drivetofive

Odometer (Legend):  528,752

Odometer (ILX):  68,931

Trip Distance:  242 Miles

Would you get claustrophobic like me if you had to live inside an enclosed greenhouse for 2 years?

Imagine a self-contained world: a giant bubble that’s capable of supporting life as we know it.  Welcome to Biosphere 2.  Surprisingly few people have heard of a place in southern Arizona that 20 years ago was home to such an experiment.  Now owned by the University of Arizona Science Department, Biosphere 2 is a research facility that was built as a closed ecological system – the largest of its kind.  Biosphere 1, for those who are probably wondering like I was, is our own earth.

Yesterday’s outing may have been the largest I’ve organized to date.  It was attended by 15 of my friends in 8 separate (and very diverse!) vehicles.  After assembling at my place in Scottsdale, Arizona, we set out in the following caravan of vehicles.  It made for a nice parade.

• 2013 Acura ILX
• 1995 Acura Legend
• 2013 Audi RS5
• 2013 Audi S5
• 1997 BMW 740 iL
• 2013 Cadillac SRX
• 2000 Honda Accord
• 2013 Nissan 370Z

Kevin, Edward, and Cole rode along with me in the ILX.  I felt like the car actually handled better with the additional weight in there!  Despite the rain and wet roads, we made pretty good time in getting to Oracle, Arizona via historic Highway 79 which led us to the southeast from the Phoenix Valley.  After checking in, we were assigned to the 1:30 p.m. tour group and took a few minutes to visit the on-site cafe.

Constructed from 1987 to 1991, Biosphere 2 covers 3.14 acres.  Two missions were conducted in Biosphere 2 in the 1990s.  The first, from 1991 to 1993, and the second from March 1994 through September 1994.  Biosphere contains 5 different indoor biomes:  Desert, Savanna, Rainforest, Ocean, and Marsh.  During our 90-minute tour, we were shown through each of these by our guide, Ren.

Ren told us there there was a division among the 8 “Biospherians” who participated in the first mission which lasted two years.  Four of them wanted to allow the import of outside food & materials so that they could focus more on conducting science experiments and less on just trying to survive.  The other four wanted to stay true to the design of the experiment and be entirely self-sufficient.  The rift escalated.  Along with that, heightened levels of CO2 were taking their toll on everyone’s critical thinking skills, and a change in climate in some of the biomes (increasing moisture in the desert, for example), caused an overrun of insects.  Finally, the caloric intake was low so the diet wasn’t very good.  Some of these challenges are what drove that mission to its end.

Today, Biosphere 2 is a research facility used to study ecosystem processes under controlled conditions.  The University of Arizona operates it with the intent of better understanding how natural environments generate conditions that are suitable for life.  The overall goal is to improve the quality of life for us.  I found the tour educational and interesting.  After filling our brains with science, we hopped into our cars and traveled 9 miles to the Oracle Inn Steakhouse to fill our stomachs with some of the best grub in central Arizona.  Our last stretch of road took us up Highway 77 to Highway 177 to the old mining town of Superior.

Cole took DJ duties for most of our two-hour trip back to the Phoenix area, and we rocked out to slow jams like the classic 1997 K-Ci & JoJo hit, “All My Life.”  The ILX 7-speaker Premium Audio System was put to its limit while we sang along.  Many thanks to all my friends who joined on this adventure, in person or through the blog!

Below are all the pictures and a short video that I hope you’ll enjoy.

Pre-departure and my driveway/street started looking like a used car lot with more than a dozen cars parked all over the place.

Eastbound US 60, in hot pursuit of Aaron in the S5.

My crew in the ILX:  Kevin, Cole, Edward

Upon arrival in Oracle, the rains held up long enough for us to enjoy our tour without getting too wet.

Oddball fleet of cars.  Michael’s BMW, at over 280,000 miles, was the mileage king.  Also, apparently Joe didn’t get the memo about needing to back his Legend in for the photoshoot.

Sexy hind ends.

ILX, Z, and a couple of Audis that have way more horsepower than they know what to do with.

Checking into the Visitor Center.  Student tickets were $15 ea.

I think we may have overwhelmed the staff with our large group.

