Penske racing history resides in Arizona

Penske Racing Museum houses racing history.

Between the Lamborghinis and the Jaguars at the Scottsdale 101 Auto Collection, auto enthusiasts find a well-kept secret-the Penske Racing Museum.  The two-story building owned by Roger Penske contains a wealth of racing history, and visitors

Penske Racing displays many of its Indy 500 winners.

view it for free.

People from around the world come to see this museum, says Sally Driver, who greets visitors at the door, signs them in and tells them a little bit about the museum.  She estimates that anywhere from 19 to 130 people come to the museum daily.  She says, when the NASCAR race comes to town, hundreds of people come to the museum.

In 1985, Danny Sullivan drove this "Spin and Win" car to take Penske's fifth Indy 500 win.

The museum contains many of the Indy 500 winning cars driven by such drivers as Rick Mears, the Unser family,  Tom Sneva, Helio Castroneves, Sam Hornish and Danny Sullivan.  A double-sided television constantly plays the Penske teams winning moments at Indianapolis.  The museum also contains the 1979 IROC car driven by Mario Andretti, the 1972 Indy 500 pace car and the 1963 Pontiac Catalina that Penske raced to victory on May 16, 1963 at the NASCAR Riverside 250.

Roger Penske won the NASCAR Riverside 250 in this 1963 Pontiac Catalina.

A commissioned, bronze art piece depicts Penske Racing's three cars on the front row of the 1988 Indy 500.

“In 1988 Penske & Company owned the entire front row” at the Indianapolis 500.  That row consisted of Rick Mears, who won the race, Danny Sullivan and Al Unser Sr.  Jim Williams, Penske’s friend, commissioned artist Carl Hungness to create a bronze, one eighth size artwork depicting the three cars in that front row.

On the second floor, Penske Racing Museum displays trophies and sells items in the Botique.

The Boutique offers Penske merchandise including books, apparel and die-cast cars.

A scale model displayed of the #6 Pennzoil car driven by Rick Mears to victory in 1984.

Scale models of winning Indy 500 cars encircle a railing that affords visitors a view down onto the first floor.  The #12 2004 NASCAR Dodge intrepid driven by Ryan Newman also resides on the second floor just outside The Turn 4 Cafe.

Ryan Newman raced this 2004 NASCAR Dodge Intrepid for Penske Racing.

Like his Penske Racing teams, the Penske Racing Museum is a class act with every detail perfectly planned and implemented.

Mr. Penske wanted a place to display his cars for free, so everyone could see them, says Driver.

PVCC student organizations honor veterans

On Nov. 10 at 11:30 a.m., the Native American Students Association and the Veterans Association came together to honor veterans at Paradise Valley Community College. 

Nader Terani, president of Veterans Association and student veteran, addresses students at PVCC Veterans Day celebration.

Nadar Terani, president of the PVCC Veterans Association and former member of the Navy’s elite President’s Honor Guard, welcomed everyone and talked about the featured speaker Navajo code talker Joseph Kellwood and two student speakers and veteran heroes Ricky Imhoff and Rachael Griggs.  

NASA adviser Lola Quiroz introduced Kellwood and gave some facts about the Navajo code talkers.  Kellwood enlisted in the First Marine Division on Sept. 15, 1942 in Albuquerque, N.M., she said.  The Navajo code talkers didn’t obtain a rank above Pfc., but on July 26, 2001, they received the Congressional gold medal.

The 88-year-old Kellwood greeted his audience with a hearty laugh.  He told everyone today the Marines celebrated their birthday.  He planned to attend a party in the evening at the Veterans of Foreign Wars as the oldest Marine and help cut the cake.

Navajo code talker Joseph Kellwood addresses PVCC students at a Veterans Day celebration.

Kellwood launched into his life story.   He lived on the reservation where he helped to herd sheep and chop wood.  He became quite emotional as he described leaving the reservation to go off to boarding school.  At school, teachers spanked students who spoke their native Navajo language even though they knew no English, but they studied and learned English.  Kellwood finished the eighth grade and later decided to enlist in the Marines at the age of 20.

