Until I can get a full “Journey Report” posted, I wanted to at least get the photos from today up on the website here.  I know I have several friends and family who really want to see the Desert Botanical Garden pics. The first few pics are from today's ride Scott and I took from Phoenix to Tortilla Flat, which is a very popular destination for area motorcyclists.  Here's a map reflecting the route: Easy to see why motorcycles would like this road, huh? Hmmm, a BMW being towed.... no comment from me on this one:     Recently a friend of mine suggested I pay a visit to the Desert Botanical Garden (DBG) here in Phoenix.  I don't have anything against botanical gardens but they typically don't rank high on, say, my top 1000 “Want To See” list.  My friend disregarded my lack of enthusiasm and added that a visit was “an absolute must.”    I kicked around the idea with Kobi and also with Scott, both of whom didn't exactly bubble over with gusto either but both agreed they would join me.  Actually, I think Scott said “I never know what I'm getting into when I'm around you so this is nothing new!”    So, I bought our tickets to the DBG a week before his arrival.  Oddly enough, on Monday when Scott and I were in California standing outside a Visitor Center in Joshua Tree National Park we overheard a man talking about the DBG and used the word “awesome” to describe it.  Scott and I agreed that the words “awesome” and “botanical garden” just sounded odd to be in the same sentence, but hearing overhearing this stranger certainly peaked our interest in our plans.    After Scott and I rode to Tortilla Flat we met Kobi and headed over to the DBG, which is close to Papago Park in Phoenix. I'm not sure we were in the gate 5 minutes before all 3 of us were repetitively uttering “Wow!” as we stood in amazement at the twisting, towering, and brilliantly colored glass sculpture before us:  Here is Kobi standing in front of “The Sun”, which weighs 8,000 pounds!:  Dale Chihuly is the world-renowned artist who is responsible for the AMAZING glass sculptures on display at the DBG.  (For more info on the DBG, click: HERE).  I have very little information to offer about the sculptures such as how they are transported and erected, the process or time it takes to create one, etc.; I have thus far been unsuccessful in obtaining such facts.  Nonetheless, it's safe to say that dude has some serious talent, huh?    If you plan on visiting the DBG and the Chihuly sculptures be sure to do so in the late afternoon and evening.  By doing so you are afforded the opportunity to see the sculptures in both daylight and at night.  For those who elected to visit just during daylight hours, they miss seeing how the magical glass seems to become more alive when the sun sets.  Good thing cameras exist as there really would be no way to describe these uber-creative pieces of art.  I tried to take photos of all the sculptures in both daylight and at night. Here they are: We came across this sign while at the DBG, which I took a photo of specifically for certain Tennessee residents (specifically on Lynnwood Blvd!) who are hummingbird lovers: Continued On Next Page ..... Copyright © 2006-2009, All Rights Reserved.