We were shown a 12-minute video before being introduced to our tour guide and heading into the facility.

Ren, our guide, used a portable mic and told us all the details about the facility and its operations.

The ocean, pictured far in the distance below, is 26 feet deep and holds 670,000 gallons of water.

Adjacent to that, we walked through a plastic curtain and into the biome known as the rainforest.

The rainforest has a waterfall and over 90 different plant species.  We could readily feel the difference in humidity as we entered this area.

Next we went through a mangrove forest and down into the desert.  Ren told us about the large “air handlers” that regulate the flow of air into this part of the Biosphere.  They are disguised to look like caves.

Our next stop was the basement.

My favorite part was when we walked through this tunnel that seemed to get smaller and smaller as we walked onward.  Someone commented that it felt like a scene from “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”

Soon, we had to duck and watch our heads as we went through a triangle shaped opening.

Here we are arriving inside one of two “lungs” in the facility.  These are air-volume control devices.  There is a 20+ ton metal saucer in the middle of the room, connected to the surrounding walls by a rubber curved ceiling.  The entire ceiling can move up and down to regulate the volume of air within Biosphere.

It felt like a scene from outer space.

To get to the outside world from there, we had to pass through two “air lock” doors.  Each time, a huge gust of wind would hit us in the face as the pressure inside the Biosphere started regulating with the pressure from outside.

A few more instructions and then we continued back inside.

Here is the kitchen where the Biospherians prepared their meals.  Ren told us they would only eat meat once a week.

This is a look inside one of the bedrooms.

Next up: Lunch in Oracle

Michael’s 740 was looking great.

Joe’s Cashmere Silver Metallic Legend Type II has over 160,000 miles on it.

Woody made a friend at the Oracle Inn.

Lunch is served.

Group photo-op at the Oracle Inn before heading out again.

• Tyson, Paul, Michael, Woody
• Joe, Cole, Aaron, Kevin
• Jim, Edward, Kelvin, Chad, Kevin
• Alan, Matt, Brad

Let’s roll!

Everyone taking their seats in the ILX for the drive to Winkelman on Highway 77.

This was my favorite stretch of the day’s drive by far.

Sunset made for some nice lighting as we headed up the two-laner.

Rest area in Superior, Arizona with the Z, the RS5, and the ILX

In we went for the final stretch.

Odometer (Legend):  528,557

Odometer (ILX):  65,397

Welcome back!  It was an Acurrific Saturday with our caravan of three Acuras around the hills of Tucson, Arizona.  This is a continuation of our adventure from that day full o’ fun.  After having visited the Kitt Peak National Observatory, the next destination on our radar was a small canyon located about 25 miles south of Tucson called Madera Canyon.

From the Kitt visitor center parking lot, we stood about 4,000 feet above the elevation at the valley floor below.  We eagerly climbed into our sport sedans and set out to experience an exhilarating drive.  Paul led the way in Sport mode with his pearl white TL SH-AWD, while I followed closely behind in the ILX and Jason brought up the rear in his black TL SH-AWD.  The Kitt Peak access road is a driving enthusiast’s dream:  a 12-mile narrow two-laner with plenty of blind/sharp corners and some seriously panoramic views of the valley floor below.   All drivers’ eyes, however, were glued to the road ahead rather than the peripheral views because the highway begged to be experienced at speed.

Thankfully, the ILX 2.4 is a high-revving machine and I was able to go easy on the brakes as I slid the gearbox between 3rd & 4th gears and listened to the growl at 4,000 RPM and higher.  At over 65,000 miles I’ve yet to do any work to the brakes and I’ve only had the manual transmission fluid changed once.  It’s still as smooth as the day I got the car with 16 miles on it in June 2012.  And even without AWD, it held its own against the TLs in the corners!

After the refreshing (and remarkably traffic-free) descent to the valley floor, our Acuras then made their way across Highway 86 toward Interstate 19 and the town of Green Valley.  As I’ve blogged before, I-19 is the only interstate in the country that is signed with metric distances.  At Exit 63 (63 kilometers from the Mexican border) we exited for lunch at The Olives Bistro. From there, we were just moments away from our final destination for the day.

