81 and 88/100... hormonal responses

Adrenaline- the hormone produced during high-stress or exciting situations, it creates the body's fight or flight response. Some people jump out of perfectly good airplanes to get that "rush." Endorphins- the hormones that make us feel good, also called natural morphine. Some people run marathons to get that "high." One Sunday afternoon last month I experienced both the rush and the high as I crossed two more things off my "100 Things in Arizona" list.

It was a beautiful, warm, but not hot, afternoon when we drove out near Lake Pleasant north of Phoenix. Our destination was the Turf Soaring School so I could ride in a sail plane, or a glider (#81). Three of us were riding (Laurie, Richard and me while Mike stayed on terra firma to take pics!) but we would go alone (with an instructor, of course!). Laurie went first. Then it was my turn with a different instructor and glider. 

It was with mixed emotions that I signed the liability waiver and walked out to my blue and white glider. I had seen sail planes gliding through the sky and wondered what it would feel like to fly like a bird - to depend on thermals to take you higher. But I also was concerned about the fact that there is no engine of any kind on a glider. I've always believed that, with my cars, more horsepower is better. There wasn't even a puny pony on the glider.

After a safety briefing and explanation of the controls, I was strapped into my seat in the front and my instructor/pilot, Danny, was seated behind me. The canopy was closed and I locked it into place. The palms of my hands were moist and I could feel my heart racing.

Thinking positively!

Once the canopy is closed and locked, the cockpit begins to heat up so there is no dilly-dallying at this point.

Ready or not, here we go!

Mike shot this video of my take-off... what you can't see is my heart is pounding!

Once we were in the air, the tow plane spiraled upwards pulling us up to 3,000 feet. I could hear the engine of the tow plane and for some strange reason it gave me comfort. Looking out the cockpit window and seeing the tow plane with the tow rope trailing behind it made me think of walking a dog - the kind that has a mind of its own and goes where it wants dragging you behind. 

Where would the tow plane take us next? 

My one and only job, since I had opted to NOT fly the glider (Laurie and Richard both flew theirs!), was to pull the bright red knob that would release the cable attaching us to the tow plane when Danny told me to do so. This awesome responsibility ratcheted up my adrenaline level as I wondered what would happen if I couldn't pull it hard enough to release the tow rope... or if I mistakenly thought I heard the command, "Release now!" Have I mentioned how fast my heart was racing?

And then, suddenly, I heard Danny calmly telling me to pull the red knob releasing the tow rope - and to remember it would make a loud noise. It easily pulled out making the loud noise as promised and the tow plane banked to the left.

I could see the tow rope fall - the dog was free of the dog-walker!

As the tow plane banked to the left, Danny banked our glider to the right and we went our separate ways. 

Strangely, I felt no sense of motion as we banked.

The noise level dropped significantly as we were gliding on layers of air without the tow plane. The ride was smooth and peaceful and even with the smog layer I could see a long ways away. I felt like I was on top of the world, ready for anything. Ahhh... the adrenaline rush!

Danny pointed out roads, mountains and, of course, Lake Pleasant as we flew through the sky at about 40 mph... slower than I drive down Elliot Road in my car!

As we were flying - or, more precisely, gliding - I realized I had three misconceptions about gliding. First, despite not having air conditioning and sitting in a glass bubble on a warm day, it was NOT hot in the cockpit. There are several air vents that open allowing air movement. Second, despite not having an engine, it was not perfectly quiet like I imagined it would be. The air rushing through the aforementioned air vents is a little noisy. And third, despite seeking out thermals the ride is very smooth, unlike a jumbo jet landing on a summer afternoon in Phoenix where thermals create awful turbulence. I did, indeed, feel like a bird flying - or at least what I imagine a bird feels like flying through the sky.

After about 15 minutes, it was time to come down. And then time for Richard's turn!

The runway is gravel so you hear the "crunch, crunch" of the rocks as the plane glides to a stop.

Danny expertly landed our glider - which, incidentally, has only one wheel! When the glider slows to a crawl, one wing drops down to the ground and the ride is over. Would I do it again? Sure. But unlike Laurie, I have no interest in learning how to fly it. Maybe next time she'll take me up!

After everyone returned to solid ground, we went to Mary Coyle Ol' Fashion Ice Cream Parlor (#88) in Phoenix. Richard's family used to go to this old-time ice cream parlor when he was a young boy and it was time for me to discover what the scoop was on this place.

