Monday and Tuesday, December 11 and 12, 2017 (Travel to Catalina State Park, Tucson, AZ and a day sightseeing)

After one week here at Kartchner Caverns SP, it's a travel day today. I was concerned how Steve would do with his pack up outside, so I quickly got the inside taken care of so I could give him a hand. But other than help him lift and carry the Surge Guard voltage regulator, he managed just fine.

We pulled out of our site at around 11:00...first stop was the sani-dump. We ended up driving down to the RV parking area so we could turn around and come into the dump from the opposite direction. That side was much easier to access...Steve didn't think that he would have been able to manoeuvre out of the other side. It was narrow, with a tight curve and had some bushes and cactus starting to encroach onto the road.

With that job done, we hit the road going north on highway 90 to I-10 west...to Tucson...

Just over an hour later, we pulled into Catalina State Park...

We checked in at the gatehouse...

...and continued to Site #43 in Campground A. I was happy to find our favourite site available when I had gone on-line to reserve for our two night stay. The sun was shining when we arrived...and it was hot, so we both changed into shorts, had a bite to eat and then got on with our set up...

By the time we had finished our set up, the sun was hidden by clouds...but we still sat outside for while, until...even with jackets on...we found it a little too chilly. It does cool down quickly as the sun gets lower in the sky. The sun made one final peek, shining on the beautiful Catalina Mountains. View from inside our rig...

Tuesday morning we headed off with a list of things to do today. We started off with a trip to Camping World where Steve had a list of things he wanted to pick up for the trailer...mainly parts to fix the screen door; a door latch along with a new slide assembly. We left with both of those, but no water regulator pressure gauge, no stove-top gromets and no spare bolt for the front jacks assembly. We weren't overly impressed with this store or some of the staff. We later found out that the two things we did buy...didn't fit the screen door, so will have to be returned. Sheesh!

It was now time for a little sightseeing in Old Tucson. Not knowing exactly where "Old Town" was, we eventually found the El Presidio Historic District...but first we happened up St. Augustine Cathedal...

Not sure what this is but we thought it looked pretty cool...

We found a parking spot on a side street and headed off on foot...
The El Presidio Historic District is a residential neighborhood containing adobe and brick buildings in the Spanish-Mexican, Anglo-American and Eclectic architectural styles. Named for the Spanish-built Presidio de San Augustín del Tucson (1775), El Presidio is one of the nation's oldest inhabited sites. The district is on the site of a prehistoric Hohokam Indian site (c. 700-900 A.D.) and the original presidio (fort). The El Presidio Historic District reflects Tucson's development from an 18th-century walled compound to its emergence as a major 20th-century mercantile center.

Left side of the museum entrance...

Right side of the museum entrance. Neither were much to look at:-)

Wall mural...

The Tucson Museum of Art...

Old Town Artisans...
El Presidio Historic District is home to the little city block of Old Town Artisans. The 150-year-old adobe building has six distinctive shops and galleries featuring fine art and craft from hundreds of local and regional artists. The Spanish-style courtyard offers a relaxing place to enjoy lunch or beverages amidst regional plants and trees.

If we hadn't already planned on having lunch at Thunder Canyon Brewstillery that was highly recommended by many we would have stopped here...

Unfortunately this park was full of the homeless...

Old Pima County Courthouse...
Built in 1929, the Spanish Colonial Revival courthouse is one of Tucson’s most beloved landmarks. Its mosaic dome is one of the Old Pueblo’s most recognizable structures. A portion of the east wall of the original Presidio of Tucson runs through the courtyard and is marked with a strip of granite.

The building has recently been vacated with the various departments and court functions relocated to new facilities. Pima County is planning to convert the historic Courthouse to museum space. The county is in discussions with the University of Arizona and the Tucson Museum of Art to house exhibits; there will be a new café, and a memorial to the victims of the 2011 Tucson shooting that seriously wounded then-U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords.

El Presidio Park...
El Presidio Park sits atop an underground parking garage. The site has been in use since 1539, and the plaza's use as a park dates from 1776. In 1810, a Spanish garrison of about 300 military used the park. The Mormon Battalion first placed the American flag in the park in 1846. The area became known as Barrio Libre (Free Zone) in 1862, and has gone through a number of name changes. The park's present development occurred in 1970-71. This 2.75-acre plaza contains veterans' memorials, including a memorial wall and the Battle of the Bulge monument. There is a small rose garden area dedicated to John F. Kennedy. A large fountain, various art pieces including the Mormon Battalion and the El Soldado Cuera statue of a conquistador, as well as several pieces of modern art adorn the park. El Presidio Park is a favorite location for many community festivals, political gatherings, and weddings.

On our way home we cut through the Museum of Art...this was inside a fenced courtyard behind the museum...

And the very stately Steinfeld Mansion...

After our little walking tour, we made our way to a highly recommended brewery for lunch...Thunder Canyon Brewstillery 

Very festive...love the Christmas Tree made out of beer kegs!

We both enjoyed a delicious $7 lunch special that included beer for an additional $2. We chose a fabulous seasonal beer...Ornamental Ale. So good that we bought some to take home with us....and I love their beer glasses too!

On our way home, we fuelled up at Fry's...$2.68/gallon....and filled our drinking water jugs. It was going on 4:00 by the time we pulled into our campsite...another fast day!