Madera Canyon (madera, by the way, is Spanish for “wood”) winds some 25 miles through the Santa Rita Mountains as it gains elevation.  The canyon is one of the southwest’s most popular places for birdwatching.  There are over 250 species that call this area home, including 15 different species of hummingbirds.  The two-lane road that winds its way through the canyon is a dead end.  There is a visitor parking lot at the end that also doubles as a trailhead for a half-dozen different hikes.  Jason, Paul, and I hiked about 30 minutes toward Josephine Saddle before deciding to double back.

The few times when we stopped to catch our breath on the steep incline, we noted how silent it was.  No rustling of leaves, no sounds of traffic.  It was just us and nature.  On the note of “sounds,” we did have one funny realization over the course of Saturday’s trip.  Each time we’d all pull our cars over to get a group picture, as soon as we exited our vehicles with our key fobs in our pockets, our Acuras would beep due to the key proximity sensors alerting us that the keys were not detected.  It was a symphony of Acura beeps and we had a good laugh about it.

On the way out of the canyon, we made a pit stop at a gift shop full of bird feeders, postcards, and walking sticks.  Here are the photos and a video from the rest of our Saturday trip!

Metric units of measure abound in the regions surrounding Interstate 19 south of Tucson

Only in Arizona do you have to watch out for prickly cacti when exiting your vehicle.

Lunch at The Olives Bistro was excellent.  I recommend the hummus!

From there, we were only about 10 miles from the southern end of the Madera Canyon road.  State Route 83 is accessed via a separate (dirt) road that branches off the main highway.  I’ll save that drive for another day!

It was a perfect afternoon to explore a new destination.

Can’t complain about the scenery in the rearview mirror, either.

We drove over a total of five one-lane bridges to get to the trailhead at the end of the canyon.

Jason rolled down his window and all I heard was Journey blasting at full volume.

Map in hand, we paid our $5 for day use and headed to the Mount Baldy hike trailhead.

I definitely didn’t have the energy to attempt Mt. Wrightson at 10 (steep) miles round-trip.

Taking a quick breather.

Back at the cars!  There was a family the came walking past.  “Look at all the Acuras,” one boy said as he pointed to our trio of backed-in cars.  We all just laughed.

There’s a warning sign you don’t see every day!

This gift shop was full of knick-knacks, but I decided against making a purchase.

Alright, classic car gurus.  Tell me what we’re looking at here.  I’m guessing 1952 Chevy station wagon.  The body was remarkably rust-free!  This was sitting hidden off the main road, tucked away.

Fun restoration candidate for someone!  Jason’s first comment as we were walking up to it:  “Hey, is that a first generation HHR?”  Haha.

Thanks, Paul and Jason, for a great day on the road!

Heading back toward civilization.

Jason’s TL was my GoPro stand for a few miles.

Great driving music.  Give it a listen.

What Arizona road trip would be complete without a stunning sunset?

The end.  Until next time, at least.

Odometer (Legend):  528,547

Odometer (ILX):  65,353

Nerd alert!  I’ve had a soft spot for science ever since childhood, and I met one of my heroes – Bill Nye the Science Guy – when I was in college.  But I’ve lived in Arizona for over 8 years ago and only recently learned that it’s home to an observatory with the largest collection of optical telescopes in the world.  Arizona is chock-full of hidden gems.

I first heard the name “Kitt Peak” when I drove past the turnoff last July while on a roadtrip to Why, Arizona.  Since then, I’d been wanting to make it back for a formal visit.  There are 3 tours offered daily.  Along with my friends Jason and Paul, I made it to the 10:00 a.m. program yesterday, which would focus on the McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope.  It is the world’s largest solar telescope.