From Albuquerque, N.M., he travelled to Phoenix, Ariz.  He intricately described exactly the blocks, streets and landmarks to get to the building where he studied.  He endured intense training for three months to learn the codes.  He said that security was so strict, they weren’t even allowed to go to the bathroom alone.  He worked hard, learned to write fast, completed his training and graduated.   Next stop was Los Angeles and then on to Australia.  He said they sent you off, and you didn’t know where you were going. 

They went to an island on the other side of Guadalcanal and unloaded the nurses, and then they sailed to Melbourne, Australia.  He said it’s a good place on the other side of the equator.  Over there they don’t look at you as an Indian.  They look at you as just another Marine.  We never left anyone know what we did as a code talker.  It was highly secret.

Navajo code talker Joseph Kellwood speaks at PVCC Veterans Day celebration.

We went to night school down there.  We walked in the dark with a compass and found stars, he said. 

We found the enemy, Kellwood said, and they’re doing their business and shooting at us.  We’re successful, and they retreated. 

“We’re doing a great job,” chuckled Kellwood.

Kellwood also said that four-letter words got used that the code talkers never heard or used on the reservation.  He sent a four-letter word in a message, and they tried to find out who sent the word, but no one ever told on him, he chuckled.

Puma Press World News editor Miguel Saucedo chats with Navajo code talker Joseph Kellwood.

The Navajo code talkers had to be careful even with the Marines because sometime the Marines mistook the Navajo for Japanese, and they got killed. 

“You had to be very careful,” said Kellwood.  “Some bad things happen, and you have to live with it.”

After his wartime experiences, Kellwood returned to Phoenix.  He obtained a job at ASU and worked in various cities in the surrounding area, and “did 43 years of driving nails.”

He said, I had a good Norwegian wife, who taught the kids to speak English.  The kids said we had our own “Navawegian” tribe and I was the chief of the tribe.  His son was drafted and went to Vietnam where he lost his leg, and his daughter graduated and became a teacher. 

Kellwood closed by saying this is a good Marine celebration today.  He rose as did everyone else, and he sang the Marines’ Hymn in Navajo never missing a beat.  As the audience cheered, Kellwood said, “Semper Fi.”

The program continued with Terani thanking Kellwood and introducing student veteran and vice president of the Veterans Association Ricky Imhoff. 

Student veteran Ricky Imhoff spoke briefly about his three tours of duty in Iraq with the Army.

Imhoff served 10 years in the Army and the Arizona National Guard with a tour of duty in Afghanistan and three tours of duty in Iraq.  Injured a couple of years ago by a roadside bomb in Iraq, Imhoff said he returned to the United States to receive medical care here at the Department of Veterans Affairs and to go to school to make something of himself.  Imhoff planned to be a soldier to the day that he died, but since he can’t do that, he decided to go to school and do something different.

“The trials and tribulations that Joseph’s generation went through, and the sacrifices they made,” said Imhoff, “made it possible for our generation of soldiers to do what we do, and we are so thankful for everything that you guys went through to keep our freedom what it is.  So we really appreciate that.”

Imhoff explained, “As a veteran when we go to war, we don’t do it because we want to fight, we don’t do it because we’re crazy and want to die, we do it because that’s what we do.  Somebody needs to do it.  We love everybody around us so much that we are willing to lay down our lives for you guys. ”

Difficulties still face Imhoff as he strives to have a great career while making everyone and everything around him better.  He still buries friends that he served with over the last 10 years, and although he’s here trying to make a difference, he regrets he can’t be over there with them.

“Veterans Day is a day to celebrate what we’ve accomplished and what the future veterans will accomplish,” says Imhoff.  “The freedom that we fight for means everything to us in here.”

Student veteran Rachael Griggs talked about her experience in the Navy.

Last on the agenda, PVCC student and Navy veteran Rachael Griggs gave the audience a woman’s perspective on service in the military with a little education on the importance of water and the Navy uniform.  She started boot camp in 2002 and her last day in the military was Aug. 5, 2008 although she still serves in the reserves.

“We have a joke in the Navy,” Griggs said.  “Drinking water can cure any ailment.”

