While visiting Tucson we rode our motorcycles out to take a look at San Xavier del Bac Mission which is considered one of the finest examples of mission architecture in the USA, located southwest of Tucson, Arizona on the Tohono O’odham Reservation.
It is a striking building, dubbed the “white dove in the desert” . We could see it from a few miles away, and I can understand the nickname. We arrived and walked around the grounds and shot some photos, unfortunately tours were not available that day of the week so we were not able to go inside, but there are virtual tours available online!
Founded in 1692 this mission has a long history, with construction of the current church started in 1783, and restoration of the mission started as early as 1905 and continues to this day.
Make sure to check the website out if you are interested in the tour, and be sure to walk over to the hill East of the mission. The path around the hill gives you a 360 degree view of the four surrounding mountains: the Santa Catalina, the Rincon, the Santa Rita and the Tucson mountains as well as a birds eye view of San Xavier del Bac Mission. There is also a replica of the Grotto of Lourdes, an irregularly shaped shallow cave or grotto built in 1908 to honor the Virgin Mary.
Yaks in front of the Danger De Cristo Mountains in Crestone CO.
I was driving from Denver to Creede and decided to split up my drive home to visit a town that has been on my radar Crestone, CO. Known as the Shambala of the Rockies it has a reputation for its peace and quiet, scenic landscape and is home to several spiritual organizations and retreat centers.
I took the opportunity to stay in an unusual home called The Mothership Dome. It was an interesting property with 3 dome structures with a full stage and tiered seating in between the domes. It was only a 10 minute drive from the Crestone Ziggurat that I was also interested in seeing.
This was just a quick trip to get the lay of the land and I am looking forward to coming back and exploring more that the area has to offer. It’s definitely off the beaten path but worth the effort to get there.
When I first moved to Creede, Colorado I saw an event advertised called the Donkey Dash. Being an Ohio boy, I had no idea what that meant but I went to check it out. Well, it became one of my favorite summer events here in Creede!
Participants line up on the historic main street of Creede, CO with a burro in tow, and run an approximately 9 mile course or a 3 mile short course, up through the historic Creede Mining District and back. A short mini donkey race is also held in town for all ages. This year the route was a bit different because of a boulder blocking the road, but the same rules applied.
The starting gun fires and the whole pack, this year over 70 entrants, takes off. Occasionally the ornery burros need some encouragement, but it is definitely a sight!
A little on the the history of burro racing – Burro racing is a great sport begun by some of Colorado’s 19th-century miners. Those hardy characters used burros to carry mining tools and supplies through the Rocky Mountains as they prospected for gold, silver, and other valuable ores. Since the burros were carrying a full load, the miners had to walk, leading the animal with a rope. Legend has it that two miners found gold in the same location, and raced each other back to town to be the first to stake a claim to the find. Neither could ride their animal because of its load, so one of the basic rules of burro racing was established.
Make sure to check this out next June if you are in Creede!
Our little Tucson trip allowed me to finally check something off of my childhood dream list. Biosphere 2 is a place I’d wanted to visit since I was in sixth grade. I got a book on Biosphere 2 about the project, creation of the building, and all of the wildlife and plants harvested from around the world to create this experiment which stuck in my mind for years. The idea was a group of “bionauts” would be sealed in for two years trying to create a self-sustaining biosphere modeled on the planet earth…biosphere one. It also brought to mind all types of sci-fi dreams featuring dome enclosed worlds, such as Logan‘s Run, Silent Running, and William Gibson books (Yes, I was a bit of a nerd).
The story of the original experiment gets pretty interesting with tons of publicity and media coverage, failures, coverups, and drama. There’s a pretty interesting documentary out there called Spaceship Earth which takes it even further into the cult-like origins of the team who put this project together, and honestly it’s like something out of reality TV. Two missions were run by the original team, eventually the Biosphere 2 went into private hands, and in 2011 the University of Arizona assumed ownership.
