A Trip to the 50th State in Our 50th Year!
We left San Antonio on Dec 31 and spent time visiting friends in Fredricksburg, Texas. Late in the afternoon, we headed another 60-70 miles west to Sonora, Texas.
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| Holy Family in Sonora Texas |
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| But daily mass was in a chapel in the parish office building |
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| Back on the road to west Texas and New Mexico. We overnighted in Las Cruces and then headed on to Tucson |
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| More mountains and a little higher in eleveation |
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| Our lodging here is at the Air Force Inn at Davis Monthan |
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| Across the street from the AF Inn is the Catholic Chapel |
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| The Creche had some unique elements . . . |
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| . . . that reflected the military mission |
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| Daily mass next day at noon |
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| In addition to being an operating Air Force Base, Davis Monthan is also one of several aircraft storage facilities - the so called "airplane boneyard" |
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| Airplanes are lined up in groups according to type |
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| Hundreds, maybe thousands of C-130's |
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| and P-3's |
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| Some of teh airplanes are used to supply repair parts for aircraft still in service |
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| B-52's |
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| Big airplanes like this C-5 |
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| And small airplanes |
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| A B-1 bomber |
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| Helicopters |
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| Our next stop was south of Tucson at Mission San Xavier |
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| The facade was damaged in an earthquake but is still in quite good shape |
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| The interior is in remarkable condition, reflecting that this is an active church |
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| The main altar facade or "east wall" is ornate and has many details |
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| The topmost part of the facade reflects the special relationship between God and the Blessed Virgin. Here the angels pull the cords to open the world to her beauty and grace |
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| This representation of the Blessed Virgin is unique in that she wears earrings! |
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| The side altars are also beautiful |
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| The right side altar is for Our Mother or Sorrows |
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| The overhead is also decorated beautifully |
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| This painting of the Last Supper has a couple of interesting items - Judas holding the money bag and a dark, evil looking head near the lower right corner representing the presence of Satan |
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| in this type of architecture, symmetry is important. This painted door is opposite a real door |
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| This wood carving is of Mohawk St Katerei Tekakwitha |
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| This wood carving of one of the saints is popular place to leave small items of affection |
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| This unique creche reflects the Native American populace that this mission serves |
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| In the museum is this woven grass mat monstrance |
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| This diorama shows the original mission |
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| Another tribute to Mohawk St Katerei Tekakwitha |
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| This small chapel was used to serve the cemetery adjacent to the church |
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| This hill next to the mission hosts a way of the cross. You can see the cross at the top |
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| This mercado just off the plaza had a number of Native American craft stores |
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| The next stop was Sauaro National Park |
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| The visitor center was great with much info and a suggestion from one of the rangers that we visit Signal Hill |
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| The road to Signal Hill was dirt and had a "washboard" texture |
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| Bob just had to test the cactus spines |
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| The trail to Signal Hill was uphill - both ways! |
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| The trip was worthwhile just to see the petroglyphs - art on rocks |
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| Bob couldn't resist! |
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| Next, University of Arizona |
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| The students were not back from Christmas break, but most of the campus was still not open to traffic. |
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| But much of the campus was accessible by car |
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| Another place we wanted to check out was Mercado |
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| This little building holds coffee shops, restaurants and |
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| Shops such as this bike shop with some unique offerings |
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| Nearby is a 4-5 block long stretch on 4th Avenue with all kinds of unusual shops, bars, and restaurants |
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| Also close by is the Presidio - the original center of Tucson |
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| At first, we couldn't find the entrance! |
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| But inside, is a neat museum with a wealth of info |
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| The stack here are adobe bricks held together with mud mortar |
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| Typical quarters for the Spanish soldiers |
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| The original plan spread over several city blocks |
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| The charter for Presidio Tucson |
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| Much of the story is in this mural |
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| These were used to grind grains |
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| Not sure if this VW beetle was here when the Presidio was active fort |
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| La Cocina is nearby Presidio and contains restaurants, shops, and a pub |
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| The kitchen is in the red rimmed windowed area |
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| We enjoyed a light snack there - PBR |
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| and polenta fries |
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| The Dusky Monk was not open when we visited |
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| Noon mass at the Cathedral |
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| Statues in front honor Jesus and . . . |
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| . . . His Mother |
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| This archway was moved across the street while construction is underway north of the Cathedral |
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| The narthex was unique in that the walls are a mural |
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| Even the "balcony" |
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| St Maximilian Kolbe |
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| The interior of the Cathedral |
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| St Mother Teresa |
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| Add caption |
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| Side altars |
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| The main altar |
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| Under the crucifix is the cathedra - the chair of the bishop |
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| We had never heard of Franklin automobiles |
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| and decided to visit the Franklin museum on the north side |
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| There are probably 20-25 Franklins here |
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| This was an air cooled engine so there was no need for a big grill and radiator |
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| We had our own personal guide who was quite well versed on the Franklin |
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| Add caption |
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| While there was no need for a grill (no radiator), people thought the Franklin looked "funny" without the grill, so they added one |
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| The hood often contained air channels to route cooling air through the engine |
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| This display shows the air cooled cylinder and the fan |
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| Franklin also built aircraft engines - large ones and . . . |
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| . . . large ones |
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| Some Franklins came with custom made luggage designed to fit the "trunk" |
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| A transverse engine! in 1906! |
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| The battery pack |
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| They built a few trucks |
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| This was one of the first |
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| The headlamps were powered by acetylene |
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| The cars came with tool kits |
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| This Packard was in a garage up front |
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| The Packard straight eight |
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| The supercharged Franklin |
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| This wheel was found after years in the desert - no rust but it would be tough to reuse! |
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| Davis Monthan AFB has a great display of Viet Nam era airplanes |
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| The U-2 |
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| The "Super Saber" |
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| This moving sculpture highlights that not all made it home but spent a lifetime as POWs |
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| The A-10 - the "Thud" |
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| Finally, a trip up Mount Lemon |
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| The experience is the drive and climb |
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| There are numerous pull-offs and vistas |
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| The capstone to our visit to Tucson was an evening with Bob's cousin E.J and his wife Barbara |
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| The last day, we went to morning mass at Mother of Sorrows |
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| The12th Station of the Cross is unique in that it is also a place to venerate the cross |
Tomorrow, we head for Phoenix - actually Goodyear - to visit with Theresa's cousin Jim Fry and his wife Jean.
Then, we'll spend a couple of days with Terry and Judy Stanley in Surprise Arizona.
Then, San Diego and our cruise! Not sure when the next post will be - stay tuned.