During boot camp, Griggs suffered from bronchitis and a persistent cough.  She said with the close quarters and the many people, it’s easy to get sick.  An officer came to inspect the quarters, and Griggs coughed continually. 

 The officer asked, What’s your problem recruit?” 

Griggs responded, “I’m sick.” 

“Drink more water,” answered the officer. 

Nader Terani, Ricky Imhoff and Cheryl Moore listen to Rachael Griggs.

In another instance, Griggs got an 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. watch in a coed dorm.  Her assignment included keeping males and females on their side of the dorm and making sure that no one got too cozy in the lounge.  She says, not to undermine the importance of the watch, but I thought I could have spent my eight hours doing other things.  All over the world at any time, someone in the military stands watch.  Griggs says, if tomorrow, on Veterans Day, you want to honor someone in the military, think of them and all the sacrifices they make on watch.

Finally, Griggs brought out her white Navy uniform.  She explained how wearing the uniform compared to being wrapped in heritage.  Sailors rolled up the bell bottom pants so they could scrub the decks or if they fell over board, they used them as a floatation device.  The neckerchief doubled as a sweatband or to tie things down.  And the floppy thing on the jumper served to keep the grease that sailors used long ago to slick back their long hair off their uniform. 

Griggs learned a lot in the Navy from the different branches and agencies in the military to the rank structures.  She says, “It taught me a great deal.”

Terani thanked everyone for coming to the celebration. 

“It means a lot to us to know that you care, and that you’re here for us,” he said.  “The Veterans club has a lot of things coming up like Toys for Tots and Packages from Home.  Like Rachael said, someone’s always standing on watch.  Thank you for being here.”

Monarchs return to the Desert Botanical Garden

Visitors enter here to get to the Mariposa Monarca Butterfly Exhibit.

Every fall, the monarch butterflies come to the Marshall Butterfly Pavilion at the Desert Botanical Garden.  Known for their long flights during migration, visitors come to see the regal butterflies and to learn about them and their migration.

Volunteers greet guests as they enter the Marshall Butterfly Pavilion.

This year from Sept. 26 to Nov. 15 visitors come to see the butterflies and to participate by reservation each Thursday at 1:30 p.m. in a tagging demonstration.  The Southwest Monarch Study tracks the migration of the monarchs through tagging.  Volunteers and visitors place a small sticker with a number and an e-mail address on the monarch’s wing so that when people find the monarch, they can contact the study with GPS information and the number.

A monarch nestles among the colorful flowers and plants.

Monarchs attract the attention of the very young and the very old and everyone in between.  The pavilion contains comfortable benches to relax and watch the flight and activities of the monarchs.  Knowledgable volunteers answer questions and give details on the monarchs.

This male monarch possesses two dark spots known as alar pockets on it hindwing.

The male has a dot on each wing, but the female doesn’t, explains Bonnie, a volunteer at the Desert Botanical Garden.  As they feed on the white flowers of the orchid tree, you may see their proboscis, she continues.  And when you see them on the ground in the mud, they’re puddling to get water.

Volunteers point out monarchs to children and adults.

Visitors come with their cameras.  Children thrill to the photos they can take and see with their small digital cameras.  Professional photographers do their best to get great shots while avoiding excited children and adults.

“Unlike the spring collection of butterflies, these usually don’t land on people,” says one visitor.

A monarch butterfly feeds on the white flower of the orchid tree.

Signs throughout the pavilion give additional information on the monarchs and their migration.  One sign shows the “Town of Angangueo, Michoacan, Mexico, the gateway to monarch sanctuaries.”

Visitors exit the Marshall Butterfly Pavilion.

Hot air balloon photos spark memories

Passengers watch as the hot air balloon inflates.

My last hot air balloon ride occurred six years ago on April 24, 2003 just after my Dad died and while my 77-year-old Mom visited me.  My first encounter with a hot air balloon was a 1987 ASU graduation gift from my then husband.  What an excellent gift.

Inflation of hot air balloon nears completion.

My Mom and I woke very early on that Thursday morning like two little kids expecting to see Santa Claus.  We dressed, ate and drove to Jomax and Cave Creek Roads to meet up with Unicorn Balloon Company and the other lucky passengers.  Our pilot John Bagwell also piloted the balloon flight in 1987. 

