Thurman Ray Plumlee
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Ray Plumlee's an American Odyssey

Traveling Webmaster's Deck Log

This is a copy of my old Deck Log (Online Journal). I am now using an online blog at my "Have Web Sites Will Travel" web site. I use it to chronolog my travels around North America (my American Odyssey).

This "Old" Deck Log is now only an archive of past postings. It tell's the reader where I have visited and what adventures I have had up til the time I started my blog on Have Web Sites Will Travel. This archive was written primarily from the perspective of a tourist. Not necessarily my work log though I may do some of that too, especially in those early days when I built the sites resouces. Initially I used it to detail my efforts in getting prepared for the adventure. Then I chronicled the adventure itself.

To read my current Blog, Deck Log, Journal or Captains Log go here.

Date:     29 February 2004    12:30 PM

Location:     City: Quartzsite     State: Arizona

Log Entry Title:     Summary of 22 February 2004 to 29 February 2004

Log Entry:     
24 February 2004 Day trip to Titan Missile Museum
25 February 2004 I stayed at the Desert's Edge RV Park and Resort
26 February 2004 Underway for Quartzsite, Arizona
28 February 2004 Day trip to the London Bridge in Lake Havasu, Arizone


24 February 2004

Took another day trip down to Tucson. First I stopped and visited with my latest client. Then went on to Green Valley, which is about 25 miles south of Tucson. There I spent a very pleasant afternoon (despite a rather nasty rainy day) at the Titan Missile Museum. There you get to see an authentic (seemed like is was to me) Titan II missile launch facility which is the only reamaining Titan II missile silo of 54 that were built. A museum piece from the Cold War era. This particular Titan II missile silo, Silo 571-7, was first placed in service and went on alert on 15 July 1963. The site reamined on alert until 1984 when it was decommisioned as a result of the SALT (Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty) that was signed in 1981 by President Ronald Reagan.

I spent so much time at the Titan Missile Museum in Green Valley, Arizona that I did not have time to visit the Biosphere 2. I will be sure and add that to my itenarary on my next visit to the area. I plan to do at least one west to east or east to west trip between southern California and Florida.


Well here I am inside the Museum display and historical center at Titan II Missile Museum in Green Valley, Arizona.

Well here I am inside the Museum display and historical center at Titan II Missile Museum in Green Valley, Arizona.

My obligatory picture with the Have Web Sites Will Travel Traveling Webmasters Truck outside the Titan II Missile Museum in Green Valley, Arizona.

My obligatory picture with the Have Web Sites Will Travel Traveling Webmasters Truck outside the Titan II Missile Museum in Green Valley, Arizona.

Museum sign for Titan II Missile Museum in Green Valley, Arizona.

Museum sign for Titan II Missile Museum in Green Valley, Arizona.

Ominous sign that is posted on the original entrance gate to the Titan II Missile Silo 571-7 complex.

Ominous sign that is posted on the original entrance gate to the Titan II Missile Silo 571-7 complex.

View of the topside area of the Titan II Missile Silo 571-7.

View of the topside area of the Titan II Missile Silo 571-7

Inside view of Titan II Missile Silo 571-7. Look at the thickness of the blast lock area door which leads from the entrapment area into the access portal into the cableway which leads one way to missile launch control center and the other way to the launch silo.

Inside view of Titan II Missile Silo 571-7. Look at the thickness of the "blast lock area" door which leads from the "entrapment area" into the "access portal" into the cableway which leads one way to "missile launch control center" and the other way to the "launch silo."

An even better view of the thickness of the blast lock area door which leads from the entrapment area into the access portal into the cableway which leads one way to missile launch control center and the other way to the launch silo.

An even better view of the thickness of the "blast lock area" door which leads from the "entrapment area" into the "access portal" into the cableway which leads one way to "missile launch control center" and the other way to the "launch silo."

A view down the cableway which leads to the launch silo. As you can see this is a pretty long passageway. My guess is the best place to be when a Titan II Missile launches is to be as far away as possible.

A view down the cableway which leads to the "launch silo." As you can see this is a pretty long passageway. My guess is the best place to be when a Titan II Missile launches is to be as far away as possible.

View of the Launch Control Complex Facilities Console (LCCFC). In the center is the Commanders launch control console where the Commanders launch key is.

View of the Launch Control Complex Facilities Console (LCCFC). In the center is the MCCC's (Missile Combat Crew Commander) launch control console where the Commanders launch key is.

Another view of the Launch Control Complex Facilities Console (LCCFC) with the EWO (Emergency War Order) safe (red on top and the rest blue).

Another view of the Launch Control Complex Facilities Console (LCCFC) with the EWO (Emergency War Order) safe (red on top and the rest blue).

Another view of the Launch Control Complex Facilities Console (LCCFC). In the lower right corner of this picture you can see the Commanders launch key.

