We dropped into the Botanic Garden today to check out the advertised “Fabulous Fifties” car show held on the upper meadow. We thought we could get a photo op for our blogs. There were a few classic American built cars there, but it was overwhelmingly dominated by European cars. We were both sort of disappointed, since we expected more in the way of the cars we grew up with and learned to drive.
I took this panoramic image of the setup on the upper meadow. Click for the full-sized image.
This nice blossom is currently featured on the new Devil’s Tongue Cactus on the patio. Click image to enlarge.
Our last vacation to Arizona was the second time this year we rented a trailer. This time, however, we did not rent the trailer until we were over in the Phoenix area. I figured that we could save some time and expense by heading out early to the rental facility in Mesa, Arizona, and camp a few miles from there on our first night at Apache Junction, so that’s what we did.
This image is from the morning after as we were getting ready to break camp and hitch up to head out to a part of Arizona neither of us had ever visited. Click the image to enlarge to full size.
We can report a lesson learned on this trip; driving the six or seven hour trip straight through to Mesa takes a lot out of us. On the way back, Verna had the idea that we should stop at a pet-friendly motel somewhere near the halfway point. I found one just a few hundred yards from the Colorado River along I-10 in Ehrenberg, Arizona. We were able to relax there, “Bear” was welcome (with a modest pet cleaning charge) and we watched Monday Night Football as opposed to going another almost four more hours to get home.
Good choice – next time, we’ll stay there on the way out to Mesa as well.
Wherever we stayed during our recent road trip to the desert, there was always a wonderful variety of local plant life. This cactus (at the KOA, Apache Junction, AZ), in spite of its spikes, was very pretty in its own way. Click image to enlarge.
The following text may be seen at the WikiPedia article on the Patton Museum:
Exhibits include a large collection of tanks used in World War II and the Korean War, as well as memorabilia from Patton’s life and career, especially in regards to his service at the Desert Training Center and that of ordinary soldiers who trained there. Development of the Colorado River Aqueduct and natural science exhibits are displayed as well. In addition, a 26-minute video is shown, detailing Patton’s military service and the creation of the Desert Training Center.
Though Patton only spent less than four months at the Desert Training Center, his establishment of the training grounds directly impacted more than one million troops.
The museum is at the Chiriaco Summit exit off Interstate 10, 30 miles/48km east of Indio.
Image: Patton Tank in 3D – click to enlarge. If you don’t have your 3D glasses handy, you can see the 2D version here.
Of course, by now you know I just LOVE these. Seen in Palm Desert California on our way to get a Subway sandwich. Click to enlarge . . .
