It is long stretches of highway and interstate, once we leave Tucson. Towns are few and far between. The only other place like Tucson is Phoenix (one hour away, one hour to get through), which is four times the size and four times the hassle to drive the freeways, much more stressful. An hour of freeway. To get into the north forests, we have to endure Phoenix area, which is 4 million plus people in an L.A.-like sprawl. I'll stick to southern Arizona. Fewer crowd hassles and a quick escape from urban life. A few minutes and I'm out on the open road naked. Mt. Graham, Chirachuhuas, Hot springs, Patagonia are usually an hour, or an hour and a half one way. Then, the twisty mountain roads, the dirt roads, the back country is slower going, so an over night at the least makes the effort worthwhile.
Then, there is around here, closer. Base of hill, to top of Mt. Lemon is a half an hour on a fun beautiful mountain and all places in between. The back side is 30 minutes from my place. Redington pass is a half hour from the center of town. Tortolita is out my back door. We've got it pretty good here, even with a million people in this valley.
The White Mountains are a greater distance. Fours hours mountain highway and then more to get around, so we would stay longer. De Anza, or Mexican beaches are 4 plus hours, open highway interstate, easy drive, sometimes boring.
I can't conceive of a crowded island, but I imagine fun and interesting, lush and with potential. My memories are of a huge area, that lies beyond London and the ferry and train I took from Le Harve in 1965. I had a taste, but barely scratched the surface. Milfmog's Scotland trip looked appealing. Isn't it the size of Arizona only with beaches? I take an interstate and then take a branch off, or two. I love the back roads and smaller older highways, the interstate gets dull. My ideal road trips are getting off of the interstate.
Jbee