Mary Coyle's Ol' Fashion Ice Cream Parlor came to the valley in 1951 from Akron, Ohio. Their claim to fame was ol' fashion ice cream made with 16% butterfat. Baskin-Robbins and Coldstone, for comparison, contain 14% butterfat while Ben & Jerry's has 16%. They used quality ingredients and made their ice cream on the premises... just like they do today! 

The Coyle's sold their business to Bob Kelly, an in-law, in 2005. He continued to build the business until last year (2011) when the failing economy really hit his business. Between declining sales (down 40%) and increasing costs, he was forced to sell or close. At the eleventh hour, long-time customer Mike Stoffey bought the ice cream parlor to preserve a piece of Phoenix's history. He gave the place a much-needed face-lift - repainted, reupholstered booths, updated business systems and added to and retrained the staff.

We enjoyed the many pictures that hung on the wall showing the history of the 61-year old ice cream parlor that continues to serve "ol' fashion ice cream" to Valley residents.

By the time we got settled in our booth, the adrenaline rush I had been feeling faded leaving in its place restlessness, sagging energy and a headache. Ahh... but I knew the antidote for all that - a chocolate sundae and the resulting endorphin high! 

I had a chocolate sundae with Ol' Colonial Coffee Ice Cream - or as I call it, "The Endorphin Special!"

While it was a new experience for Mike, Laurie and me, it was a trip down memory lane for Richard. And the ice cream was as good as he remembered - rich and creamy!

Thumb Up or Down: UP!!

Miles Round Trip: 110.3 miles

Miles To Date: 10,243.6 miles

Percent of List Completed: 90%

Date of This Trip: October 7, 2012

72/100... into the wild blue yonder

My grandfather (or more accurately, my step-grandfather, but he was the only grandfather I knew) was an airplane mechanic in the Army Air Corps which later became the US Air Force. When I was a child he would occasionally tell me stories about the planes he worked on in far-away places. Sometimes he took me with him when he went to the PX at Luke Air Force Base and would tell me about some of the planes we saw there. I wasn't all that interested at the time in stories about the planes or in seeing them, but I liked spending time with my grandfather. A recent visit to the Commemorative Air Force Aviation Museum  (#72 on my "100 Things in Arizona" list) in Mesa brought to mind memories of time spent with him.

The Commemorative Air Force Aviation Museum (CAF Aviation Museum) describes itself as "a flying museum." The Commemorative Air Force is a worldwide, all volunteer, non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of the great warplanes from WWII through the Vietnam War. The Arizona Wing (what civilians would call a "chapter") is located  in Mesa adjoining Falcon Field and has been entrusted with the restoration, care and display of "Sentimental Journey" which is considered to be the most authentically restored flying B-17 in the world. "Sentimental Journey" tours the country and unfortunately, was not there when we went - but they had LOTS of other planes on display.

Planes were EVERYWHERE! Be sure to look up because many are suspended from the ceiling.

The exhibits are well marked with signage that explains in great detail technical information for those interested in and knowledgable about aviation as well as a general description of where and for what purpose the plane was used - something I appreciated! The volunteer docents are retired military, many of whom actually flew or were involved in some way with the aircraft on display. After explaining the lay out of the museum, our docent left us to explore on our own but was available to answer questions.

In addition to the planes, the museum also has quite a few exhibits about things related to flying - like "brain buckets" and famous people. 

It was interesting to compare the helmets aviators have used to those firefighters used in the exhibit I saw at the Hall of Flame a few weeks earlier. In general, it seemed firefighters' helmets were much more substantial at an earlier time and would actually protect them. I guess that's why aviators call theirs "brain buckets!" They seemed to be little more than a head covering for warmth until more recent years.

The Tuskegee Airmen and Women in Aviation exhibits were my two favorites. It was intriguing to me that two minorities fought so hard to have a place in the Air Force. It didn't matter to them that they started waaaay at the bottom and had to claw their way up, having to do their job better and faster than "the good ol' boys." They didn't give up, didn't expect special treatment, didn't whine about it being unfair. Why? Because they wanted to serve their country and that trumped everything else. 

Richard liked this WWII-era Stearman training plane. I prefer my training planes with more... ummm...  plane around them!

Just outside of the museum building, on a huge tarmac, are several more planes and a Huey equipped as it was for use in Viet Nam. It's even more impressive to see these historic planes against the backdrop of Falcon Field with planes taking off and landing.