Another view of the Launch Control Complex Facilities Console (LCCFC). In the lower right corner of this picture you can see the Commanders launch key.

View from inside access area of Titan II Missile Silo 571-7 of the last Titan II missile.

View from inside access area of Titan II Missile Silo 571-7 of the last Titan II missile.

Also you can see two technicians suited up in protective suits working on/around the missile. Note they are observing the two man rule which requires that no one can be alone in sensitive areas or No Lone Zones which included most of the silo and launch complex.

View from the top of Titan II Missile Silo 571-7. Here you can see the REV (Reentry Vehicle) atop the Titan II Missile. Also you can see two technicians suited up in protective suits working on/around the missile. Note they are observing the "two man rule" which requires that no one can be alone in sensitive areas or "No Lone Zones" which included most of the silo and launch complex.

Here is a good view of the primary security system (other than the perimiter fence). These horn looking devices are TPS-19's or

Here is a good view of the primary security system (other than the perimiter fence). These horn looking devices are TPS-19's or "Tipsies." They were motion detection devices that would alert the Missile Launch Crew below in the Launch Control Complex Facilities Console (LCCFC) who would then alert topside Security personnel who would investigate the intrusion.

Display model of the REV (Reentry Vehicle) in it's transportaion stand on a truck bed.

Display model of the REV (Reentry Vehicle) in it's transportaion stand on a truck bed.

Display model of one of the two, stage one engines, that a Titan II missile has. In the background is a display model of the stage two missile engine.

Display model of one of the two, stage one engines, that a Titan II missile has. In the background is a display model of the stage two missile engine.


25 February 2004

While in the Phoenix, Arizona area I stayed a total of 2 months and 1 week at the Desert's Edge RV Park and Resort. It is located near Deer Valley Road and I10.

Desert's Edge RV Park and Resort.
22623 North Black Canyon Highway
Phoenix, Arizona 85027
888-633-7677

www.desertsedgerv.com

I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at the Desert's Edge RV Park and Resort. The managment and Staff were very helpful. I thorougly recommend anyone to stay there while in the Phoenix, Arizona area with an RV.



Entrance to Desert's Edge RV Park and Resort.

Entrance to Desert's Edge RV Park and Resort.

My Rig at the Desert's Edge RV Park and Resort.

My Rig at the Desert's Edge RV Park and Resort.

Recreation Complex at the Desert's Edge RV Park and Resort.

Recreation Complex at the Desert's Edge RV Park and Resort.



Pool area at the Desert's Edge RV Park and Resort.

One of the Staff. This gentleman did a lot of things around Desert's Edge but mostly delivered propane gas for me.


One of the Staff. This gentleman did a lot of things around Desert's Edge but mostly delivered propane gas for me.


26 February 2004

Underway.

Left Phoenix after two months and one week. A full 5 weeks longer than I originally planned. I arrived in Quartzsite, Arizona where I intend to spend a week before heading on into the San Diego area. Quartszite is famous for it's big RV gatherings in January and February each year. They have a lot of big Gem and RV shows.

I am arriving at the tail end. There are still a lot of swap meets and Flea markets in the area. But I can see from the remenants what it might have been like at it's height. I am told that at the height of the Swap Meet Season the Town of Quartzite's population swole from a few thousand to two and one half million people. A new record for the annual event.


28 February 2004

While in the Quartzsite, Arizona area I took a day trip up to Lake Havasu where the famous London Bridge is now located.

The bridge was purchased from the City of London and shipped here brick by brick by the industrialist Robert P. McCulloch Sr. (who founded Lake Havasu in 1964 and developer of the McCulloch chain saws and other products) who learned that the British Government had put the bridge up for sale. On April 17, 1968 McCulloch submitted the winning bid of $2,460,000 for the 10,000-ton bridge. Plans were made to move and reconstruct the bridge in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. Each piece was marked with four numbers indicating which span, which row of stones, and the last two, the position in that row. On September 23, 1968, the Lord Mayor of London, Sir Gilbert Inglefield, laid the corner stone. The bridge was constructed on a dry piece of land on the edge of Lake Havasu City near Lake Havasu. When the reconstruction was completed a one-mile channel was dredged and water was diverted from the lake, under the Bridge, then back into the lake.

Here I am with the London Bridge at Lake Havasu, Arizona behind me.

Here I am with the London Bridge at Lake Havasu, Arizona behind me.

Here is a view through one of the arches of the London Bridge at Lake Havasu, Arizona with part of the English village in view.

Here is a view through one of the arches of the London Bridge at Lake Havasu, Arizona with part of the English village in view.

Here is a view from the top of the London Bridge at Lake Havasu, Arizona.

Here is a view from the top of the London Bridge at Lake Havasu, Arizona.

Ray Plumlee



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