High season in the desert

We jumped on the I-10 yesterday morning in Tucson, and headed up to Phoenix.  This Interstate is the great east-west conveyor belt that dead ends at the Santa Monica Pier, starting way back in Jacksonville, Florida. 

I find freeways fascinating and terrifying, and I can never quite get in the spirit of it. The speed, efficiency, and the pure democracy. Nothing is more American.  Elderly couples from Minnesota in RV's cheek-to-jowl with semi-trucks all hell bent to get somewhere. The tailgating, changing lanes, jockeying for position. Finally the rest area oasis that is almost always clean and well-maintained. What a country!

We had a nice day with our dear friends in Sun City West.  A long overdue visit and a great Italian lunch with strawberry shortcake for dessert.  Thanks, Fern and Dick-- it was wonderful seeing you again.

Today the plan is to tour Frank Lloyd Wright's famous Taliesin West house in Scottsdale, a shrine to the great architect.   Also (since it is vacation) some time spent soaking in the gentle February sun. 

And maybe we'll pack a picnic and take the scenic back roads to Tubac tomorrow.  What's the rush?

Palm trees and cactus

You know you're on vacation when you step off the plane on a 70 degree afternoon and want to shake hands with a saguaro cactus.  I'll tell you though, having flown from the top of our country to the bottom today, the weather looks pretty bad everywhere. Nothing out the window except a gray blanket of clouds below. That is, until you get to Tucson. Clear desert air and blue skies.  And probably a lot of stars tonight if I had the energy to go out and take a look.  Tomorrow is another day, and best of all...the first day of vacation.

Packing for Sun-Adventure Land

The best feeling in the world has to be packing for a sunny destination on a cold, dark winter morning.  What to take?  On days like this, it's hard to believe it's actually warm somewhere.

Despite my best intentions to "go light this time," I always over-pack, prepared for anything and everything like the elderly person I'm fast becoming. Besides, how can you shop on vacation if you don't have a big suitcase to stuff right up to the 50-pound limit?  Since Alaska Airlines charges 25 bucks for a checked bag, might as well get my money's worth. 

So far no snow in Seattle, but south of here it's a different story. Schools are closed, the I-5 freeway is a mess and Portland is pretty much shut down.  Hopefully the snow won't make it north. The good news is the "atmospheric river" is pointed at California for a change, which keeps us dry and helps alleviate their horrific drought.

Arizona looks dry as a bone. They want rain, but won't be getting any next week. Yea.  I'll check in later, hopefully with some pictures of a pasty, white couple blinking in the desert sun.

Seattle celebrates

Nearly 700,000 people crammed the downtown streets for the Seahawk victory parade yesterday.  It was by far the largest public gathering in Seattle history.  To put that number in perspective, the population of Seattle is about 600,000.  The rally following the parade filled both Century Link and Safeco Fields to capacity with those lucky enough to score tickets, while the overflow crowd turned downtown into a giant mosh pit.

Of course this caused epic traffic jams on both ends of the day, now dubbed "grid-hawk." I marveled at miles of stationary freeway traffic while cruising in the opposite direction to Southcenter Mall.  Needless to say, I had my choice of spaces in the parking lot.

The temperature is 16 degrees this morning-- probably a record low for Seattle.  Last year about this time we spent a few days in Palm Springs, and after that nice break I decided it was well worth the effort it takes to yank us out of our February hibernation hole.

And there's a reason why this is called "high season" in the desert southwest: the weather is simply beautiful. Not hot, not cold, not wet.  This year the treat will be Arizona, with the low-80's predicted next week for Tucson.   (Hopefully we'll be on our way before the snow arrives this weekend.)

National Weatherman's Day

Sun-drenched Nome, Alaska

February 5th is the wacky holiday known as National Weatherman's Day.  It commemorates the life of Boston native John Jeffries, born February 5, 1744.  He was the first American to compile detailed weather reports beginning in 1774.  Jeffries is also famous for taking a historic hot air balloon ride across the English Channel in 1785.

Speaking of whacky, how about the weather this winter?  Nome, Alaska has never been above 50 degrees during the winter months, and on January 27th the high of 51 degrees made it warmer than New Orleans and Atlanta.

Where would weather nuts be without their favorite weatherpersons?  In Seattle, we have the brainy UW meteorological professor Cliff Mass, but Scott Sistek's KOMO weather blog has entertaining videos and beautiful photography.

It's bitter cold in Seattle his morning, but at 6 am people are already lining the streets for the Seahawks parade at 11. Some spent the night camping out on the sidewalk!

There's no precipitation expected here until Saturday, when it will probably start out as snow.   A perfect time to head south into the mild desert sunshine.  More on that plan later...

Calm before the storm

Seattle seemed a bit subdued yesterday, but an enormous parade is planned for Wednesday morning, with upwards of 250,000 spectators expected. Seahawk Day hasn't been declared an official holiday, but almost.

After all the indulgence of Sunday (steak, crab, plenty of wine) last night seemed like a good time for a vegetarian dinner, like tricolor pasta with grilled vegetables and garlic bread.

Along with 50 pound sacks of rice and gallons of olives, Costco sometimes has unusual (OK, weird) products like these jars of grilled vegetables (from Peru!)  Sliced eggplant, squash, peppers and artichokes floating in oil.  It's the type of thing you would see on a dusty shelf at Big Lots.

Costco doesn't have everything, but what they do stock tends to be good quality.  The problem is local chefs and restaurant owners snatch up and hoard the bargains, like Tuscan olive oil and saffron.  So when I went back, the grilled vegetables were gone.  They are probably showing up on fancy panini sandwiches around town.

If you ever see "Del Destino" brand on the shelf at Big Lots, don't be afraid to buy it.