Gold Canyon, Az to Kitt Peak National Observatory and back

[Snoking1127]

291 mile loop today. Left Gold Canyon at 9 am and headed down to Tucson, then SW on 86 and up to Kitt Peak. Got back at 4 pm. This was a test ride to see if this old man can do 300 mile days in prep to ride the Champagne Spyder from Az to Wa this spring. 3 minute video is near the top of the 7000' mountain. There are a lot of telescopes up there and some in this video.

https://youtu.be/o75BUMoxQ7s

 

[Calimusjohn]

If 300 miles are too much. Stop at 299.

 

[canamjhb]

As I'm sure you are aware, there are several routes to tour between here and Washington. I have done that at least a dozen times over the years and always see new and interesting things each time. In recent years my final destination before heading back south has been Anacortes. Usually stay 3 nights there. A ferry trip to San Juan island and lunch on the deck at Roche Harbor is a must for me. Three hundred mile days are easy. I usually plan my stops then or sometimes a little less (250). Avoiding interstates makes the tour a lot more enjoyable. Just plan on traveling 50 miles for each hour you are on the road. (300 miles = 6 hour day). I have several maps of the Western United States, one for each year's trip. Use a highlighter to plan my route. They give a good full perspective of things. Available at Walmart. Good luck and enjoy..... Your Mesa neighbor, Jim

 

[Snoking1127]

I have been coming to the Phoenix area each winter starting in 2008-09. So I have been many routes towing a 5th wheel trailer. I have planned a route to do the trip in 7 days, as follows.

1. Gold Canyon to Beaumont, Ca 333 miles
2. Beaumont to Fresno, Ca 302 miles
3. Fresno to Point Arena, CA 299 miles on Highway 1 North of San Francisco. I spent my last year and a half in the Coast Guard the Loran A station there.
4. Point Arena to Brookings, Or 295 miles
5. Brookings to Wheeler, Or 298 miles
6. Wheeler to Port Angeles, Wa 281 miles Highway 101 around the West side of the Olympic Peninsula I grew up in Port Angeles.
7. Port Angeles, to Lake Stevens, Wa 135 miles via Port Townsend to Keystone on the ferry.

 

[Snoking1127]

As I'm sure you are aware, there are several routes to tour between here and Washington. I have done that at least a dozen times over the years and always see new and interesting things each time. In recent years my final destination before heading back south has been Anacortes. Usually stay 3 nights there. A ferry trip to San Juan island and lunch on the deck at Roche Harbor is a must for me. Three hundred mile days are easy. I usually plan my stops then or sometimes a little less (250). Avoiding interstates makes the tour a lot more enjoyable. Just plan on traveling 50 miles for each hour you are on the road. (300 miles = 6 hour day). I have several maps of the Western United States, one for each year's trip. Use a highlighter to plan my route. They give a good full perspective of things. Available at Walmart. Good luck and enjoy..... Your Mesa neighbor, Jim

Our last home in Washington was in Shelter Bay in La Conner, near Anacortes (my doctor is still there). We had a waterfront home on the Swinomish Channel. Wife passed away in 2021 and I have a 5th wheel trailer in a membership RV park in Lake Stevens. The Champagne Spyder was there in the summer of 2021 and 2022. Starting this summer that will be it's permanent home.

 

[BamaJohn]

Our last home in Washington was in Shelter Bay in La Conner, near Anacortes (my doctor is still there). We had a waterfront home on the Swinomish Channel. Wife passed away in 2021 and I have a 5th wheel trailer in a membership RV park in Lake Stevens. The Champagne Spyder was there in the summer of 2021 and 2022. Starting this summer that will be it's permanent home.

Sorry about your loss.
Beautiful photos, and the Spyder has its own carport!

 

[Snoking1127]

Sorry about your loss.
Beautiful photos, and the Spyder has its own carport!

Two of my buddies were going to help me finish the curved outer section of the new deck and then we were going to go golfing. Well we never made it to the golf course that day. The curve was to go with the rainbow bridge.