Located in the desert of Oracle, Arizona outside of Tucson you follow a winding road, capturing just glimpses of the space frame facility in the distance. You are greeted by a welcome sign in front of a visitor center where you can download an app on your phone for a self guided walking tour (Additional guided tours and experiences are also offered). It’s actually a great set up which allows you to move at your own pace, the app guides you through to well marked stops, and video clips on the app give you more information and archival footage. The tour itself is around an hour, a walking path leading you outside around the building, and through the biosphere.
It’s fascinating to sit down in the kitchen where the people who lived there ate every meal while sitting in the same chairs as shown in the footage you are watching. Wandering through the purple carpeted hallways and looking at the 6500 panes of glass and untold amount of erector set like beams used to create this unique structure. you really get an idea of the undertaking thie original project was. Many of the building’s functions have changed and additional experiments were done over the years utilizing this facility and its unique structure for environmental science projects such as soil erosion, a study on the effects of carbon dioxide on plants, advanced growing techniques and more.
Walking through the different biomes you see mangrove wetlands, savanna grassland, fog desert, and an ocean with a coral reef, and the most impressive pyramid-like section of the building… the tropical rainforest. This was originally built to replicate conditions of actual rainforests, and plants from around the world we brought in. After decades of growth the rainforest is actually quite amazing with upper, lower, and middle canopies reaching to the top of the 80 foot structure.
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The experiment may not have been a total success, but seeing the scale of this dream in person is impressive. I’m happy to have finally been able to see this in person, it may have also brought back some memories of a certain Pauly Shore movie…. although I can’t say that has aged as well!
We’ve been to Great Sand Dunes National Park a few times, but never during the spring and the seasonal river. Featuring a diverse landscape of grasslands, wetlands, forests, alpine lakes, and tundra there is a lot to see, but a couple months a year Medano Creek runs at the base of North America’s highest sand dunes due to the snow melt from the surrounding mountains. We heard water had arrived and decided to jump on the motorcycles and go take a look!
Heading out from Creede, CO down the Silver Thread Byway
It was a windy cool day, but we were thrilled to be able to jump on the motorcycles this early in May. It’s about a 2 Hour ride from Creede, Colorado through the San Luis valley to Mosca, Colorado, and we made a couple stops on the way.
Pulling into the dunes is always a sight, from the park entrance sign you can get an idea of the enormity of these 700 plus foot tall sand dunes, which seem completely out of place in the high altitude San Luis Valley. The Sangre de Cristo mountains were still capped in snow, and you could just make out the water sparkling at the base of the dunes. We made our way to the parking lot and shed our gear, and as we were walking to the entrance to the dunes, you could see the water flowing!
Medano Creek!
It’s not very deep yet, but wide. Small waves in the water from the surge flow and wind changed the path of the water constantly.
Even though it was not deep enough to tube or play in yet there were still plenty of people there to see the creek, as well as people hiking up the dunes carrying sand boards and sleds. We haven’t tried sand boarding yet, but it looks like a fun way to make your way down after scaling the dunes!
Heading out to sand board!
This is truly an amazing and special place any time of the year, and like most national parks there are campgrounds and picnic areas available as well as a visitor center with history on the formation of this natural feature. It’s worth visiting here anytime of the year, but if you’re local or in the area during the months of April, May, or June, definitely try and visit, it is an otherworldly experience!
After visiting with family and friends in southern California I wanted to spend a few nights camping in the Anza Borrego Desert before meeting Kyle in Tucson. I have been on camping trips I with my family in that area for over 20 years and there’s always something new to see.
First things first. Whenever I am passing by the Cabazon dinosaurs I have to stop, it’s tradition. I can’t tell you how many times I have stopped there. We used to stop at the Wheel Inn for lunch on our way back from desert camping trips, but sadly the restaurant was closed in 2013 and shortly after torn down. This was the restaurant the Large Marge dropped Peewee Herman off at in Peewee’s Big Adventure. The sign remains but behind it is a pile of rubble. Even though the restaurant is gone I still stop because the last few years they have been painting the dinosaurs for the holidays, I’ve seen them painted like Fred Flintstone and Dino, Santa Claus and Rudolph, this trip they were still painted for Valentines day.
