Day 26 - Mesa, AZ - Tour of Phoenix and Surrounds

At last, a rainless day!!!  Until late afternoon, we had clear blue skies with crisp but breezy, fresh air.  This was another tour day.  Our first stop was at the Queen Creek Olive Mill.  We were informed about a myriad list of facts for growing olive trees, harvesting their fruit, and the production of extra virgin olive oil.  Arizona is the only state with an olive grove and mill.  This company has 2500 trees, using a mix of Spanish, Italian, and Greek varieties.  A blend of 60% purple to 40% green olives creates their signature Tuscan Estate Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO).

As we drove through the outlying regions of Tempe, Scottsdale, and Phoenix our tour guide told us that the primary brush to be seen was creosote.  And we were told that the increased development of housing has diminished the acreage of cotton, alfalfa, and corn that was once so prominent.  Our guide mentioned too that there are now 357 golf courses in the Phoenix area.

Old Town Scottsdale gave us the opportunity to choose an eatery for lunch.  Sufficient time was given to us for dining, exploring and relaxing.

Next, we entered into a most extraordinary exploration of world music at the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM).  Our numbers were split into two groups each led by a docent for a one hour whirlwind travel tour through five Geographical Galleries showcasing music and culture from every country.

At this point, this blog reporter wilted, and was unable to witness those Adventure Caravan souls in the Experience Gallery for their hands-on moments.

We finished the evening by attending the George Dyer Show for his live performance.

Submitted by:

#10 Paula and Verne Rigdon