We left Sedona with hope and anticipation. As we left we took a moment in a rest area, to catch our breath and start to a plan of action. We stretched our legs, made some lunch and and enjoyed the beauty of the desert. As we walked we noticed small grasshoppers jumping everywhere. We decided to slow down the pace of our trip, it seemed that a slower pace was more conducive to our lives, no more 11 hour days, in fact we were breaking it up into very short days. With that in mind we headed out looking for adventure. We ended up the The Casa Grande Ruins National Monument. We all loved that, it was hot and dry but it was an exciting visit to a site that once was inhabited by an ancient people.
As we left there, our discussions moved to our impending arrival in Phoenix. All of three of us have history in Arizona, Phil spent part of his time growing up there, Noelle was born there and I had lived there with my ex husband for 10 years. There were friends and family all around. I had sent messages to some of my friends in Tucson, knowing I would only be there a short while, but still wanted everyone to know. I told stories of being pregnant with Noelle and how I ate a chimichanga at a local restaurant almost everyday. I ended up weighing a little over 200 lbs and was surprised that she only weighed 7 lbs at birth. Phil told stories of growing up in Phoenix and of his relationship with his father. Phil has not been in touch with his father in about 20 years, it is a strained relationship and has been a source of stress for Phil as he recovered. Phil considered stopping up until the moment we hit Phoenix. I know it was with sadness, that he said to keep driving, the stop would cause him more stress and anxiety than he wanted at that moment. The trip was already wearing on him and I think he felt he just didn't want to deal with the anguish. He told Noelle and I of how he wished it might play out and said he knew there was no way it would end up being that easy and he decided to keep driving. As Phil says, "it is what it is".
We arrived in Tucson, we were excited and needed to find a place to stay. We had waited until the last minute hoping to find another great deal on Expedia. We drove into town, took some photographs, visited old stomping grounds and just admired the beauty of Tucson. We found what we thought to be another bargain and ended up staying at the Red Lion Inn. Online it looked smashing, a small suite with 2 double beds.....and in our price range. We booked, ate dinner at Casa Molina which is where I managed to put on the weight while I was pregnant and drove across the foothills and just admired the city. When we arrived at our hotel we found it to be frustrating, no internet services - the living room area was 2 waiting room chairs in a very odd sitting room and it was just not a comfortable situation. But it was paid for and we were tired. I would not recommend this hotel at all, it just wasn't a nice atmosphere. The photographs online were beautiful and we all give kudos for making this hotel look like a resort - NOT!! The outside reflection was much prettier than the inside.
The next morning there was a short celebration about leaving the not so nice hotel......and we were on our way, heading toward San Diego across the 8. We cut across the desert, across the Tohono O'odham Indian Reservation and through Ajo, Arizona. The border patrol activity was heavy, there were cameras, check points and pull overs going on everywhere. It was unsettling and we kept looking for where they would build "the wall". Wow, that would have to be a pretty big wall that is a big empty area out there. Phil experienced a pretty horrific bloody nose in the desert, we had to pull over and get past that. He has had them pretty consistently, even before we found out he has cancer. The slaps of reality kept coming and we just kept overcoming them as they came up. Saguaros, dry hot air, surprise art and border patrol, kept us busy and kept the conversation going.
The murals that were in Ajo, Arizona took my imagination away. I took photos of some of them, there were many more. There seems to be an Art School and art scene there way out in the middle of the desert. Ajo itself was quaint and very beautiful.
The most profound mural was the one that touched on migration - esp after watching the border patrol along the Mexican / Arizona border....
The other thing that we enjoyed looking at as we crossed the desert was solar and wind power. The giant windmills were beautiful spread across the desert.
As we left there, our discussions moved to our impending arrival in Phoenix. All of three of us have history in Arizona, Phil spent part of his time growing up there, Noelle was born there and I had lived there with my ex husband for 10 years. There were friends and family all around. I had sent messages to some of my friends in Tucson, knowing I would only be there a short while, but still wanted everyone to know. I told stories of being pregnant with Noelle and how I ate a chimichanga at a local restaurant almost everyday. I ended up weighing a little over 200 lbs and was surprised that she only weighed 7 lbs at birth. Phil told stories of growing up in Phoenix and of his relationship with his father. Phil has not been in touch with his father in about 20 years, it is a strained relationship and has been a source of stress for Phil as he recovered. Phil considered stopping up until the moment we hit Phoenix. I know it was with sadness, that he said to keep driving, the stop would cause him more stress and anxiety than he wanted at that moment. The trip was already wearing on him and I think he felt he just didn't want to deal with the anguish. He told Noelle and I of how he wished it might play out and said he knew there was no way it would end up being that easy and he decided to keep driving. As Phil says, "it is what it is".
We arrived in Tucson, we were excited and needed to find a place to stay. We had waited until the last minute hoping to find another great deal on Expedia. We drove into town, took some photographs, visited old stomping grounds and just admired the beauty of Tucson. We found what we thought to be another bargain and ended up staying at the Red Lion Inn. Online it looked smashing, a small suite with 2 double beds.....and in our price range. We booked, ate dinner at Casa Molina which is where I managed to put on the weight while I was pregnant and drove across the foothills and just admired the city. When we arrived at our hotel we found it to be frustrating, no internet services - the living room area was 2 waiting room chairs in a very odd sitting room and it was just not a comfortable situation. But it was paid for and we were tired. I would not recommend this hotel at all, it just wasn't a nice atmosphere. The photographs online were beautiful and we all give kudos for making this hotel look like a resort - NOT!! The outside reflection was much prettier than the inside.
The next morning there was a short celebration about leaving the not so nice hotel......and we were on our way, heading toward San Diego across the 8. We cut across the desert, across the Tohono O'odham Indian Reservation and through Ajo, Arizona. The border patrol activity was heavy, there were cameras, check points and pull overs going on everywhere. It was unsettling and we kept looking for where they would build "the wall". Wow, that would have to be a pretty big wall that is a big empty area out there. Phil experienced a pretty horrific bloody nose in the desert, we had to pull over and get past that. He has had them pretty consistently, even before we found out he has cancer. The slaps of reality kept coming and we just kept overcoming them as they came up. Saguaros, dry hot air, surprise art and border patrol, kept us busy and kept the conversation going.
The murals that were in Ajo, Arizona took my imagination away. I took photos of some of them, there were many more. There seems to be an Art School and art scene there way out in the middle of the desert. Ajo itself was quaint and very beautiful.
The most profound mural was the one that touched on migration - esp after watching the border patrol along the Mexican / Arizona border....
The other thing that we enjoyed looking at as we crossed the desert was solar and wind power. The giant windmills were beautiful spread across the desert.
The next part of our trip was in San Diego and then to Santa Barbara, where things were a bit exciting but that has to be for the next blog. Loving and living life to its fullest, we are giving it our best. Grateful for each moment.....Tucson you were beautiful!
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