Tucson To Phoenix

 They say the road between Tucson and Phoenix is one of the worst. People say there is no greater hell than driving north into this hot inferno of evil. They say the devil lives here and acts as our Governor!!!  Can you believe the stuff people say?  Well not all of it.  The part about the highway between Tucson and Phoenix is true:)  Or is it?  Judge for yourselves at the pics today from our Interstate 10 and make up your own minds.......

Picacho Peak.  Careful driving through this corridor.  Sometimes accidents happen here and will stop traffic for hours.  And there are cops with radar guns.  Be aware of your speed in the town Casa Grande.  Many speeders pulled over in this area as well.

 The differences between Tucson and Phoenix are vast.  Tucson is a democratic city while Phoenix carries the red of our state heavily.  At one point last year, Tucson had proposed seceding from the state of Arizona.  I'm not sure I liked the name of Baja Arizona.  It was all silly really.  But it is true.  Tucsonans aren't much for Phoenix and Phoenix isn't one to travel south and visit our city.  Yet there are many that do. Most people in Phoenix will head north to the mountains and areas that surround Sedona.

One of my favorite areas of the interstate are along the Pecan groves. Gorgeous bare or green.

 It is also hot in Phoenix. Very hot.  There is usually a ten degree difference between here and there. So on our mandatory road trip up to Phoenix, which occurs once or twice every year, we took the I 10 corridor to the concrete city in the desert.  While the drive is terribly long, the best time to go is when the sun is setting.  I brought my camera to keep me occupied on this trip.

 But don't listen to what people say.  Phoenix is a beautiful city.  The Convention Center is one of the best and the landscaping is gorgeous.  While Tucson can be a bit unkept, Phoenix is a stark contrast with it's clean downtown scapes.....and it's nice.  But while the sun is setting...or rising....you will see some of the most beautiful color in our skies. And I don't care what side of the political fence you're on, I think most people in Arizona would agree that our state is pretty incredible. 

 But we rush, rush, rush.  And it was very evident once we arrived in the city.  Traffic everywhere and people not seeing the incredible sunset displays.  We are so busy running around that we take things for granted.  There is beauty all around us.  I am having a hard time these days focusing on conversations while an incredible bird flies over my head or a citrus smell permeates the air. It's these moments that matter the most. But then again....

 You see something like this below and you snap back to reality and laugh your butt off.  We will be "trekking" to the north this May to take part of the 25th anniversary of Star Trek the Next Generation with Patrick Stewart and gang.  And that's pretty exciting.  I'll have coverage and so much more...including some spectacular landscaping from around the Convention Center.  I CAN'T wait to show you some of the things that they've done with Agaves and other structural plants.  Life is too short and I'm going to live it:) It's not better anywhere else because it's all the same.  Cold weather. Hot weather. Sun. Clouds.  After awhile it all blurs together into one reality and just IS.  And Interstate 10 isn't an exception to the rule.  The pictures today were taken during our drive up and proof that it's all in the eye of the beholder.  But if you still don't believe me and have some time on your hands between Tucson and Phoenix, you can always take the "in your face!" picturesque State Route Hwy 77:)  Live long and prosper.