quality, innovation and customer service. The tour showcases the company’s history and passion for brewing.

Your tour takes place in the world’s largest single-site brewery. The brewery experience includes a 30-minute self-paced tour highlighting our malting, brewing and packaging processes. Cool off in the “fresh beer room," where visitors sip a cold sample and rest on ice-cube benches in a refrigerated room.”

www.MillerCoors.com

Make sure to explore more of Golden, CO.

For more information on visiting Golden, CO go to:

http://www.golden.com/index.htm

Buffalo Bill Museum & Grave

You also get a fantastic view of Golden, CO and the surrounding area.

“Visit the one and only grave of William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody. Located in Lookout Mountain Park, part of the Denver Mountain Parks system, the site overlooks the natural beauty of the Great Plains and the Rockies, attracting over 400,000 annual visitors.”

http://www.buffalobill.org/

I even got to watch a terrorist drill going on at the Denver Airport while waiting for my return flight. A fine end to a fine trip.

Montana Memories 2011

2011-08-03T15:48:00.000-07:00

Montana Memories

We had a wonderful adventure exploring the fine State of Montana. The last week of July found us starting in Missoula, then on to Bison Range, Glacier, Great Falls, on towards Butte, and finishing off where we started. A fine circle of some great views, not to mention several photo stops along the way, that added to great memories!

National Bison Range Wildlife Refuge

http://www.fws.gov/bisonrange/nbr/

We have been called the “most travelingist folks.” I have been called much worse. J I will let the photos speak for themselves. I would recommend visiting any of the fabulous locations highlighted below with the images. Various websites are mentioned throughout for more information.

Enjoy and feel free to comment.

Montana Government website

http://mt.gov/

Visit Montana

http://visitmt.com/

Missoula Info

http://missoula.montana.com/

Glacier National Park

http://www.nps.gov/glac/index.htm

Montana is Big Sky Country!

Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park

http://fwp.mt.gov/parks/visit/lewisAndClarkCaverns/

Butte Visitor’s Bureau

http://www.buttecvb.com/

Montana Mineral Museum

http://www.mbmg.mtech.edu/museum/museum.asp

Old Prison Museum

http://www.pcmaf.org/prison.htm

Montana Auto Museum

http://www.pcmaf.org/auto.htm

Bodybuilders and Bikinis

2011-07-21T13:05:00.000-07:00

Bodybuilders and Bikinis

If you are easily offended by scantily clad men & women in great shape, this blog is not for you. You have been warned and I do not want to hear you complaining. J We had a blast attending the NPC Terminator 2011 in Tucson and I am sharing a few of my images.

“The NPC Terminator is a Bodybuilding, Fitness, Figure, Bikini and Men’s physique competition that is sure to entertain and motivate you to get in the best shape of your life.” The added competitors and classes add a new dimension to the contest.

http://www.npcmilesproductions.com/

As read on Wikipedia, “In competitive bodybuilding, bodybuilders aspire to develop and maintain an aesthetically pleasing body and balanced physique. In prejudging, competitors do a series of mandatory poses - the front lat spread, the rear lat spread, the front double biceps, the back double biceps, the side chest, the side triceps, the most muscular (men only), and the thigh-abdominal pose. Each competitor also performs a routine to display the physique. A posedown is usually held at the end of a posing round, while judges are finishing their scoring. Bodybuilders spend time practicing their posing, since they are judged on it.”

“In contrast to strongman or powerlifting competitions where physical strength is important, or to Olympic weightlifting, where the main point is equally split between strength and technique, bodybuilding competitions typically emphasize condition, size and symmetry. Different organizations emphasize particular aspects of competition, and sometimes have different categories in which to compete.”

Professional bodybuilding

“In the modern bodybuilding industry, "professional" generally means a bodybuilder who has won qualifying competitions as an amateur and has earned a "pro card" from the IFBB. Professionals earn the right to compete in sanctioned competitions including the Arnold Classic and the New York Pro (formerly the Night of Champions). Placings at such competitions in turn earn them the right to compete at the Mr. Olympia; the title is considered to be the highest accolade in the professional bodybuilding field.”

