Missiles and Saguaros

Where Are We Today

KOA Tucson

We left Fortuna Del Oro RV Park in Yuma, yesterday, " on our way " to a Koa campground in Tucson Arizona. This is to be a three night stay to spend time with our friends, Ken & Nancy, who we met in 2012, at Silver Creek RV Resort in Silver Lake Michigan.

Silo and missile description.

Arriving just after 2 p.m., our friends met us at the gate directing us where to park to go in and register, they had been lobbing to get us a better site then what the campground had originally had us in, so happy they did.

They left us to get settled in, with an invite to come over for a chat and that we were having supper with them. So chat we did, getting caught up on what each other had been doing. We left just after 4 p.m. to freshen up, Pat prepared a salad to take over for supper, and back we went. A great night with great friends.

Going down the 55 steps to the second level

Today we all headed over to Green Valley Az. where the Titan II  Museum and the last missile silo remains. There were 54 of these silos, 18 in each state of Kansas, Arkansas and Arizona. In operation during the "Cold War" 1963-1989, these were designed to prevent World War III, "Peace by Deterrence", no one, on either side, wanted to launch their missiles, it would have meant the end of the world and life on it, as we know it.

One of four call phones to get in, if you didn't enter within 3 minutes, guards were sent to find out why.

The only place you could be alone was in the crew quarters or meal room.

Walking into the control room

Now 54 missiles does not sound like a lot, but those 54 missiles represented 1/3 of the U.S. tonnage of weapons. It was more then 200 times the tonnage of bombs dropped in the European and Pacific Theaters in World War II.

You can read more about it Here.

Inside the control room. That clock is in Zulu Time. Notice the massive spring to cushion the control room in the event they had been attacked.

Our tour quide

Turning one of two keys to launch the missile.

Walking the 250 foot tunnel to where the missile is.

Me taking a picture through the Plexiglas cover over the silo. 

Missile in the silo. The silo has to bee open and the cut out in the war head visible to the overhead spy satellites.

Returning to the campground for a quick lunch and to let the dogs out, we headed out to the Saguaro National Park. We never get tired of looking at this mighty sentinel of the desert. Along with the other cacti found here, Teddy Bear Cholla, Staghorn, Chain Fruit and Ocotillo. We stopped at the visitors center for a look around. Before leaving the park, we drove by the park museum where there is a crested saguaro cactus growing

Flowers on a Ocotillo

Saguaro and Teddy Bear Cholla

.A great day exploring the area around Tucson, even stopped by Old Tucson and the Western movie set, that's for another time though.

There are so many Saguaro, that it is called a forest of Saguaro Cactus

A Crested Saguaro Cactus

This is a close up of the Teddy Bear Cholla shown below

Good night from the Saguaro National Park, near Tucson Arizona

Hope you enjoyed your day, I know we did. Until the next time, take care and be safe. Leave a comment if you like. I do read them all and will respond.