The plane on the left has its wings folded as if it were on an aircraft carrier. The big cargo plane on the right is so HUGE it seems like it would fall out of the sky, not effortlessly slice through it.

The maintenance hangar is connected to the museum by a hallway. I heard one of the docents refer to it as the "garage" but it's much cleaner than any garage I've been in - I think you could have eaten off the floor! It's where regular maintenance is performed on the planes that are still flown (you can pay for a ride in a B-17 Bomber!!), other planes are restored or modified for exhibit (they drain the oil, for example). The mechanics who care for these old planes are also volunteers.

The stack of tires along one side of the maintenance hangar is the only indication it is a garage!

My grandfather died in 1986, the same year the CAF Aviation Museum opened. I think he would have enjoyed this place - and I know he would have had some great stories to tell me. It is a wonderful place for aviators and those who designed, repaired and maintained the planes to see their "babies" once again. It's also a great place for everyone to learn some history as they look at real military aircraft.

Thumb Up or Down: UP!!

Miles Round Trip: 26.5 miles

Miles To Date: 10,133.3 miles

Percent of List Completed: 88%

Date of This Trip: September 30, 2012

96/100 ... London Bridge is falling down ♪♬♩♫

Every child learns the nursery rhyme "London Bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down. London Bridge is falling down, my fair Lady!" Subsequent verses describe building it up with various materials.  Most historians believe this rhyme and dance dates back to the Middle Ages - and yet it fairly accurately describes what happened to London Bridge centuries later.

London Bridge - yes, THE London Bridge - is now located not in London or even Europe but in Arizona on Lake Havasu. Despite friends and family telling me it was just a Spring Break and drunken boaters' hang-out and a waste of time to visit, I thought they were mistaken. A while ago we headed out to London Bridge (#69 on my "100 Things in Arizona" list) to see for ourselves.

If it wasn't for the palm trees across the water, you'd almost think you were in London.

So how did London Bridge come to be in the desert of Arizona? First of all, there were actually several "London Bridges" through the course of history that spanned the same section of the Thames River. The first was a wooden bridge that eventually rotted and was replaced with the bridge made famous by the nursery rhyme. It was built by Peter of Colechurch between 1176 and 1209 and survived more than 600 years before before it, too, needed to be replaced. The new London Bridge was completed in 1831. Over time, it began sinking and by 1924, the east side of the bridge was three to four inches lower than the west side. Twentieth century automotive traffic was taking a toll on the bridge. In 1967, the Common Council for the City of London began to look for potential buyers for London Bridge. They were hoping that nostalgia surrounding the bridge would generate revenue for the city. And they were right!

Lake Havasu City founder and entrepreneur Robert McCullough took the bait and placed the winning bid of $2.46 million in April, 1968. Next came the tedious task of moving the bridge - it's not like you can take it to the UPS Store for packing and shipping. It was dismantled block by block and crated before being shipped overseas via the Panama Canal to California and then trucked to Lake Havasu City. This cost McCullough an additional $7.5 million dollars. But since he had it declared an "antique" to avoid paying taxes on it, he wasn't that concerned.

Each of the 10,276 blocks was numbered before dismantling so it could be more easily reassembled in Arizona.

The bridge was rebuilt on dry land and then a mile-long riverbed was dug out beneath it turning a Lake Havasu peninsula into an island. This made-made "river" created a purpose for the bridge. I couldn't find costs for this aspect of the bridge project but I imagine it was substantial as well. Finally, in 1971, the finished London Bridge was rededicated bringing a bit of England to the desert.

The vintage lamps on the bridge are made from the melted down cannons of Napoleon Bonaparte's army. Alternating American and Union Jack flags line both sides of the bridge.

"Old English"-themed shopping areas on both sides of the bridge were built in the early 1970's. According to local residents, there were quaint shops selling goods from England, a tea shop, pubs, book stores and the like. Visitors first passed through a courtyard with a gate that came from Widley Court in Worcester, England into a courtyard with a fountain. 

A nearby sign reads: "The boundary of the City of London, England established in Roman times, is marked by a heraldic dragon at each entry by freeway. This dragon marks the boundary of the city of London Land in Lake Havasu City."

This is the backside of the Tudor-style village mall.

