Small Home – Big Yard

Good morning from Tucson.  After a relatively short drive from Apache Junction, we’re parked in site #817 at Rincon Country West RV Resort in southwestern Tucson.  Just as last year, we’re here for 2 weeks before starting our trip to south Texas.  As with most parks in Arizona, Rincon West is converting many of their RV sites to park models.  However, they have good spaces left exclusively for RV’s, although those rows seem to shrink each year.

Happy Hour at Rincon West

Rincon is south of downtown Tucson, along the Santa Cruz River.  While dry most of the year, the Santa Cruz is unique with its path from headwaters in the San Rafael Valley of Arizona, then south into Mexico before making a U-turn and reentering the US near Nogales.  From there the river flows north through Green Valley and Tucson before joining the Gila just south of Phoenix.  Tucson has taken advantage of this long wide river bed by building bike trails along both banks.  In addition there are paths along dry arroyos, closed city streets and abandoned rail tracks.  In all, Tucson has over 1000 miles of bike trails to explore.  We spent several days biking these trails, going from the RV park into downtown for mutual viewing, out towards the airport and south to the end of the path.  With all these trails, there’s plenty to explore – and this park is great for access!

El Tour De Tucson mural downtown Tucson, AZ

Mural on the YMCA, downtown Tucson, AZ

“Desert Colossus”, Transamerica Building, downtown Tucson, AZ

In addition to biking, we also love the foodie scene in Tucson.  This year our bucket list included Amelia’s Mexican Kitchen in north Tucson.  In January the James Beard Awards semifinalists included Amelia’s chef/owner Jose Contreras, nominated Best Chef, the only Tucson semifinalist for 2025.  Amelia’s is located along Grant Road in a small unassuming space – right next to a Circle K and a Mister Car Wash. Reservations were made and on Tuesday we enjoyed a wonderful Mexican dinner and even met the celebrity chef!  Unfortunately Chef Jose didn’t win the Beard award, but we’ll certainly return.  Our meal was excellent!

Jose Contreras, owner/chef Amelia’s Mexican Kitchen. James Beard nominated Best Chef

One of our most exciting excursions was to the Caterpillar’s Proving Ground and Training Center near Green Valley.  On a special invite, we spent the morning touring the facility and crawling around on the massive equipment built by Caterpillar.  This facility is one of only 3 others worldwide, one in Peoria, IL and one in Malaga, Spain.  On 6500 acres, the facility trains customers with real-world application of much of the Cat equipment from paving to excavation to heavy construction and quarry/mining operations.  Thanks Steve, this was an amazing day!

Caterpillar’s Proving Ground and Training Center near Green Valley, AZ

Caterpillar’s Proving Ground and Training Center near Green Valley, AZ

Caterpillar’s Proving Ground and Training Center near Green Valley, AZ

After our Cat experience, we also visited the nearby Titan Missile Museum.  Titan II ICBM site 561-7 is one of only two Titan Missile sites left undemolished after the Cold War.  This site is the only in the nation that offers visitors a view of an entirely preserved ICBM.  The US/USSR agreement stipulated that the silo doors are permanently blocked partially opened and a hole cut into the top of the reentry vehicle (the bomb) allowing spy satellites to confirm our  compliance with the agreement.  But, the control room is fully intact, with the original equipment used to launch this vehicle of destruction. It’s an earie feeling to be in underground bunker looking back in time at the analog gauges, dials, switches and miles of cables.

Control Room, Titan Missile Museum, Sahuarita, AZ

ICBM, Titan Missile Museum, Sahuarita, AZ

After a great 2 weeks in Tucson, we’re headed to South Padre Island.  More from there…