Epic day. Thanks to Molly for doing all the driving, which was hundreds of miles’ worth.

We had a time crunch this leg of the journey, and could not spend very much time in Phoenix before hitting the road. I forced M to stop by my old neighborhood. From age 4 to age 13, I lived in the shadow of Camelback Mountain:

However, our beautiful, sleek, mid-century modern home was torn down in 2008 and replaced by this … thing:

Even though some of the old houses in that neighborhood have been replaced by McMansions, there is still a lot of bizarre charm in the area.

I was not sad to leave Phoenix and the memories. There were good times but a whole mess of bad times during those days and I have a big swirl of mixed feelings about it all. Nuff said.

Besides, there was no time for belly aching for we were about to enter… THE FUTURE!

Biosphere 2 (outside of Tucson) is a huge research facility that looks not unlike a giant hothouse. It was here in the early 90s that the Biosphere 2 was sealed for two years to “develop self-sustaining space-colonization technology”; that is, a “man-made, materially-closed ecological system.” Basically some people were sealed up in it for 2 years where they had to fend for themselves. It didn’t go exactly according to plan. Now, it is not sealed and the whole thing is open to tourists, although research continues there.

“Use your senses!” our tour guide urged as we stepped through the first airlock into the “savannah” climate, which was ever so steamy. Molly and I and a whole lot of Active Seniors obediently trooped through the Savannah and several other climates, including desert, swamp, and wetlands.

Steamy Savannah action.

My favorite part was the basement, not only for Pee-wee’s Big Adventure appeal, but for the many retro-futuristic hallways and control rooms. I felt like we were the last band of survivors in The Poseidon Adventure, trying to get through the ship’s boiler room to freedom. Fortunately, nothing exploded and Stella Stevens did not plunge to her death. This time.

What an excellent vision of what “futuristic” meant to the creators of the place. Geodesic domes, sterile whiteness, and jumpsuits!

Jumpsuit of the damned

There are insane amounts of Biosphere 2 photos on my flickr photostream.

After, we stopped in Tucson and ate Mexican food and drank Micheladas. Equally exciting in its own way.

Michelada: tomato juice (or Clamato) and beer over ice with lime, in salted glass. Do not knock it till you’ve tried it. Seriously.

Was not quick enough on the shutter finger to take a snap of the BEST motel sign — for the Tiki Motel, and it was completely unironic. Swoon.

The farther we got today, the better off we’d be tomorrow with our schedule. So, with great elan and admirable determination, Mighty MM set the cruise control and covered major territory. Boom, hello and goodbye New Mexico state line! Before we knew it we were in the intriguing and shady town of Lordsburg, but the motels weren’t calling to us and Molly still had more drive in her, so we powered through to the big-ass city of Las Cruces. It was a little late and we were tired and not in the mood to find anything special, motel-wise, but then.. well, you’ll see tomorrow.

By the way, we knew it was fate when we saw the motel was next to a diner called Pancake Alley. Doesn’t that sound magical? An alley! Of pancakes! Guess where we’re eating tomorrow morning?

And we’ll need to stock up, for tomorrow is the day we Rock the Shit Out of New Mexico.

Last night’s dream: I did not remember any, because my insomnia streak was broken in Jo Ann’s guest room in her monastery-quiet building. Hallelujah!

Molly’s quote of the day:

It’s like the outpost at the end of the world.

(referring to my quite-extraordinary old Phoenix neighborhood)

• See all the pics on my flickr photostream
• Go to Day 5