The balloon's shadow appears as it glides over the desert.

After putting out and inflating the balloon, Bagwell helped all 10 passengers into the three sections of the sturdy basket.  The first glimmers of sunshine warmed the chilly morning, and the balloon became airborne.

The desert scenery passes underneath the balloon.

Below we could see the desert and large saguaro cactus.  Cattle roamed and a coyote appeared.  Bagwell steered us toward a mountain and skillfully maneuvered the balloon up the side of the mountain just above the tops of cactus and trees.  We all gasped as the ballooned popped above the summit and a view of the City of Phoenix came into view.  Wow, Bagwell really honed his skills in his time between my last flight experience.

John Bagwell navigates the balloon up the side of the mountain.

 

Professional balloonist, John Bagwell, has now flown balloons for over 30 years.

The ride in the balloon brings a calmness and quietness to my soul.  Even the sound of the burner soothes and literally warms a person.  We spent a good hour or more aloft, and Bagwell found his ground crew and a clear area to land.  Except for a large ant hill, the landing was perfect and uneventful.

Another balloon floats nearby over the Phoenix desert landscape.

We stayed inside the basket as instructed until we landed on solid ground and the crew took control.  Each of us climbed from the basket and Bagwell prepared a champagne celebration, shared the story of ballooning and a prayer and distributed handsome flight certificates to each of us.  Bagwell awarded Mom the cork from the champagne bottle, which he fashioned into a miniature balloon.  That made her almost as happy as the balloon ride.

After the flight, John Bagwell prepares a champagne celebration.

I get the urge to go up in a balloon again, and I’m curious to see what new things Bagwell learned in the last six years.  I guess I’ll put it on my list to Santa and find out how good I’ve been this year.

Mom enjoyed her balloon ride and her champagne cork award.

Early morning zoo visit proves rewarding

Visitors enter here at the Phoenix Zoo.

I took Wednesday, Sept. 30 off to go to the Phoenix Zoo.  In my excitement to get there, I even forgot to eat breakfast, but the animal activity at 7:30 a.m. more than made up for my lack of food. 

Mexican wolves romp and howl in their enclosure.

Along the Arizona Trail, a white-nosed coati poked around the bushes and climbed over limbs before disappearing inside his enclosure.  The Mexican wolves chased each other around their habitat stopping now and then to let out a mournful howl while early morning visitors snapped photos and marveled at their antics.  The Andean condors perched high in trees and extended their wings, which reach almost 10 feet.  One unexpectedly swooped to the ground to grab a morsel of leftover food. 

The Endangered Species Carousel awaits visitors.

At the early hours of the morning, the hustle and bustle of the humans at the zoo still remained minimal.  Retired couples and some moms with their little ones arrived, but the atmosphere afforded relaxation and awe at the sights and sounds of the animals.  The camels relaxed in anticipation of visitors showing up for rides.  Even the Endangered Species Carousel quietly waited for the onslaught of parents and children, who

The camel patiently waits to give visitors rides.

eventually would make their way to ride it.

Pronghorns relax in the early morning calm.

The pronghorns pranced around before collapsing into a comfortable heap in their open-air enclosure.  The two mountain lions stretched and relaxed on a ledge where visitors saw them through the window looking into their habitat.  One even relaxed on his back with his belly exposed like a pet dog.

Regal golden eagle perched in a tree.

Golden eagles perched in full view of visitors.  A fat, little burrowing owl sat outside his burrow while a one-legged roadrunner wandered around in the undergrowth behind him.  The prairie dogs huddled in groups while one lively guy perched

A prairie dog explores the morning from the nub of a fallen tree.

on the nub of a fallen tree trunk.

A coiled rattlesnake relaxes in his glass-enclosed exhibit.

Grandparents and parents showed the small children with them rattlesnakes coil on top of dead tree trunks, a Gila monster stretching in his glass enclosed exhibit and desert toads.

A Gila monster stretches in the corner of his glass-enclosed exhibit.

Southern white rhinoceros munch on hay for breakfast.

