Craving some "coolth"!!

Sunday, July 7, 2013
Mount Lemmon, elev. 9,157

Trip Advisor says that Mount Lemmon is the place to go is you are tired of the Tucson heat.  Let's see, does that describe us?  You bet it does!  We enjoy the birds and our coffee, catch up yet again, and leave around one o'clock.

It is just a short drive across town to Catalina Highway which leads right up Mt. Lemmon.  We start out in saguaro country with temperatures right where they've been since we arrived!

We are looking forward to a change of scene!  The road clings to the side of the mountain with lots of switchbacks and pull outs, and we quickly learn that we can't stop at all of them or we'll never got to the top!  There are also vistas, and those turn out to be the best picture spots!

Walk like an Egyptian!

As we climb we can see the change in vegetation and watch the cacti disappear and the conifers take over.

At the top we can see the effects of the fire in 2003, naked trunks sticking up along the ridge line.  The cabins have all been rebuilt and there is a small but thriving community with a general store, several restaurants and, of course, the ski lift with its ski-side shop.  Cat and Kitty are in residence there.

We had hoped to ride the chair lift to the top but by the time we arrive the thunderstorms have set in and the lift isn't running.

Aspen at the ski side.

Memorial at the top of the mountain

fire remnants

Woohoo!!  Look at that!!

On the way back we check out the vistas on the other side of the road until we've seen enough of beautiful rocks and are ready for some dinner.  OH!  Here's an empty water bottle as it appears at the bottom of the mountain!

We first saw this phenomenon when we visited Bill and Sandy Hood and traveled to the top of the Grand Mesa.

Driving home we pass an Eegees, which is a food store similar to Burger King but with an Icee-like drink called an Eegee made from real fruit and juices, and Nathan's hot dogs.  I have a pina colada Eegee and there are actual pieces of pineapple and coconut!  YUM!!

Grav shot of a church that either has lots of members under thirty or over sixty!

When we get home the lights are on!  Auntie Edna has beaten us home!  We have a wonderful evening catching up on each other's activities!  On the way home the family saw the funeral procession for the nineteen fire fighters, The Hot Shots, who died in the Yarnell fire.  There were nineteen identical white hearses carrying them back from their autopsies in Phoenix, then to Yarnell and then back to Prescott, their home town and Rosie said that for thirty miles there were cars stopped along the side of the road and people waiting in silence with American flags.  There were also about a thousand Hell's Angels showing their respect.  The procession also included firetrucks and policemen with sirens.

We stay up way later than usual because there is so much to chat about and we finally crash with no need for an alarm.  Tomorrow is an easy day.  Yay!!