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Kitt Peak National Observatory Picnic Drive, December 26, 2007
As Boxing Day dawned, Juanis finds himself at Todd's Cafe in an empty parking lot. Cold, sunny and the wind sock at Ryan Air Field on the west side of Tucson indicates a 15 knot wind from the southeast. A note in the door says the staff at the restaurant wish all a joyous holiday vacation and they will return next year.
 Now joined by Mark and Alise the picnickers set out on an adventure to Kitt Peak National Observatory. The desert flies by on ol' hiway 86. As the morning wares on, the temperature rises to permit the retraction of convertible tops. The views from the twisted Kitt Peak hiway are sharp and clear.
Arrival at the top finds several visitors enjoying the sights and sounds. The Sun Clock registers the day's zenith hour. The McMath Telescopeis impressive with the blue winter sky as a backdrop. The trio join two couples at one of the only sunny picnic tables near the visitor center. Lunch was a collections of cookies, ham and turkey sandwiches, bean and green salads, intrinsic ice cold beverages. A special entry on the picnic menu was four fist-sized, tree-ripened, navel oranges from Juanis' personal tree. Among the conversation and chattering of teeth, the seven picnickers discover that each is from Tucson and escaped to Kitt Peak today to dodge the crowds.
Juanis and friends return to town by way of Kinney and Gates Pass roads. Bidding each a happy season and new year.
Additional reading about Roadsters on Kitt Peak:
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