Warm winter weather for RVers is relative

We spent a few days in Tucson over Christmas. While the weather was warm compared to the mountains where we had come from, it did not feel warm. RVers are lucky they can go where there is nice weather- if there are warm options. That's where the term snowbird came from. However, whether winter weather is warm is relative to where you are from. If you are expecting tropical weather in winter, that lets out most of the continental U.S. Some years are better than others. I would not call this winter a warm one.

Still, we enjoyed Tucson and visiting with a few friends and relatives and exploring. In the early mornings, which were below freezing, we watched hardy balloonists against the backdrop of Sombrero Peak. We also took a couple of nice hikes in the desert. (Photo of the ballon by our RV friends Reinhard and JoAnna, who we ran into. We'd met them in 2006 in WA!)

 One disappointment was the Sky Bar on 4th Avenue. Our friend DeAnna had read, and then called to verify, that they had an upstairs viewing area where you could look through a telescope plus see deep sky images projected on the walls or ceiling. She had read a negative review that the bartenders were unfriendly. Since George is an amateur astronomer, we'd been looking forward to checking it out.

The Sky Bar was a huge poolroom with mostly white walls. Zero atmosphere. On the far right of the rear wall a Hubble Space photo was projected. On the wall to our left was a small screen with a blur. After questioning the bartender and another fellow, possibly the owner or manager, he adjusted the computer and we got the image that is shown. There is no telescope you can view the skies through. Apparently they do have a telescope on the roof, controlled by a computer, no visitors allowed. George explained that the computer-controlled camera focuses on a star or formation, then takes photos every few seconds, some with filters, then stacks them and generates a photo like the one that is shown. They can change the photo about every 10-15 minutes since they take numerous shots of each image. (I hope I explained that correctly!)

The review was correct. Not a friendly place. We walked up and down 4th Avenue. Not much was open on a Sunday night. Skip the Sky Bar if you come. It wasn't worth it.

George and I wish you safe  RV travels and a happy, prosperous new year! Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Comments

[Yarntangler]

Sorry we missed you. We were looking forward to your call. Catch you next time.

[Jaimie Hall Bruzenak]

Limited time plus other commitments and before you know it, the time was up.

We are hoping to come back in Feb and Mar. We want to attend the Tucson Festival of Books in March. Maybe you can go with us or meet us there. See http://tucsonfestivalofbooks.org/

Jaimie