Science and Nature in Arizona

For a long time I’ve been wanting to go on a tour of the MMT south of Tucson. I finally managed to arrange it and so I on Oct. 15 I took off for Tucson, first stopping overnight in Blythe as usual. My usual approach when leaving Los Angeles is not to put in a lot of miles the first day, but to escape so as to avoid rush hour traffic as much as possible. I did take a break on the way at Coachella Valley Brewing (http://cvbco.com) in Thouand Palms, which was worth the stop. It wasn’t too far off the freeway in an industrial park.

The next day was a travel and partial buffer day so I had an afternoon in Tucson. I went to the Yume Japanese Gardens. The garden is small but worth a stop if you’re in the area. Apparently it was a private project at one time.
http://ikemi.info/Graphics2016/YumeJapaneseGarden2016/index.html

I still had some time so picked the Museum of the Horse Soldier as an easy visit. It is inside of Trail Dust Town which appeared to be some sort of theme park. It didn’t seem to be fully open when I was there since it was too hot. The Museum itself was crammed full of exhibits, but the exhibits could have used more captions in some cases to set the context. Near the University there is a little cluster of breweries. Somehow I found parking and went to Puebla Vida first. Finally found a Hefeweisen. Then I took a little walk to the Public Brewhouse which was kind of on a dirt alley. Expensive, but it was worth it.

http://ikemi.info/Graphics2016/MuseumoftheHorseSoldier2016/index.html

Finally the big day, after waiting to make this tour for decades, I’m finally on the way. An early departure from Tucson gets me to the visitor center before it opens. No problem, since there are gamma ray telescopes (four) ringing the visitor center. There was also a jungle jim type structure behind that I later learned was the structure that supported the original Mult-mirror telescope, the one I had hoped to see many years ago (1993 to be precise). The bus trip wasn’t too bad and the day was nice. Highly recommend this tour in conjunction with the Caris Mirror Lab tour back in Tucson. To book the MMT tour, you need to call in advance to make a reservation-no walk ins.

http://ikemi.info/Graphics2016/MMT2016/index.html

After the tour I stayed at the Motel 6 in Benson to get myself in position to visit Chiricahua National Monument the next day. This is on a sky island so the climate is markedly different from the surrounding lands, especially near the freeway. Took a short hike up to the lookout on Sugarloaf. Apparently it is no longer used but maintained for historical reasons. Next I went on the slightly longer Echo Canyon Loop. Saw a lot of good balancing rock formations, but to see one of the more remarkable ones you need to go on a longer hike. I camped overnight since I had made a reservation beforehand.

http://ikemi.info/Graphics2016/Chiricahua2016/index.html

Back to Tucson the next day. I had booked a tour of the mirror grinding lab, but it was later in the afternoon so I visited a couple of the campus museums. By accident I went to the Arizona History Museum, which was good since they had parking. A number of interesting historical exhibits including ones on Geronimo and the chase after Pancho Villa. After lunch I next walked over to the

http://ikemi.info/Graphics2016/ArizonaHistoryMuseum2016/index.html

After lunch I next walked over to the Arizona State Museum which is actually about the Native Americans. Could have lingered, but it was time to go to the mirror lab.

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The mirror lab used to be the assistant coach parking lot. Now it is a very hight tech lab for casting and grinding giant telescope mirrors. Sizes that used to be impossible are now being cast there. The current mirror at the MMT was made here, replacing the original array of mirrors. After and orientation talk and some videos, you are guided to viewing platforms where you can see the automated tools used for finishing the mirrors. Highly recommended.

http://ikemi.info/Graphics2016/CarisMirrorLab2016/index.html

After the tour I headed to Phoenix and Huss brewing. Another Motel 6 stop. On the way home the next day I decided it was a good chance to visit the UCR Botanical Gardens. Another place where the GPS let me down after a certain point, but the signage was pretty good. The gardens are bigger than they first appear and you can go on some longer walks if you want. The centralized parking meter doesn’t seem to encourage prolonged stays.

http://ikemi.info/Graphics2016/UCRBotanical2016/index.html

A trip to the California Gold Country

In early September I made a return trip to Sacramento after my last trip there two years ago. This was a follow up to my exploration of Sacramento, but instead of returning to Lassen National Park, I decided to explore California 49, which I had been intending to do for a couple of decades. First, though on the way up I made a return trip to Castle Air Museum. Still looks the same but it looks like thy have some plans to work on the B-36. I last saw it when it was first reassembled there. Photos at:

http://ikemi.info/Graphics2016/CastleAirMuseum2016/index.html

Before that I tried out Temblor Brewing in Bakersfield, where I also stopped at the night since I don’t like driving very far in a day anymore.