This was a family outing.  And by that, I mean all three vehicles in our caravan were Acuras:

• Black 2010 Acura TL SH-AWD 6MT (Jason)
• White 2013 Acura TL SH-AWD AT (Paul)
• Silver 2013 Acura ILX 6MT (Tyson)

The boys and I broke this trip into a two-dayer, with a Friday night rendezvous in Tucson before the big day.  After a hotel buffet breakfast, we fired up our cars and headed westward through the Sonoran Desert on a beautiful morning.  As soon as we exited Highway 86, the Tucson-Ajo Highway, I knew we were in for a treat.  The next 12 miles were filled with great curves and some of the best scenery in the southwest.  I took the lead in the ILX and we climbed to an elevation of 6,880 feet at the summit.  Jason and I rowed our manual gearboxes, while Paul manipulated his paddle shifters to command action from his 6-speed automatic transmission. The temperatures were notably cooler as we made our way toward the top.

Kitt Peak’s construction dates back to 1958 when the National Science Foundation supplied funding under President John F. Kennedy.  Extensive site evaluations had designated Kitt as the best place for a national observatory:  It had more “good seeing days” (273 per year, to be exact) than any other potential site.  However, because the land was owned at the time by the Tohono O’odham Indian Nation (and considered very sacred), the U.S. had to negotiate with the tribe before it could lease 2,000 acres.  Among the contract terms:  The observatory must buy electricity that’s supplied by the reservation.  Those stipulations are still in full force today.

By 1962, the McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope had been completed and astronomers were coming from all around the world to try it out.  The telescope stands a massive 100 feet in the air, 200 feet into the ground, and has a 500-foot-long angled section that is exactly parallel to the earth’s axis.  A telescope uses a series of mirrors and discs that reflect light and focus it to create an image.  Even though McMath-Pierce is now over 50 years old, the technology that it employs is still relevant.  Infrastructure has been updated with fiber optic communication equipment.  Little known fact:  The telescope also acts as a gigantic sundial.  I guess that makes two massive sundials I’ve visited in recent months.  Our tour guide, Larry, took us inside the telescope for a closer look.

Some 2,500 visitors travel to Kitt Peak each year to see McMath-Pierce as well as some of the 17 or so other telescopes on-site.  I’d love to go back to Kitt and stargaze sometime during one of the nightly observing programs.  For now, enjoy some of the many photos below from this part of our trip!  Tomorrow, I’ll share the adventures of the rest of our Saturday Acura drive:  A trip to Madera Canyon.

Thanks for coming along!

TL & ILX gearing up for departure on Friday evening

Eastbound on Interstate 10 – it’s about a 90-minute drive to Tucson.

The Shell station located in Picacho Peak, Arizona has a good sense of humor.

… Not to mention some great souvenirs.  Coonskin cap, anyone?

Upon arrival in Tucson, I happened to hit 65,065 miles with an exterior temperature of 65 degrees Fahrenheit.  The stars would have been in greater alignment if I had been going 65 miles per hour at the time.

Saturday morning:  Mini waffles to fuel us for a long day of adventure behind the wheel.

Let’s load ’em up!

Couldn’t have asked for better weather for a Saturday drive.

Which would you pick?

Westward on the Ajo Highway, we knew we were getting close.

Paul snagged a great picture of the ILX from the rear.  Kitt Peak was in the distance, awaiting our visit.

And, here we are at the turnoff.

From there, it was 12 miles to the summit at just under 6,900 feet in elevation.

This type of sign gets me excited.

As expected, views were exceptional from all around as we climbed the mountain.

At these elevations, snow is possible and even likely this time of year.

Getting close!

In 1957, our Acuras would have never made this trip.  Here’s what the Kitt Peak access road looked like then.

We soon rounded a bend and saw some of Kitt Peak’s telescopes in the distance.

Made it!

The visitor center & gift shop dates back to 1962 and is staffed by members of the Tohono O’odham Indian Nation.

Inside, there are many informative displays.  This one gave a comparison between the various sizes of reflective mirrors that are used in telescopes today.

Our tour group was led outside to the massive white structure which was the McMath-Pierce Telescope.

Yikes!

The telescope is actually made of copper, but it was painted white so that it can be as reflective of light as possible.

Inside, we stared down the inner barrel at all the mechanical components that make the telescope work.

This was a neat picture of what the telescope looked like when it was under construction.

Here, Paul and I are standing in front of a 2.1-meter telescope in the background.

Back to the Acuras we went for the next leg of our journey.

Paul took the lead in the white one and we made our descent.