Unfortunately, all the quaintness and British flavor around London Bridge has disappeared leaving scores of empty, run-down shops and a plethora of kiosk-type establishments selling Hawaiian Shaved Ice, sunglasses and quick grab items for Spring Breakers and boaters. 

According to the comments on one website I checked after returning, local residents are very unhappy about this turn of events and realize it reflects poorly on their town. Apparently, the owner of the "malls" that once had  British-themed businesses has decided he wants to tear it all down and build condos but the town is blocking him. In the meantime, the entire area suffers.

I went expecting to find an English village tucked away in the desert. Perhaps take a tour of a piece of history and have a cup of tea. Instead, I found an out-of-place-looking antique bridge and quite a few drunken boaters. The Visitor's Center was so-so with a few photographs of what it looked like in the 1970's,  some souvenirs (a very small piece of the bridge for $2, for example) and a jet-ski display. There is a tour of the bridge but only from October to April. Since we went in late September, I emailed the tour guide prior to going to ask about other tours or a self-guided one but he did not reply. 

Although London Bridge is quite secure and no longer falling down physically, it might as well be in shambles. Unfortunately, the area is getting a bad rep when it could be attracting an additional kind of tourist.

Thumb Up or Down: DOWN (reluctantly, since the residents know it's a problem but are powerless to do anything)

Miles Round Trip: 459.3 miles

Miles To Date: 10,106.8 miles

Percent of List Completed: 87%

Date of This Trip: September 28, 2012

international intrigue

When I first heard that Ramsey Canyon in southeastern Arizona is the hummingbird capital of the world, my first thought was that some PR guy surely got a huge bonus for coming up with that advertising gimmick. But it turns out it really is and birders who like hummingbirds (and who doesn't like those cute little birds?!) travel from all over the world to Ramsey Canyon where they can spy on at least 14 species of hummers and shoot them (with a camera, of course!) to their heart's content.

During a recent stay at the Ramsey Canyon Inn, I spied six different species of hummers at a feeder outside a window at breakfast alone. Unfortunately my camera was in our room - so all the photos in this post were taken in my yard at home. The owner of the Ramsey Canyon Inn, Shirlene, told me that she usually has at least ten feeders out but because of  larger than average populations of bats and bears this year due to habitat destruction from the wildfire last year, and at the suggestion of the wildlife rangers, she took down all but two. The bears like the sweet syrup and will damage property to get to them. And it's not a good idea to feed them, anyway. You've read the story about giving a mouse a cookie, right? And the bats are gluttons and will drain two or three cups of syrup per feeder every night. That just gets expensive.

One of the guests staying at the Inn was a man named Mario, a guy who is living his childhood dream. When he was a boy living in Costa Rica, his grandfather told him to find something he liked and then learn everything he could about it. Mario liked birds, especially hummingbirds, so at age 11, he began studying them. He went to college and became an ornithologist specializing in, you guessed it, hummingbirds! He travels all over the world studying them and doing research. And that weekend he was doing research in Ramsey Canyon. Wow! Needless to say, I picked his brain for a bit!

I knew hummingbirds are omnivores; they eat nectar and gnats and such. Mario told me they also eat larger bugs like small spiders, aphids and caterpillars. They need protein from the bugs and electrolytes from the nectar, neither of which they get from sugar water in feeders. Mario worked on a commercial syrup that has sugar for calories (their metabolism is very high!), electrolytes and protein. The one with just electrolytes is available now at Lowe's, the one with protein added should be available soon. While making your own sugar water is less expensive, it makes the hummingbirds "full" without giving them the nutrition they need. As a result, ornithologists are seeing more sick hummingbirds in urban areas and some species are in danger of becoming endangered.

My next question was why the hummingbirds seem to be so afraid of bees - after all, the hummingbirds are significantly larger.  He said that bees are a problem for the hummingbirds because they share a food source and a bee sting will kill them. Fortunately, though, hummingbird feathers overlap in such a way that it provides them with an impenetrable suit of armor. The only place on their body that is vulnerable to a bee sting is their eye. Do you know how small a hummingbird's eye is? VERY! And have you seen them dart around at lightning speed? I think that levels the playing field.

As I was pondering that, I realized that God levels the playing field for me, as well. He allows obstacles or trials in my life but always gives me the means to overcome them. They don't necessarily go away, but He equips me to persevere, gives me encouragement through His Word or from a friend. Sometimes He has given me a skill or attribute that helps - just like He made hummingbirds able to hover and gave them great beak - eye coordination so they can feed from a feeder (or flower) that is swaying like crazy in the wind.