Outside along the African trail, the flamingos stood on one leg among the tropical flowers.  The cheetahs romped up and down their grassy hill hiding behind trees and flicking their tails.  Both southern white rhinoceros calmly stood tightly next to each other and munched on their morning hay. 

The King of the Jungle smiles for the camera.

The African lions drew a crowd around their moated enclosure.  The King of the Jungle relaxed by a rock under a shady tree and smiled for the camera.  Mrs. King of the Jungle

Mrs. King of the Jungle paces during the early morning.

paced nearby.

The Sumatran tiger paces his exhibit.

The Sumatran tiger started his day in a playful mood.  He pushed a ball his size around in front of him and enjoyed the encounter until it rolled down the hill into the moat.  He followed, but seemed to decide not to take the trouble to push it up the hill.

Visitors enjoy the Giraffe Encounter at Savanna Pointe.

Excited visitors lined up across the way from the tiger exhibit to experience the new Giraffe Encounter at Savanna Pointe.  Three giraffes waited patiently as visitors stood on a platform to enjoy an up-close encounter with the giraffes.  Parents exclaimed as their children happily giggled and laughed with the giraffes.

One of the Watusi cattle in the Savanna exhibit.

By 9:30 a.m., it was time to leave as the double-wide strollers and the mommies arrived to start their trip through the zoo.  A frazzled dad, who was preparing to leave, looked my way and shook his weary head as his toddler ran full-speed with her mom chasing her towards the Savanna exhibit and exclaimed, “I’m getting too old for this.”

Naw, you just need to be a kid again when you take the time to visit the zoo.

Museum contains motorcycles, memorabilia

Customers enter Buddy Stubbs Arizona Harley-Davidson.

Every Friday at 6 p.m. and the last Saturday of each month at 12:30 p.m., Buddy Stubbs Arizona Harley-Davidson opens its Motorcycle Museum to the public for tours.  John, the facility supervisor, leads the tours on Friday while Buddy Stubbs personally leads the Saturday tours.

The museum contains 125 motorcycles built from 1903 through 1991, says John.  Built in 11 different countries and with 30 different brands, he says that all motorcycles are in running order and for sale.

Visitors view of the Buddy Stubbs Motorcycle Museum.

In addition to the motorcycles, Stubbs displays memorabilia from his Harley-Davidson factory racing days and from his days as a stunt man and extra for television and films.  At the age of 69, Stubbs still rides motorcycles and works on all of the motorcycles in the museum. 

“Buddy works on every bike in the museum,” says John.  “He knows about all motorcycles; he’s a walking encyclopedia.”

The museum contains this 1950 Sunbeam S7 Deluxe from England.

After a successful racing career and winning the Daytona 100 mile race in 1963, Harley-Davidson called on Stubbs to open up a factory store in Arizona, says John.  On July 16, 1966, Stubbs opened the only Valley Harley-Davidson franchise at 28th Street and McDowell Road.  Eventually, the facility relocated to Cave Creek Road in 1985 and finally settled in their current over 47,000 square foot facility on the northwest corner of Cave Creek Road and Sharon Drive on March 2005.

The museum houses motorcycles on the first floor and the second floor of the museum.  Most motorcycles remain in their original condition with only one, a sparkling white 1941 Harley-Davidson “74″ made in the U.S., completely customized by Stubbs.

Buddy Stubbs customized this white, 1941 Harley-Davidson "74" U.S.A.

Stubbs’ favorite purchase, says John, remains a 1960 XLC Harley-Davidson purchased new from Stubbs’ father, and the first one Stubbs ever raced.  John tells a story attached to each motorcycle in the museum.  He points out the unique models and provides their history.  He shares trivia saying Schwinn made motorcycles, but closed the doors on motorcycles in 1931, but continued to make bicycles.  He also revealed that Harley-Davidson built bicycles for a short time before leaving them to continue to build motorcycles.

The museum collection includes this 1939 Indian Sport Scout made in the U.S.

This is the biggest collection of motorcycles in the Southwest, says John.  We have rather unique pieces.

Veterans escort Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall

 

Motorcycles escorted the Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall.

