MM - Biosphere 2 FunRun and BBQ - Sat. Oct. 10th

[JPMINITUCSON]

Biosphere 2 FunRun and BBQ - Sat. Oct. 10th

We have a great FunRun & BBQ this weekend that you sure don't want to miss. We are going to the Biosphere 2, followed by a BBQ at Marsha and Dave's hacienda in Catalina.

NOTE NEW TIMES FOR MEET-UP AND DEPARTURE
The day starts at 7:30am with coffee & breakfast at the Village Bakehouse on Oracle Rd near Magee. We will depart around 8:30am for the Biosphere. It's a short drive and we should be there in plenty of time to catch the 9:30 tour.

The tour lasts 1 1/2 hrs and we should be through with the tour by 11am and then head over to Marsha and Dave's for lunch. They have a solar heated pool and fire pit and are great hosts.

Feel free to take part in all or a portion of the day's events. If you are going to the BBQ please RSVP to Marsha so she can plan her shopping: marshasuecarter@hotmail.com

Biosphere 2 is located 25 miles north of Tucson, at the base of the stunning Santa Catalina Mountains. This one-of-a-kind facility sits on a ridge at a cool elevation of nearly 4000 feet and is surrounded by a magnificent natural desert preserve. Come experience the remarkable Biosphere 2 which Time Life Books recently named one of the 50 must see "Wonders of the World".

See why visitors from around the globe journey here for this unique adventure not found anywhere else. Discover real-time research on the future of our planet as it unfolds in the specially designed mini-world. Starting at the visitor center you will get a first look at our new exhibit "Phoenix Mars Lander" which landed on Mars in the summer of 2008.

Meet: Village Bakehouse, 7882 N. Oracle Rd, Tucson - 7:30AM www.Villagebakehouse.com - They serve a full breakfast, so check out their website for the menu.

Depart: 8:30 AM - It's about a 35-40 minute drive to the Biosphere 2 straight up Oracle Rd (Rt 77). http://www.b2science.org

Tour: 9:30AM

Biosphere2 Admission:
* Adults $20
* Seniors ages 62+ $18
* AAA Members $18
* Military $18
* Children ages 6

[Louie B.]

Would LOVE to go to this but there's no way I'm getting up early enough on a saturday to make it to Tucson by 8:30!

[JPMINITUCSON]

BUMP!!

[AKA IAN]

Louie- it's not all the way to Tucson, it's north of Tucson and you can get there by 9am. See, that's an extra 60 minutes right there.

[JPMINITUCSON]

Here is a map to Marsha & Dave's for the BBQ. They are planning on putting steaks and hot dogs on the grilll, so RSVP to the email above! They will also be at Munchies Night tonight if you have any questions.

[JPMINITUCSON]

Our FunRun to the Biosphere was a real hit! The weather was great, our breakfast at the Village Bakehouse was yummy and the tour was incredible.


The buildings are some of the most impressive we have see anywhere.


With 6,500 windows and 7,200,000 cubic feet of sealed glass, Biosphere 2 is the largest scientific greenhouse in the world.


The tour included visits to many locations previously off limits to visitors including the rain forest,


A journey through a pressurized airlock,


walking inside the desert Savannah section,


and feeding time at the dinosaur enclosure.


The design of the complex is amazing. A Texas oilman funded 100% of the cost to build Biosphere 2. No tax dollars were used!


The entire Biosphere is sealed from the earth below by a 500 ton welded stainless steel liner. We got access to the below ground mechanical area and it is immense!


Martha got lost in the sub basement.


We took a vote on whether to look for her or go to Marsha's for the BBQ. We decided to go for BBQ and let the orange sniffing rescue dogs look for Martha.


We had a great time at the BBQ. M & D have a beautiful home in Catalina. Dave grilled tri-tip that was to die for and we enjoyed playing with their pair of Australian cattle dogs, Joey and Ozzie.

For those of you that didn't make the FunRun, HAAAAAAAAAAAA!! You missed out big time!

[AKA IAN]

Jon is so right. We had a great day and those of you that didn't come missed out. The tour was very informative, we got to ask all kinds of very inquisitive questions and playing with the dinosauer was more fun than adults should have.