As Mario talked about all the places he's traveled to study hummingbirds and how thousands of folks come here every year to watch hummingbirds, I realized how fortunate we are to have so many varieties right here in Arizona. Some are migratory but many live here year round. With a few hummer-friendly plants and/or a feeder, I can enjoy their antics from the comfort of our patio... in my jammies ... with a cup of coffee... and, of course, my camera!

54 and 25/100... the wild west?

Arizona... the wild west... cowboys sitting around a campfire singing songs about the round-up. All that makes prefect sense in my mind. What doesn't come to mind when I think about Arizona is apples - unless you mean road apples ;-). But we found both an apple orchard and cowboy music within 60 or so miles of each other on a recent adventure in southern Arizona.

Apple Annie's Orchard (#54 on my "100 Things To Do in Arizona" list) near Willcox was started in 1986 by John and Annie Holcomb and remains a family business over 25 years later. The cool nights and warm days in the Sulphur Spring Valley (elevation 4300 feet) create an ideal apple growing environment and the Holcombs turned their small family orchard into a big apple business. It was about that same time (mid-1980's) that commercial apple orchards popped up in other parts of Arizona like Jerome and Sedona. Although not one of the top six states in apple production (Washington state provides over half of the apples grown in the U.S.!), Arizona has found its niche in providing local-grown apples to farmer's markets and stores like Sprouts as well as u-pick orchards for family fun.

Apple Annie's did not have my all-time favorite apple, Honeycrisp, but they did have several yummy varieties.

We went to Apple Annie's Orchard with friends, Mike and Laurie (of MR KLUD fame), on a warm, sunny Saturday in September during the Apple Pie Festival (more on that later). Several vendors for everything from scarves to yard art were there. After working up an appetite "shopping" through the vendors, we ate lunch at the Burger Barn where they make apple-smoked burgers (and hotdogs!) cooked-to-order.

Laurie, Mike and Richard

A picnic area is situated in some of the closer orchards which provides both shade and something to look at!

Once we were fueled up, it was time to hit the orchards for some apple picking. A farm tractor pulling a wagon with benches took us out to the different orchards where we picked three different varieties of apples. Unlike the shiny, clean, "perfect" apples you purchase at the grocery store, apples still attached to the tree are dull, dusty and "not perfect." However, once you wash and polish them, they look delicious!

Sampling was encouraged =)  Nothing is sweeter than a just-picked apple!

Summers in Arizona are hot. Really hot. Folks in the Phoenix area like to try frying eggs on the sidewalk - and many succeed! It's not quite as hot in the Willcox area but "natural outdoor cooking" still occurs.

The "baked apple" on the left is not quite ready; the one on the right is what happens when you forget about it! ;-)

I mentioned we were there for the Apple Pie Festival. We thought there would be activities like pie-making demonstrations, an apple pie bake-off, apple pie bingo, an apple pie-eating contest, etc. but were disappointed to discover that the only "apple pie thing" going on was a pie-eating contest and there was only one contestant. It was misleading and disappointing to call it an "Apple Pie Festival."

Apple pies (both regular and crumb top), apple bread, apple butter, apple donuts and apple cider are available to purchase. We tried the apple donuts (very good!), apple cider (excellent - next time I would bring a cooler to take some home!) and both kinds of apple pie (with homemade ice cream!).

Richard and Mike had their own pie-eating contest - Mike won!

We picked about eight and a half pounds of apples - red delicious, yellow delicious, granny smith and fuji. We ate some of them and I made applesauce out of the rest. Either way, they were scrumptious!

The measuring cup on the left is a four-cup one and I guestimate there are about 5½ cups of peeled, sliced apples in it. After four hours in the crock-pot, I had two cups of cinnamon applesauce. No wonder applesauce costs so much!

After leaving Apple Annie's Orchard, we checked into the Ramsey Canyon Inn, a quaint bed and breakfast at the bottom of Ramsey Canyon, the hummingbird capital of the world (but that's a blog post for later!). 

Our room, the Costa's Room (all rooms are named after hummingbird species!), was beautiful and had a private balcony overlooking the back yard. Breakfast (Dutch Babies!) was superb.