I spent the first night at Tamarisk Grove Campground. I snagged the last spot there after I was turned away from the Borrego Palm Canyon campground whose 120 spaces were sold out. I set up camp and ate dinner out of the back of my car. The campground was quiet and I got a good nights sleep. The next morning I went to a part of Galleta Meadows that I’d never been to and then hiked around Slot Canyon. I was a few weeks late for the first desert blooms but there was still a lot of color to be seen.
The second night I drove out to some BLM land I was familiar with near the Salton Sea and set up my camp and a fire and spent the night completely alone watching the sliver of a moon set in the desert.
On day three in the desert I made the trek around the Salton Sea to Bombay Beach. This is another area that has something new every time I go through. In the 50’s this was a popular beach destination just outside of Palm Springs. That heyday is long gone but in 2016 the remaining community started inviting artists, writers, and filmmakers to create works and “stage happenings” and the town and beach area are now full of larger than life art installations.
I treated myself to a wild west themed RV resort for my last night in CA and rented a vintage trailer at the Palm Canyon RV Resort in Borrego Springs. The hotel rooms have have an old western town facade, there’s a saloon and restaurant on site as well as all the amenities a weary traveler could ask for.
My solo trip was now complete and I hit the road to meet Kyle in Tucson and here’s where the fifth element came in to play. Somewhere off the I-10 coming in to Arizona I saw a sign for the Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch. Okay, I could use a little break, I’ll go stretch my legs and see what this is all about. The facility was super clean and well maintained and the animals seemed happy to interact with visitors. With the price of admission you get food for all the different critters, mini donkeys, deer, goats, ostriches, more goats, chickens, bunnies, birds and turtles. My favorite was in the lorikeet habitat where you hold a cup of nectar and the birds fly to you and stand on your arm to get a drink out of the cup. The last stop on the self guided tour is at the stingray pool, I was a bit of a fraidy cat feeding these guys but I did it! Ten out of ten would reccomend!! I wouldn’t necessarily go out of my way to visit but if I’m passing through in the future it is well worth the 15 bucks for a little entertainment.
We designed and printed up some cool Creede T-shirts and stickers, something a bit different than anything we had seen around, and we think they are pretty fun! Please check out our store, and please share with anyone who may dig them!
Bighorn Butts Drive Me Nuts T-Shirt – FrontLiving The High Life T-Shirt – BackLiving The High Life T-Shirt – FrontCreede Colorado Mountain T-Shirt – BackCreede Colorado Mountain T-Shirt – FrontCreede Colorado Map T-Shirt – Front
We will also post updates when we will be attending local Creede events this summer!
Kyle and I already had a trip to Tucson planned and at the last minute I decided to start the road trip a week early to visit my Mom in California for her 76th birthday. For the most part I was just passing through, not taking time to sightsee just stopping to stretch my legs until I got to Vegas.
A headless horse….Just kidding.American Southwest architectureAZ wildflowersMore American Southwest architectureHere for a good time, not a long time
I spent two nights at the Golden Nugget on Fremont. I prefer Fremont to the Strip since it’s less overwhelming and easier to navigate. They’ve also done a lot of refurbishing in the area and it has a really neat arts district area with unique restaurants and shops and lots of huge murals.
Vegas!!!FremontHigh Roller
I treated my self to a dinner at the iconic Peppermill restaurant across the street from the Circus Circus casino. It’s one of my favorite kitschy spots in town, open since the 70’s and featured in many films, music videos and tv shows. The decor is so over the top there’s really no way to capture it all in a photo so here is a photo of my club sandwich.
I was fueling up to go to the Horseshoe casino to see “Dita Las Vegas: a Jubilant Revue,” starring neo-burlesque queen Dita Von Teese. A show filled with the glitter and glamour of a classic Vegas showgirl (and boy) production using original Jubilee costumes designed by Bob Mackie.
Neo-burlesque queen Dita Von Teese
On my way out of town I grabbed some donuts and a t-shirt at The Donut Hole and stopped at the Burlesque Hall of Fame Museum before I hit the highway. I was in Vegas in 2010 when the museum had it’s grand opening. It started in the corner of a coffee shop on Fremont and now it has it’s own space in the arts district a few blocks away from the Fremont experience. The museum has come a long way from it’s roots on Jennie Lee and Dixie Evan’s goat farm in Victorville (which I have also visited) and it is great to see that the costumes and stories are being taken care of by a passionate group of burlesque historians.