Natural bodybuilding

“In natural contests bodybuilders are routinely tested for illegal substances and are banned for any violations from future contests. Testing can be done on urine samples, but in many cases a less expensive polygraph (lie detector) test is performed instead. What qualifies as an "illegal" substance, in the sense that it is prohibited by regulatory bodies, varies between natural federations, and does not necessarily include only substances that are illegal under the laws of the relevant jurisdiction. Illegal Anabolic steroids, Prohormone and Diuretics, under widespread use by professional bodybuilders, are generally banned by natural organizations. Natural bodybuilding organizations include NANBF (North American Natural Bodybuilding Federation), and the NPA (Natural Physique Association). Natural bodybuilders assert that their method is more focused on competition and a healthier lifestyle than other forms of bodybuilding.” Many competitors choose to participate using natural bodybuilding techniques on their own.

To read more go to:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodybuilding

I shot over 800 images at the event. The official photographer shot over 9,000. Photos from the official event photographer, Michael Simon, can be found at:

http://www.foursimon.com/ or:

http://www.foursimon.com/2011BodybuildingChampionships/NPC-Terminator-Tucson-AZ-16

Overall Men's Champion - Mike Gustavsson

Mining and Minerals

2011-03-28T12:40:00.001-07:00

“Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or (coal) seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock salt and potash. Any material that cannot be grown through agricultural processes, or created artificially in a laboratory or factory, is usually mined. Mining in a wider sense comprises extraction of any non-renewable resource (e.g., petroleum, natural gas, or even water).” Wikipedia online.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mining

“The mining industry plays a critical role not only in our state and nation, but also in the world.” “If it can’t be grown, it must be mined.” Arizona Mining Association

Fast Facts About Minerals

Source: National Mining Association

U.S. Demand

Every American uses an average of 43,000 pounds of newly mined materials each year.

Telephones are made from as many as 42 different minerals, including aluminum, beryllium, coal, copper, gold, iron, limestone, silica, silver, talc and wollastonite. Without boron, copper, gold and quartz, your digital alarm clock would not work.

A television requires 35 different minerals, and more than 30 minerals are needed to make a computer.

The construction industry accounts for approximately 51 percent of US copper demand.

Silver's largest market use is for industrial applications, particularly as an electrical connector. Jewelry is the second largest use of silver.

The Toyota Prius plug-in-hybrid requires about 50 pounds of rare earth metals for its motor and battery.

U.S. Mineral Production

The United States produced about 7 percent of the world's nonfuel nonferrous minerals in 2008.

Processed materials of mineral origin account for about 4 percent of U.S. gross domestic product.

The United States is the world's second-largest producer of gold, which in addition to jewelry, is used to make computer circuitry.

America's copper mines rank second only to Chile in production.

The United States is the world's leading producer of beryllium, soda ash, molybdenum, sodium sulfate and sulphur.

U.S. Minerals Mining Employment

The National Mining Association estimates that in the next 5-10 years, the mining industry will need approximately 55,000 new miners across the U.S. to meet demand and to replace retiring mine employees. In addition, according to the Society for Mining Metallurgy & Exploration, at least 300 new mining and minerals engineering graduates are needed annually to keep up with projected growth.

Nearly 400,000 people work directly in mining throughout the United States. Employment in industries that support mining, including manufacturing, engineer, environmental and geological consultants, accounts for nearly 1.5 million jobs.

The average miner makes $72,000 per year in salary, not including overtime, bonuses and benefits.

U.S. metal/nonmetal miners report 3.7 non-fatal injuries per 100 workers in 2007, a lower rate of occupational injuries than agriculture, forestry & fishing, construction, manufacturing, transportation, and wholesale & retail trade.

U.S. Minerals Mining Economic Impact

In 2007, the mining industry paid approximately $21.6 billion in taxes, royalties and fees to federal, state and local governments combined. Nearly $64.6 billion was paid to mining industry employees in direct and indirect wages and benefits.

The total direct and indirect impact of U.S. mining is valued at $1.9 trillion - mining produced $98.4 billion of finished mineral, metal and fuel products that were then transformed by consumer industries into goods creating an additional $1.8 trillion in value added.

According to U.S. Geological Survey analysis, the value added to U.S. GDP by major industries that consume processed mineral materials was an estimated $2.3 trillion in 2008, 16 percent of U.S. GDP.

Minerals and materials processed from minerals account for exports worth as much as $102 billion per year (USGS).