Ramsey Canyon is a breath-takingly beautiful sliver of Arizona. The lush greenery and clear streams make viewing wildlife easy. The first "critters" we saw were caterpillars - lots and lots of them hanging from the trees on silk strands. Black bears were sighted near the front door by one of the guests the night we stayed - and yeah, we were disappointed we didn't see them! But we spotted a ringed-tail cat on one of the windows as we played cards that evening. Several species of hummingbirds fed at the feeders outside the kitchen window while we ate breakfast. And we spotted a couple of mule deer by the side of the road the afternoon we left. 

The fuzzy caterpillar on the left dropped on our car as soon as we parked. It was a little disconcerting to have them drop down right in front you! The deer, on the other hand, was a pleasant surprise.

Our last stop was the Arizona Folklore Preserve (#25) just down the street from our Bed & Breakfast. Founded in 1996 by Dolan Ellis, the Folklore Preserve has been promoting and recording cowboy music for the past 15 years. A stage was set up in the Moffett House (on the grounds) and could house an audience of at most 30 people. In 2000 Dolan partnered with the University of Arizona to build the current Folklore Preserve with its state-of-the-art recording studio. This partnership ensures that the Folklore Preserve will continue to exist for many years to come. 

Dolan is the artist-in-residence and performs one weekend a month. He is a widely respected musician with many awards: a grammy, gold records, the first to be inducted as an Arizona Culture Keeper to name a few. But the title that means the most to him is one he's held for 46 years - Arizona's Official State Balladeer. He has written and recorded hundreds of songs about Arizona - the land and its people.

The Arizona Folklore Preserve... "where Arizona's songs, legends, poetry and myths are collected,  presented, and preserved for the enrichment of future generations."

To be perfectly honest, I was a little disappointed when I made our reservations at the Preserve that Dolan Ellis wasn't performing; instead, a group called The Red Hot Rhythm Rustlers would be on stage. My disappointment was short-lived, however, for as soon as the RHRR took the stage my toe began tapping and I was transported back to the era of the American cowboy. Some songs had a definite "country twang" but others were "bluesy" or even "jazzy." As one of them explained to me, "cowboy (or western) music" is a lyrical genre so if the lyrics are about cowboys, the old west, western landscapes, gunfights, wagon trains and the like, it's considered cowboy or western music. In contrast, country music is about personal relationships without the western aspect.

The performers mingle with the "guests" before and after the show. Gale Rogers stopped by our table to chat before the show and Audrey McLaughlin answered my many questions after the show. This award-winning group has incredible harmony and a sound all their own. 

I very much enjoyed the show we saw and heard. I would still like to hear Dolan Ellis perform sometime but am fairly certain I would enjoy any performer at the Folklore Preserve!

Thumb Up or Down - DOWN for Apple Annie's - food was over-priced, people were not friendly, they didn't seem 

                                          prepared for a medical emergency that occurred while we were there

                                          UP!!!! for the Arizona Folklore Preserve

Miles Round Trip: 368.4 miles

Miles To Date: 9647.5 miles

Percent of List Completed: 86%

Date of This Trip: September 22-23, 2012

89/100... hall of flame

At some time during their childhood, almost all little boys - and lots of little girls - want to be a firefighter when they grow up. And who could blame them? Firefighters have cool gear, drive huge, shiny trucks that speed through traffic lights with their lights on and sirens shrieking and they get to slide down a pole. There are more than 1.1 million firefighters, paid and volunteer, currently serving in the United States. In addition to the aforementioned reasons, they also get to help people which is the number one reason people become firefighters. I recently visited the Hall of Flame Museum (#89 on my "List of 100 Things in Arizona") - a museum dedicated to firefighters and their equipment, the largest such museum in the country.

Located at 6101 E. Van Buren Street in Phoenix, the Hall of Flame has 30,000 visitors (mostly from outside of Arizona!) annually.

The museum was founded by George Getz, Jr., a wealthy industrialist, in 1961 and was originally located in Wisconsin. In the fall of 1955, George and his wife were out for a walk when he spied an old fire engine and casually remarked to her that it would be fun to have a fire truck to give neighborhood children rides in. She secretly purchased the 1924 American LeFrance fire engine for $750, had it restored, put a big red ribbon it, and parked it in the driveway Christmas morning. George loved it - so much, in fact, that he purchased four more in the following year and his "obsession" was born. At the same time he opened the museum in Wisconsin, he established the National Historic Fire Foundation, a non-profit organization that sponsors the museum and is dedicated to preserving the history of firefighting. George once said, "Somebody has to accumulate these things. I'm not a firefighting buff but a preserver of history." I think he was both.