 The rumbling roar of motorcycle engines echoed as veterans accompanied the Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall to Phoenix Memorial Park and Mortuary on Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 3:45 p.m.  Spectators glimpsed the first motorcycles in the escort as they and the tractor-trailer carrying the wall made a wide right turn into the double entrance gate. 

The tractor-trailer carries the Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall.

The tractor-trailer parked along the entrance road.  Motorcyclists wearing their finery and flying U.S., Arizona state, POW/MIA and veterans’ flags passed the tractor-trailer two-by-two.  They circled the Veterans’ Garden of Honor and parked on either side of the entire south loop.

This monument marks the Veterans' Garden of Honor.

Veterans like John Haines and Vernon Close emotionally recalled their time in Vietnam. They talked of friends they made and the friends they lost during the war.  

Haines said that he had been to Washington, D.C. to see the Vietnam Veterans Memorial but would probably not return unless he took his children or grandchildren to visit it.

Close talked of his time in Vietnam in the Army, and the importance of fighting for our country’s freedom.  He said that he taught his grandson and son how important freedom is.

Veterans and motorcycles line the roadway adjacent to the Veterans' Garden of Honor.

On Wednesday, Sept. 16, volunteers and veterans showed up and finished the platform holding the wall and unloaded the panels from the tractor-trailer.  They constructed the wall, which measures 8 feet high, 240 feet long and contains the names of 58,000 U.S. servicemen and servicewomen.

Volunteers came and went as the wall took shape.  Friends talked, shared moments and took photos as they worked to construct the wall.  Gentlemen wearing “Don’t Tear Me Down” T-shirts posed for photos with their forms reflected in the glossy blackness of the wall’s panels. 

Veterans and volunteers work to construct the Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall.

On Thursday, Sept. 17, school groups took advantage of Education Day to learn about the wall. 

The opening ceremonies for the public began at 9 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 18.  This day also recognized individuals designated as prisoners of war or missing in action with the observance of POW/MIA Recognition Day.  The wall remained open to the public 24 hours a day until the closing ceremonies on Sunday, Sept. 20.

Museum houses a variety of art

The Phoenix Art Museum entrance located on the north side of the museum.

The Phoenix Art Museum caters to the likes of all kinds of art lovers.  On the day that I visited using my Maricopa County Community College District student identification card to gain free admission, I found two great automobiles on display-one yellow Volkswagen Beatle and the other a gorgeous 1964 Chevrolet Impala Super Sport.

Margarita Cabrera created “Vocho,” a yellow Volkswagen Beetle, using vinyl, batting, thread and auto parts.  Her soft yellow car “raises serious questions as to who benefits – and who does not – from global capitalism.”  

The other car, a lowrider 1964 Chevrolet Impala Super Sport “Caliente 64″ on loan to the museum and owned by Danny Ochoa, gleamed with its gold and red metal flake paint and its glistening chrome accents.  It took me back to pleasant memories of my first car, a 1962 Chevrolet Super Sport.

I wondered through the galleries of the massive museum after relaxing and watching a video presentation on a big screen TV.  The video gave a summary of all of the galleries and told of the 17,000 pieces of art in the museum.  The Phoenix Art Museum opened as a nonprofit in 1959 and grew from there.  The video showed the Dorrance Sculpture Garden and the items available for purchase in the museum store and mentioned that docents give tours of the collections.

Magdalena Abakanowicz created "Five Dancing" from bronze.

I ventured into the Art of Asia Exhibit, which takes up a number of rooms in gallery number nine.  Ancient art from China, Japan, India and Sri Lanka filled the rooms.  The items included manuscripts, sculptures, silk screens and ancient tomb figures.  A three-story, green-glazed tower with figurines made of glazed ceramic and encased in a glass case became my favorite piece of art in the exhibit.  The Chinese piece came from the Eastern Han dynasty during the period A.D. 25-220. 

A bench in the stairwell set between two artistic windows.

On my hike up the stairs to the second floor galleries, I found a great bench set into the wall between two artistically shaped windows.  On the second floor, I visited the Art of the American West where oil on canvas paintings dot the walls or take up entire portions of the wall.  Bronze sculptures in glass cases reside throughout the gallery and a larger than life bronze sculpture, John Coleman’s “Explorer Artists Bodmer-Catlin Series: Addik-Hiddisch, Hidatsa Chief 2004,” occupies a substantial space in the gallery.