But first, donuts The Burlesque Hall Of FameDisplays at the Burlesque Hall Of FamePasties art the Burlesque Hall Of Fame
I’ve been to Vegas many times before but I think this might be the first time I’ve ever gone alone! I definitely have some favorite spots there but it is always neat to do something new and different each time I visit.
In one of our earlier posts Bee wrote about her fifth element of travel: the unexpected. We were driving down to Tucson, AZ from Creede, Colorado towing a couple motorcycles, so I was taking the scenic back roads. We were in Western New Mexico and entered the El Malpais National Monument, something I had not planned on. I was looking for a spot to stop and take a rest and walk our pup Maya and figured this was perfect.
The trail starts paved and becomes easy to travel level gravel.
We were out of cell service so I was just keeping an eye open, and saw a sign for La Ventana Natural Arch in 15 miles and figured, why not, that’s the stop! I pulled off at the trailhead and much to my surprise you could actually see the arch from the trailhead. It’s a short 15 minute walk up the trail (which does allow pets), and you’re standing at the base of a gigantic, natural sandstone arch – one of New Mexico’s largest.
Rules, regulations, and a little info at the La Ventana Natural Arch trailhead.
It’s fun when something is simple as a little break from the road turns into seeing a beautiful natural wonder. That entire national monument is absolutely gorgeous and at some point we will make a point to head back to and explore the lava tube caves and sandstone bluffs in the future!
The view of La Ventana Natural Arch from the end of the trail.
Somehow the entire winter managed to get past me without hitting Wolf Creek Ski Area again! Even though the winter season is long here in the high country of Southern Colorado, sometimes looking back it just flew by. Luckily having my brother and his family in for a visit gave me the excuse I needed to get some time on the slopes!
Tyler, Julia, Darly, and Virginia takin a break on the slopes
It’s been a couple years, so I had to pull out my gear, and literally dust the cobwebs off. It ended up being the perfect week to go, the last week of the season, and a locals week (everyone is a local!). Even without the special rates Wolf Creek is a bargain compared to so many resorts out there with reasonable lift tickets and gear rental. To me the best thing about it is that it is one of the most uncrowded ski areas I’ve been to! It still feels like a local hill, but with some of the most snow in Colorado normally averaging over 400 inches a year, 1600 skiable acres with 133 named trails of varied types of terrain, and hike-to backcountry areas, it is still a world-class experience. It makes for an excellent vibe compared to packed resorts with exorbitant prices and huge lift lines.
The extensive trail map for Wolf Creek Ski Area
The first time I went to Wolf Creek was about 15 years ago, and it still feels the same. It was opened in 1938 and family owned and operated for the past 50 years. I feel like that is why it kept its charm rather than feeling like just another corporate park. The facts the nearest airports are 65-80 miles away, and there is no lodging on site (although nearby Pagosa Springs offers a ton of options, as well as hot springs) may have part to do with it not exploding as well!
Heading down 160 from Creede, CO to Wolf Creek Ski Area
We hit the road early and had a beautiful drive from Creede to Wolf Creek and showed up right around opening time to an almost empty lot, and 6 inches of fresh powder! After getting everyone geared up, we headed right to the closest lift and headed up to the top of the mountain. It was a blast getting to ski and snowboard as a family; the sun may not have been shining, but it was excellent conditions for the end of the season. We got run after run in, took a nice lunch break in the lodge, and hit the slopes again for a couple more hours.
Heading up the mountain for my first run of the season!
Julia looking pumped to be snowboarding!
Still a few days left before Wolf Creek closes for the season, if you live in the area or are visiting and enjoy snow sports, you should absolutely check out Wolf Creek. See you next year!
Wolf Creek Ski Area has tons of skiable acres, and approximately 20% of the trails are rated easy, great for kids and beginners.
Look Ma, no hands!
And that is almost a wrap for the season!
Fun runs with the family! Thanks Wolf Creek Ski Area!
Ramble Around 