U.S. Minerals and the Environment

Mining has touched less than one-half of one percent of all the land in the United States.

Only 3 million acres of public land have gone into private ownership from mining, while 94 million acres have been granted to railroads and 288 million acres privatized as agricultural homesteads (BLM).

Since 1978, more than 2.6 million acres of mined lands have been restored to their original or better condition, as well as more than 285,000 acres of coal mines abandoned long ago.

U.S. Minerals Mining Contributes Significantly to the American Economy

• U.S. minerals mining contributes more than $13.6 billion in personal income and payroll taxes annually.

• The total value of U.S. minerals mining output is valued at more than $68 billion.

• U.S. minerals mining employs or supports 650,000 high wage jobs, paying more than $40 billion in wages and salaries.

U.S. Minerals Mining is Environmentally Responsible

• The industry is among the most heavily regulated in the world, complying with scores of federal and state laws, including: the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, Endangered Species Act, Resources Conservation and Recovery Act, the National Environmental Policy Act and the Antiquities Act among others, as well as with specific regulations governing mining administered by multiple federal agencies.

• Since 1980, the minerals mining industry has reclaimed nearly 200,000 acres of mined lands.

• A 1999 study by the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences concluded the existing regulatory framework for mineral mining was effectively protecting the environment.

Source: National Mining Association

I have been known to be a bit on the opinionated side. I might be more so on the subject of mining. I will just blame it for growing up in Arizona. Seems to me that it makes sense to have safe and successful businesses. Mining would be one of those. The only people I can see being able to argue the need for mining would be a select few. They would have to live in cave, have no modern conveniences, and be completely off the grid. Guess their clothes would be hand made of leaves, fur, or home spun cotton. And none of them would have a computer or smart phone. No chance any of those folks would be reading this, so I am safe here.

Of course there are always the NIMBY folks, “Not in My Back Yard!”, but that is for another blog.

Knowledge is power. Use the links provided to get more information and knowledge.

National Mining Association

http://www.nma.org/

USGS Minerals Info

http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/

Mining.com

http://www.mining.com/

Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration

http://www.smenet.org/

Mineral Information Institute

http://www.mii.org/commonminerals.html

Arizona Mining Association

http://www.azcu.org/index.php

National Mining Hall of Fame & Museum – Leadville, CO

http://66.36.119.45/miningmuseum/

World Museum of Mining – Butte, MT

http://www.miningmuseum.org/

Asarco Mineral Discovery Center

http://www.mineraldiscovery.com/

Rosemont Copper

http://www.rosemontcopper.com/

Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold

http://www.fcx.com/index.htm

Sandhill Cranes 2011 III

2011-02-25T13:08:00.001-08:00

Sandhill Cranes 2011 Wrap-Up

This was out third trip to the Whitewater draw area this season! We have had the pleasure of sharing this unique place with family and friends during our visits. The cranes are usually there from November through February. They may arrive a little early, and depart a little later.

This was one of the windiest trips we have had there. The wind always seems to blow in Cochise County, but it was a few notches higher this time around. The water level was also low. Must be the end of the season for cranes, as their numbers seemed to be down as well. Other water birds were ther though. And we even got to see a couple of Long-eared Owls. Very cool! I even played around with some abstract views. Hope you enjoy.

http://www.wingsoverwillcox.com/

http://www.azgfd.gov/outdoor_recreation/wildlife_area_whitewater.shtml

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Sandhill_Crane/lifehistory

http://pearcesunsiteschamber.org/portal/AbouttheArea/SandHillCranesandBirding/tabid/68/Default.aspx

http://www.discoverseaz.com/Wildlife/Sandhill.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandhill_Crane

Minerals Revisited

2011-02-18T18:22:00.000-08:00

You never know what I might do during some free time. Here are a few photos from minerals and rocks sitting around the house. Strange collections...

Some of these were purchased at the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show.

Others were really in the collection at the house.

Hope you enjoy the images.

Winter Road Trip 2011

2011-02-01T13:00:00.000-08:00

Water can be cool...
It does snow in Vegas!

My son and I hit the road for Southern Utah and Northern Arizona during the week of New Years. Figured he needed to see some snow during his visit from Wisconsin. J We had a great time exploring while discovering that many towns are closed for the most part during the non-tourist season. Made a stop in Las Vegas to visit family and enjoy some New Years snow before heading towards parts of the Grand Circle. We visited Zion, Bryce Canyon, the Kanab area, Grand Canyon, and Wupatki area just to name a few. Hope you enjoy the images as much we enjoyed the trip.