I made it to Sacramento and stayed at the Motel 6 downtown, which is actually strategically located for sight seeing. It also has both a Starbucks and a Peet’s within close walking distance if you need your coffee. I left my car there and used my folding bicycle to explore since parking is bad in Sacramento. on the way into town from the south I stopped at Track 7 Brewing.
I first visited Sutter’s Fort in Sacramento, which is a California State Park. This is a recreation, and it’s a little smaller than the original so it could fit on the available property. Still, a fun place to visit with furnished rooms and recordings describing life at the fort. This a good place to start the Gold Country tour since it all started with poor Mr Sutter as we shall see. Photos at:

http://ikemi.info/Graphics2016/SuttersFort2016/index.html

On the same property next to the fort is the small California Indian Museum, where unfortunately photography is not allowed. Moving west, I next searched for the California Museum, whose location could be better marked on the maps. After seeing the Iowa and Oklahoma state museums. I thought I ought to check out my own state museum. This one is not impressive, but still worth a visit since it is so close to everything else, once you figure out the location. Photos ate:

http://ikemi.info/Graphics2016/CalifMuseum2016/index.html

Nearby is the State Capitol Museum whose entrance is at the side of the State Capitol. Be warned that entry is the same as an airport security check point. Leave anything questionable, such as pocket knives, in your car, or in my case, my saddlebag. Some rooms have been set aside to be furnished as they were in ages past. You can also go on a guided tour which includes both chambers. Photos at:

http://ikemi.info/Graphics2016/CalifStateCapitol2016/index.html

I dropped in New Helvetia Brewing (name ties into Sutter’s Swiss heritage) and then went to the Convention Center past the cosplayers to the Greek Festival. This is their last year at the Convention Center and next year they will be at a new venue. Finished the day by re-certifying Rubicon Brewing on the way back to Motel 6.

The next day on my way out of Sacramento I visited the California Auto Museum which is worth half a day:

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The other half day I spent at the Aerospace Museum of California:

http://ikemi.info/Graphics2016/CaliforniaAerospaceMuseum2016/index.html:

Afterwards I stopped at Out of Bounds Brewing. Ask before you get the tasting flight. It had 8 (?) samples and cost $20. I couldn’t finish it since I still had a little driving.

After that I headed for the Motel 6 in Auburn, on California 49. The next day I headed northwest on 49 to the Empire Mine State Historical Park, which does take up a whole day. This site includes hiking trails, tours of the remaining mine facilities, and a tour of the mine owner’s “cottage”.:

http://ikemi.info/Graphics2016/EmpireMIne2016/index.html

By the way, the proceeds from this mine also financed the Filoli estate which I visited earlier in the year:

http://ikemi.info/Graphics2016/Filoli2016/index.html

I returned to Auburn, but there is more up 49 in this direction and I’ll have to come back some day. In Auburn I checked out Knee Deep Brewing where you have plenty of room to enjoy your tasting flight. The next day I started by exploring Auburn itself. First stop was the Placer County Museum and then the Bernhard Museum:

http://ikemi.info/Graphics2016/Auburn2016/index.html

I exited Auburn on the very winding roads (wish I had my motorcycle then) towards Sutter’s Mill, or, the Marshall Gold Discovery Site. This includes a reconstruction of the famous sawmill and numerous displays in separate buildings. You can visit a working blacksmith shop. You can do a lot of walking between the sites, but I decided to drive up to the Marshall monument on the top of a hill since it was getting late in the day. The discovery of gold here led to the downfall of Sutter’s Fort since everyone abandoned it to hunt for good and the incoming miners weren’t particular about property rights. Photos at:

http://ikemi.info/Graphics2016/MarshallGoldDiscovery2016/index.html

I stayed at a nearby campground and realized that I can no longer sleep in a mummy bag. Nice campground, though.

My last day of sight seeing took me to Columbia State Historical Park which encompasses a complete town, part of which is still inhabited. There is a museum with a ranger in the center of town. You can also walk or drive up to the cemetery and see the restored school house nearby. There are various restaurants and cafes in town. On the drive in I was amazed at how far the water levels had dropped nearby. The ranger said they had dropped about 100’. Photos at:

http://ikemi.info/Graphics2016/ColumbiaStatePark2016/index.html

in the afternoon I went to the Railtown 1897 State Historical park. I was there on a weekday and train rides are available only on weekends. However, you can get a tour of the roundhouse and other facilities. Lots of stuff to see:

http://ikemi.info/Graphics2016/Railtown2016/index.html

Finally, I left 49 at Turlock where I had dinner at Dust Bowl Brewing downtown.