Later that afternoon, we explored one of Arizona’s hidden canyons.  Come back tomorrow & read about it!

Odometer (Legend):  528,279

Odometer (ILX):  63,525

Trip Distance:  236 Miles

Each year, I receive a visit from my dad & stepmom between Christmas and New Year’s Day.  This year, they showed up in their new 2013 Acura MDX.  It seemed only fitting that we lined up the available Acuras for a quick driveway photoshoot.  My neighbors, without a doubt, were watching out the windows and rolling their eyes.

• 1992 Acura NSX:  98,500 Miles
• 2013 Acura ILX:  63,525 Miles
• 1994 Acura Legend:  528,279 Miles
• 2013 Acura MDX:  10,800 Miles
• 2004 Acura MDX (friend’s):  90,400 Miles

Interestingly enough, the 4 other Acuras in the picture still don’t add up to the mileage of the 1994 Legend.  In fact, their combined mileage of 263,225 is still less than half what the Legend has alone.

As part of dad’s visit, we worked on a bunch of home improvement projects and also celebrated my birthday which was on 12/28.  I like having a birthday that’s sandwiched between Christmas and NYE.  The below picture must have been taken around my 5th birthday or so.  Long live the 1980’s!  Check out those stripes.

My friend Cody wins an award for this fantastic Acura-themed birthday wish on Facebook.

Later in the day, I received a very nice visit from world-famous automotive spy photographer Brenda Priddy.

And best of all, my 2-year-old niece, Vivienne, made my day with this sidewalk chalk message sent from Utah.

We dined at one of my favorite Mexican joints in the Phoenix valley, called Nando’s Mexican Cafe.

To celebrate my #32, my dad and Tanya and I took the ILX to a 1939 movie set called Old Tucson Studios, just west of Tucson, Arizona.  The 200-mile round-trip drive from Phoenix was a great chance to visit with them.

I’ve blogged about Old Tucson before back in April and it was every bit as interesting on the second visit as the first.

We learned about some of the 300+ Western films that were produced here.

Standing at the cemetery entrance

With Tanya, in jail!

And inside the lobby of the Grand Hotel

This set was used as an 1863 bank in various films.

The star of the show was this 1897 steam locomotive that was used in such movies as Tombstone and Wild Wild West.  It is a Virginia & Truckee Railroad No. 11.

Parting shot before we rolled back to the Phoenix area in the ILX.

I’m one year older and a little bit wiser.  The adventures will keep on coming.  My friend Ami’s post said it best!

Odometer (Legend):  528,279

Odometer (ILX):  63,215

Trip Distance:  338 Miles

Arizona is full of white-knuckle canyon drives, and this week I’d like to share another one with you.

On a brisk 41-degree Christmas morning in Phoenix, armed with a chocolate milk, an iPod loaded with good music, and a full tank of premium fuel, I headed out in the ILX to the White Mountains to attend a luncheon with friends in Show Low, Arizona.  This drive would take me eastward on US Highway 60 through the Salt River Canyon Wilderness which comprises over 32,000 acres of terrain in the Tonto National Forest.  My favorite stretch includes the 87 miles between Globe and Show Low — the focus for today’s discussion.

The Salt River Canyon is been referred to as a “mini” Grand Canyon, and for good reason.  Around every turn is a scenic panorama of sandstone cliffs that defy gravity and entertain the eyes.  And unlike its big brother canyon in the northern part of the state, Salt River Canyon can be driven from rim to rim; just don’t bring a passenger who gets easily motion sick.  There are oodles of curves that require maximum driver attention.  Highway 60 is a two-laner that falls 2,500 feet in elevation over the course of just a few miles to the canyon floor below, where for millions of years the Salt River has been carving out its course.  The ILX made short work of the 6% grades since I was able to downshift into 3rd gear for the 25 mph curves and rarely hit the brakes.

At the base of the canyon, an eerily vacant rest area along the river’s edge provided a prime place to view the existing bridge as well as the old bridge which runs parallel to it.  A concrete barricade prevented me from being able to use the rest area parking lot.  Grass was growing over a foot tall out of the pavement, so it was very clear that this place hadn’t been in use for quite some time.  I took the opportunity to park the ILX a little further up the road and do a little hiking around.  Constructed in 1934, the original bridge is 454 feet in length and is still fully intact, though it’s used only for foot traffic.  I walked across it – as fascinated with the canyon view as I was with the historic bridge itself.