There is a lot to see and do in this area. As stated so well on the Grand Circle Association website, “Some of America’s most diverse scenery can be found within the Grand Circle – the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, Lake Powell and Arches National Park, just to name a few. Bold splashes of color, fascinating geologic shapes and the mysterious remnants of cultures await you at every turn.” I would suggest you go out and enjoy all the area has to offer.

For great information on these areas click on one of the links:

Grand Circle Association - http://www.grandcircle.org/

Zion National Park - http://www.nps.gov/zion/index.htm

Bryce Canyon NP - http://www.nps.gov/brca/index.htm

Grand Canyon NP - http://www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm

Wupatki National Monument - http://www.nps.gov/wupa/index.htm

Kanab, UT - http://kanab.utah.gov/

Utah info - http://www.go-utah.com/Kanab/

Museum of Northern Arizona - http://www.musnaz.org/research/publications.shtml

Arizona Highways - http://www.arizonahighways.com/

Sandhill Cranes 2011

2011-01-31T15:41:00.000-08:00

Sandhill Cranes 2011

I always knew he would be Outstanding in his Field. :-)

These large cranes are found during the winter months in the Sulphur Springs Valley area of Southeastern Arizona. They begin to arrive on their migration as early as September and may stay as late as March. Most of the cranes are in the area from November through February. The 2011 Wings Over Willcox festival had Sandhill Crane numbers of 29,900 in the Sulphur Springs Valley. We have been making annual treks to the area the last few years and always have a good time exploring. The cranes are incredible to watch, though I hear some of the locals are less than pleased with the noise they make and all of us visitors cluttering up the area. We have made a couple of treks this year to the Whitewater Draw area with another trip possible depending on work schedule and weather.

Of course there is more to see than just the Sandhill Cranes. The area is home to several species of birds, as well as other wildlife. There are several areas to see the cranes, but Whitewater Draw has always been the best in our experience. The key to it all is to get out and enjoy nature. You never know what you might find.

The incoming flocks of birds looked like gnats...

One minute they were all sitting there resting. The next minute the were spooked and took off in a huge group. Some went on way and some when the other. All circled around for several minutes before coming back to the pond. I thought I saw an eagle, but can not be sure. Bobcats and coyotes also prey on the cranes. What a cool experience!

Snow geese were in the area as well. They took of as well.

They took off when the hawks came by though too.

For more great info check out the following links:

http://www.wingsoverwillcox.com/

http://www.azgfd.gov/outdoor_recreation/wildlife_area_whitewater.shtml

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Sandhill_Crane/lifehistory

http://pearcesunsiteschamber.org/portal/AbouttheArea/SandHillCranesandBirding/tabid/68/Default.aspx

http://www.discoverseaz.com/Wildlife/Sandhill.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandhill_Crane

Feel free to leave a comment and let me know what you think. Thanks!

I was not sure which image to use as the final...

The message from each is the same.

THE END(s)

Cops and Rodders 2010

2010-11-02T12:18:00.001-07:00

Cops and Rodders 2010

Spent another fine Fall day in Tucson wandering the vehicles at the Annual Cops and Rodders Show. The events benefits the Tucson Police Foundation. Also helped cover the AZ C.O.P.S. booth for a portion of the day. This organization is near and dear to my heart.

Hope you enjoy the images!

For more info check the links below:
http://www.copsandrodderstucson.org/

http://www.arizonacops.com/

Scenic Colorado 2010

2010-09-25T13:19:00.000-07:00

He is not happy!