He retired from his day job in the early 1970's and moved to Arizona. The Hall of Flame Museum was relocated to Phoenix in 1974 and has been open year-round since then. The museum is divided into five exhibit galleries and the National Firefighting Hall of Heroes gallery. Over 130 pieces of apparatus dating from 1725 to 1969 are on display. There is even a fire engine that you can climb on! Tours are self-guided; I spent about two hours looking at the exhibits but could easily have spent more time. 

I was astonished to learn that fire fighting equipment has been around a really, really long time. The exhibits in the museum are either ones actually used or similar to ones used in the United States. The oldest one, a "modest-sized" pumper, dates back to 1730 and is similar to one used in New York City in 1737. Water was supplied by a bucket brigade. These were popular until the mid-1800's.

This pumper, built in England around 1750, discharged water through a stitched leather hose. Output was about 25 gallons per minute - all hand-pumped - and was considered an engineering marvel. Today, the smallest hand-held hose the Gilbert Fire Department uses (1.75 in.) puts out 150 gallons per minute; larger truck-mounted hoses have an output of 2000 gallons per minute.

This American-made rotary pumper (1825) was used by a volunteer fire company in Pennsylvania. Hand cranked by eight or ten men, it could supply a "large volume" of water at low pressure but not at higher pressures which led to its demise.

This 1880 American-made hand drawn pumper was state-of-the-art when it was used in Michigan. Notice the ornate decoration which carried over to more modern times. The more ornate the apparatus, the better cared for it was which is why we have them today. This pumper was manned by 30 men working the pump handles. At 60 strokes per minute, it could output 150 gallons per minute - but only for a few minutes as that pace was too strenuous to maintain for long. At a more practical 50 strokes per minute, output was 120 gallons per minute - still quite impressive!

If you thought the last one was ornate, this one is really over the top! It is an American-made hand-drawn parade carriage (1870) - or, as I call it, Cinderella's Carriage! It had no purpose other than to be beautiful. It was built for firemen in Connecticut and was pulled by a team of firemen at parades. 

Although vehicles with steam engines were in use from the 1870's, firemen deemed them "dangerous," "unreliable" and "impractical" so it wasn't until about 1915 that gasoline-run firetrucks became popular. They needed two things: a way to deliver a lot of water under pressure and taller ladders mounted on trucks to reach the upper floors of tall buildings. And so the "modern" fire truck was born.

These 1930's era firetrucks don't look drastically different than today's firetrucks.

The museum is not just about the firetrucks, though. Exhibits showing firefighting gear, fire extinguishers, even helmets and patches are sprinkled throughout the museum.

The top right and bottom left photos show collections of fire extinguishers and helmets from around the world. The top left and bottom right photos depict two icons of firefighting - Smokey the Bear  and Saint Florian, the Patron Saint of firefighters.

Their collection of firefighting tools is impressive - and they are placed so that you can touch them. I had no idea the safety net was so thick or that it was used for more than 80 years but failed far more often than it succeeded in saving the life of the jumper.

In addition to preserving the history of firefighting, educating the public in fire safety is another major goal of the museum. The Safety House was designed to teach children and adults about fire safety behaviors that have saved lives - things like not having curtains hang near a stove and having a working fire extinguisher in the kitchen.

The kids visiting the museum while I was there also liked putting on coats and helmets and climbing on the firetruck! 

The National Firefighting Hall of Heroes was sobering. It honors American firefighters who have died in the line of duty as well as those who have been honored for acts of heroism. Each year, on average, 100 firefighters die in the line of duty in the United States. Some years, like 2001, that number is much higher. 

After reading dozens of biographical blurbs of these honored firefighters, I had a better understanding of their skill and integrity as well as the sacrifices they make.

The Flag of Honor has the names of those killed in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 in the red and white stripes. The 9-11 Memorial on the right honors all the firefighters who lost their lives that day and in the aftermath.

This wonderful museum, rich in history and real heroes, is a national treasure. It is fun for kids of all ages yet is, apparently, the "best kept secret in Phoenix" according to the docent on duty when I went. 

Thumb Up Or Down: UP!!

Miles Round Trip: 30.8 miles

Miles To Date: 9279.1 miles

Percent of List Completed: 84%

Date of This Trip: September 12. 2012