Arizona (and beyond) Adventure: Golf and Old Planes in Tucson, February 15th to 18th

Without a doubt, the weather this week has been the best since we arrived in the desert. Mid to high 70's all week! Even the evenings have been warmish.....

While we rested on Monday: Late breakfast, tanning by the pool, swim after lunch, some grocery shopping, early to bed; Tuesday would see the beginning of 3 full days of fun activity. Tuesday morning we headed out to meet Mike and Darlene at the full practice day for golfers entered in the Accenture World Golf Championship. We met up with Mike and Darlene at the driving range at Dove Mountain Resort. This golf course is amazing. It is carved out of the desert. The fairways and greens are lush but the rough is really, really rough. Hit a ball in the rough and you can say goodbye ball.

The Tuesday practice day permitted spectators to take pictures of the golfers and obtain autographs from any of the 64 golfers playing in the Match Play Tournament. (http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/r470/) I have included 2 photos from Tuesday's event.

Sticking with golf, on Thursday we attended the 2nd round of the tournament. The first round was played on Wednesday. We followed Mike Weir for 4 holes. Unfortunately it wasn't a good day for Mike Weir as he lost his match to Paul Casey and was therefore eliminated from the tournament. We saw some amazing golf. These guys really are good!

Going back a day, on Wednesday we began the day with a hike into Sabino Canyon. Dana, Mike, Darlene and I hiked up the canyon for a mile or so and enjoyed the early morning air and cooler temperature. In the afternoon Dana and Darlene took in some retail therapy, shopping for fabric, while Mike and I took a tour of the Pima County Air Museum. I have included a couple of photos of the over 300 planes on display at the museum. Unfortunately we did not get to take the tour of the "Bone Yard" which is where the U.S.forces store over 4,500 aircraft in the open desert. We did however get to see some of the planes from the highway as we approached the museum. The "Bone Yard" is quite a sight. From the road you can see C130 Hercules aircraft for as far as the eye can see. You can also see F16, F18, A10, F117 Stealth fighters, bombers, you name it. I believe they have been moth-balled. Like I said, there are over 4,500 aircraft in the Bone Yard.

Unfortunately although Dana and Darlene found some fab fabric, photos are unavailable. Uncle Bob, you'll just have to wait and see!

It is now Thursday evening. We got home around 5:30. Mike and Darlene headed back to Mesa after our day of golf at the Accenture. We may have gotten a bit too much vitamin D today so it is time for showers and bed. Tomorrow we plan to rise early and get the bikes out for an early spin. That will be a game time decision........