We never know what we will see our on our fall trip. We had planned for an Oregon run, but that did not happen. Waited to see if I would be going to training that week, and the cost of flights got too high. Obviously I did not go to training. We had a great time exploring Colorful Colorado instead. Fall is a great time to visit this scenic state.

http://www.colorado.com/

Rocky Mountain National Park is one of our favorite. Especially during the Elk Rut! The bulls were getting their harems together and chasing off the smaller competition. The marmot and pika were gathering winter bedding and food. Bighorn sheep and deer were out as well. Pretty good game finds even if the moose were hiding while we were out.

http://www.nps.gov/romo/

Fall colors were evident on our adventure as well. Both Rocky Mountain and South Park Aspen trees were showing great color. You just never know what might be found…

Hope you enjoy the images.

http://rockymountainnationalpark.com/

http://www.estesnet.com/

http://wildlife.state.co.us/WildlifeSpecies/Profiles/

Scenic Southern AZ Byways

2010-09-08T20:54:00.000-07:00

Scenic Byways of Southern Arizona

Imagine us taking a roadtrip... We decided to retrace a previous trip. We last visited the grasslands and ghost towns between the Sonoita/Elgin, AZ area and the Arizona/Mexico Border. We had last visited in January of 2009, but decided to make another trip after all the rain we have had in the Monsoons of 2010.

I have included some images from the earlier trip. The easiest way to tell the difference is by all the green after the rain. It was a spectacular trip! The roads were easy enough for a passenger car and we enjoyed the journey. Hope you enjoy the photos...

http://sonoitaelginchamber.org

http://www.azconservation.org/projects/grasslands

http://www.legendsofamerica.com/az-patagoniaghosts2.html

http://en.wikipedia/org/wiki/Harshaw, Arizona

New Mexico Road Trip

2010-07-06T15:16:00.000-07:00

New Mexico Road Trip - July 2010

Gila Cliff Dwellings

http://www.nps.gov/gicl.index.htm

NM Mining and Ghost Towns info
http://www.vivanewmexico.com/ghosts/region7.html

The Catwalk National Scenic Trail and Whitewater Picnic Groundhttp://www.gilawilderness.com/travel/index.html

Silver City and Grant County info

http://www.silvercity.org/index.shtml

We stayed at a wonderful little motel near Lake Roberts. Only an hour from Silver City and the Gila Cliff Dwellings. Nice location and quiet. Did I menttion the deer come to eat in the front lawn in the evening!? A great find!

Lake Roberts Motel

www.lakerobertsmotel.com

Road Trip May 2010

2010-06-09T19:48:00.000-07:00

Spent a few days on the road exploring AZ, UT, and NM. Made stops at Grand Canyon (both rims,) Wupatki, Walnut Canyon, Zion, and more. Took a tour into Upper Antelope Canyon as well. Took too many photos and chose these to share. Enjoy.

Scan Stuff I

2010-05-12T16:37:00.000-07:00

Initial test run of scans from the Epson V500 Photo scanner.

Scan Stuff II

2010-05-12T16:07:00.000-07:00

A few images scanned with the Epson V500 Photo scanner.

Scan Stuff III

2010-05-12T15:38:00.000-07:00

Giving the Epson V500 Sanner a test drive. Throwing on a few of my slides as I think about editting a few more out of the files.

Catalina State Park Spring 2010

2010-04-07T12:45:00.000-07:00

Catalina State Park Spring 2010

Catalina State Park sits at the base of the majestic Santa Catalina Mountains. The park is a haven for desert plants and wildlife and nearly 5,000 saguaros. The 5,500 acres of foothills, canyons and streams invites camping, picnicking and bird watching — more than 150 species of birds call the park home. The park provides miles of equestrian, birding, hiking, and biking trails which wind through the park and into the Coronado National Forest at elevations near 3,000 feet. The park is located within minutes of the Tucson metropolitan area. 2010 has proven to be an incredible year for wildflowers in Arizona and in the park! We spent hours exploring the area. Hint: The horse trails provided better view of the wildflowers those trails more travelled.

For more info:

http://azstateparks.com/Parks/CATA/index.html

http://www.desertusa.com/wildflo/wildupdates.html

Aerospace and Arizona Days 2010

2010-04-07T12:20:00.000-07:00

Aerospace and Arizona Days 2010

Hundreds of thousands enjoyed two days of ground and aerial displays at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson on a weekend in March. The Thunderbirds put a great show. The Patriot Jet Team was incredible as this was the first time we had seen them. There is something special about being able to be up close and personal with the military equipment. There was plenty of static displays from local, state, and federal organizations to enjoy as well! It was a great experience! Even tried out my new Nikon 70-300 VR lens. Very nice time indeed!

For more info:

http://www.dm.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123196820

http://patriotsjetteam.com/

http://www.airshowsamerica.com/L39.htm