The Salt River Canyon rest area (among many others in the state) was closed in 2007 due to budget issues.  In the 6+ years since that time, it’s fallen into quite a state of disrepair.  Some of the interpretive signs were vandalized, the landscaping has overgrown, and the building itself has taken on a scary appearance with chipping paint on its trim.  I walked around the stone building with is intricate staircases and metalwork, thinking to myself what a shame it was that people could no longer stop there.  I did learn some good news, though.  As of October of this year, it was announced that restoration efforts will bring the rest area back into service sometime in summer 2014.  I’m anxious to see how the facility turns out.

With eagerness, the ILX ascended those 2,500 feet to put me back among the pine trees and a light dusting of recent snowfall along the road’s edge.  I powered through the curves with the road almost entirely to myself.  The Salt River Canyon scenic drive is one that should not be missed.  Check out my pics below for a taste of some of the terrain that I covered on a beautiful Christmas Day drive.

Miami, Arizona – like so many other historic towns of the southwest, this place got its start in mining.

This Mobil station stands as a forgotten relic of the past.  It’s been fenced off and closed up, but is a clear reminder of the olden days.

There are even vintage vehicles sitting around.

I would have loved to see this station in its heyday.

Next stop:  Show Low!  Odd name for a town, right?  It actually has a reference to gambling.  Here’s the full story:

According to the legend, the city was named after a marathon poker game between C.E. Cooley and Marion Clark. The two men decided there was not enough room for both of them in their settlement. The two men agreed to let a game of cards decide who was to move. According to the tale, Clark said, “If you can show low, you win.” Cooley turned up the deuce of clubs (the lowest possible card) and replied, “Show low it is.” The stakes were a 100,000 acres (400 km²) ranch. Show Low’s main street is named “Deuce of Clubs” in remembrance.

Visible from one side of the canyon is the road that escalates up the other side.  See that slice toward the bottom of the picture frame?

Here is the approach to the (now-closed) rest area.

Approaching the old 1934 bridge here from the north:

Pavement markings are still visible, even though this has been closed to automobile traffic since 1996 when it was bypassed.

Photo of the new (red) bridge, as taken from the old.

View of the Salt River, looking east while standing on the old bridge.  Also visible is the highway which ascends about halfway up the mountainside.

This is the rest area parking lot – clearly showing the overgrowth that has taken its toll on the facility.

Following are a few pictures of the rest area which has been closed for over 6 years.

Interpretive signs

View of the backside of the building.  Large metal doors into a utility room of sorts were wide open.  I walked inside and found only trash and rubble.

These elaborate curved staircases line each side of the rest area.

Steps leading down to an observation deck overlooking the Salt River.

View looking up toward the rest area building from the staircase.

Observation deck down below the bridges

Old bridge in the foreground; new in the background.  This was a peaceful, serene place to hang out for a few minutes. I heard only 2 or 3 cars drive by during my entire stay at the vacant rest area.

Back at road level, a picture of me with the two bridges in the background.

Hello there!

One thing that I love about old infrastructure is the level of effort that has gone into making things beautiful.  Look at the intricate metalwork on the railings that line the bridge deck.

Here’s where I’d parked the ILX during the time I was hiking around.  “Medecine” Ranch – anyone else want to guess that label on this crudely made wooden sign was a typo?

Words to live by, as stated by the US Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs:

A short hike up the road, this abandoned gas station offered some entertainment.

I don’t know why, but those made me think of the robot character Johnny 5 from the 1986 movie “Short Circuit.”

Here’s the rest of that old gas station.

Inside, it’s a griffiti’d mess.

Need to use the restroom?

Not sure what the story was on this wooden shack out back.

Inside, more trash, and a metal desk that might be nice with some restoration effort.

And removing the dirt from those drawers.

Looking back at the road I’d just descended:

The ILX after conquering the canyon:

Headed to dinner later that day in the Legend.

Hope everyone had a great Christmas!