In the European Collection gallery, a museum docent explained the nuances of the painting “Salome with the Head of St. John the Baptist” done in 1670 by Carlo Dolci.  Visitors listened as the docent explained the artist’s use and interpretations.  She asked members of the tour what they saw in the painting and what they thought Salome was thinking as she held this head on a tray.  Brush strokes, shape and color also entered into the discussion.

Visitors enjoy the view from the Richard and Susan Goldsmith Overlook.

I stumbled upon the Richard and Susan Goldsmith Overlook in the second level south wing and sat in one of the comfy chairs to gaze out on McDowell Road and South Phoenix.  This area lets visitors get away from it all with a view.

My final destination for the day included the Dorrance Sculpture Garden.  A quiet outdoor, getaway filled with plants, paths and unusual sculptures, this garden presents a perfect ending to a day at the Phoenix Art Museum.

The "Horse and Rider" sculpture resides in the Dorrance Sculpture Garden.

Public enjoys getaway at North Mountain Visitor Center

North Mountain Visitor Center contains exhibits and information.

Visitors find a getaway from the stresses of life when they enter the gates at North Mountain Visitor Center.  The visitor center itself maintains reduced hours because of budget constraints, but visitors enjoy hiking, biking and riding horses on Trail No. 100.

North Mountain Visitor Center contains educational exhibits.

The visitor center currently maintains hours from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.  Inside, the visitor center carries maps and brochures on the mountain preserves and local events and sells items in its gift shop.  Staff members greet visitors in the spacious lobby and answer questions, dispense maps and give directions.  Educational exhibits show the formation of the mountain terrain and history of the area.  A 6-foot-tall jack rabbit anchors a three-sided display entitled “Life Under the Sun,” which shows pictures of desert animals and how they survive and sound.    Photos of desert animals and plants line the walls of the visitor center with names and descriptions.

Visitors enjoy the Margaret T. Hance Ramada at North Mountain Visitor Center.

Outside, Margaret T. Hance Ramada provides shade and a place to read or enjoy the surrounding mountain scenery.  Hikers, trail bike riders and horseback riders share the trails south of the visitor center.  The Trail Mix guide lists hiking opportunities for visitors to register and enjoy guided hikes.  These hikes include the Hound Hike for dogs and their owners, a 10-mile Bird Burn-Post Thanksgiving Fitness Hike and guided interpretive hikes in the preserve.  A park steward also teaches a class in Day Trekking 101 and takes participants on a guided hike.

Visitors enter Trail No. 100 from this area.

On Sept. 26 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., North Mountain Visitor Center hosts National Public Lands Day Celebration.  The Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management present this 12th annual celebration.  This free family event brings live animals to the visitor center, presents representatives from public land agencies  and offers workshops and games.

Bikers ride the trail south of the North Mountain Visitor Center.

Light rail becomes popular alternate transportation

The METRO light rail passes by Burton Barr Library.

On December 27, 2008, Metro light rail became a reality in the Valley of the Sun.  A 20-mile stretch of light rail ran through the cities of Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa with 28 stops along the route.

Between the opening date and New Year, riders got free rides on the light rail.  Now riders purchase passes to ride as they do other public transportation.

The METRO light rail runs parallel to Phoenix traffic.

Light rail runs parallel to traffic and stops at open-air stations to drop off and pick up passengers.  Drivers, bikers and pedestrians need to exercise caution when operating around the light rail.  Riders easily walk or bike to pickup points and there are also park and ride facilities.  Racks inside the cars also accommodate riders’ bicycles.

 

 

 

METRO light rail stop located at Roosevelt and Central Avenue.

Ridership on the light rail far exceeded the projections made prior to its start up.  The month of March boasted 973,000 riders and the low came in July with only 750,551 riders.

This link shows the Metro light rail in action and gives more information: http://www.streetfilms.org/archives/phoenixs-metro-light-rail-takes-flight/.