Page 18 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt 8-21-15
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Aug. 21, 2015 DESTINATION Thunderbolt
http://www.luke.af.mil
18 www.aerotechnews.com/lukeafb
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Airmen FRQVWUXFWEHWZHHQDQG
ride rails
6WRU\DQGSKRWRVE\ With a champagne toast and cheers
6HQLRU$LUPDQ throughout the car, we began rolling
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-(11$%,*+$0 The train travels by ancient In-
dian ruins, towering rock formations,
56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs wildlife, rich desert vegetation, and
remnants of earlier times and the
Being stationed at Luke Air Force mining era.
Base means having the opportunity While the inside of the train is com-
to see and explore many great places fortable and offers great views of the
in the surrounding area. If you don’t landscape, I ventured out to catch a 3DVVHQJHUVVWUROOWKURXJKWKHPXVHXPDWWKH9HUGH&DQ-
mind driving a short distance, you’ll glimpse of a lone bald eagle souring \RQ5DLOURDG'HSRWSULRUWRGHSDUWLQJ7KHPXVHXPIHD-
ÀQGWKDWHYHQPRUHDGYHQWXUHVDZDLW along the river path. I stayed outside WXUHVSKRWRVDUWLIDFWVDQGOLWHUDWXUHDERXWWKHPRUHWKDQ
you. LQWKHRSHQDLUFDUWRHQMR\WKHIUHVK \HDUKLVWRU\RIWKH9HUGH&DQ\RQ5DLOURDG
My latest adventure was a quick air, gorgeous scenery and experience
trip up the Interstate-17 and onto the blackout as we traveled through
Highway 260 through Old Town a 680-foot man-made tunnel on our
Cottonwood to the Verde Canyon way to the turnaround point in Per-
Railroad. kinsville.
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With more than 100 years of rail month, we were also fortunate to
service, and a history of hauling travel with Sonora, a bald eagle res-
ore and freight, the Verde Canyon cue from Liberty Wildlife. Sonora and
Railroad now takes roughly 90,000 her trainers travel monthly as part of
passengers a year on a tour through Liberty Wildlife Education services to
6RQRUDDEDOGHDJOHIURP/LEHUW\ the beautiful Verde Canyon. better inform the public about wildlife,
:LOGOLIHVLWVXSRQWKHDUPRI-RH its habitat, and what we can all do to
0LOOHUDQHDJOHWUDLQHUZLWK/LE- While waiting to board, I took a help preserve it.
HUW\:LOGOLIH6RQRUDZDVUHVFXHG walk through the museum, the Whis- All in all, the four-hour train ride
DIWHUIDOOLQJIURPKHUQHVWDVD tlestop Gift Shop, and grabbed a snack was a pleasant experience and a nice
EDE\DQGEUHDNLQJWKUHHZLQJ at the Copper Spike Café located near break from the hustle and bustle of
ERQHV6KHKDVVLQFHKHDOHGEXW the ticket window in the depot. the Valley. If you’re looking to get
FDQQRWUHWXUQWRWKHZLOG6RQRUD away, but not too far away, the Verde 7KHEDUWHQGHUSDVVHVRXWJODVVHVRIFKDPSDJQHDQG
WUDYHOVRQWKHWUDLQPRQWKO\ZLWK Passengers have the option of pur- &DQ\RQ5DLOURDGWULSPLJKWEHMXVWWKH DSSOHFLGHUWRNLFNRIIWKHUDLOURDGMRXUQH\ZLWKDWRDVW
KHUWUDLQHUWRHGXFDWHSDVVHQJHUV FKDVLQJ D WLFNHW LQ ÀUVWFODVV FRDFK escape you need. $VSUHDGRIYHJHWDEOHVROLYHVVDQGZLFKHVDQGZLQJV
DERXWEDOGHDJOHV an open-air car, or the caboose. For ZDVDOVRDYDLODEOHWRWKRVHZLWKD¿UVWFODVVWLFNHW
this trip, I was blessed to be with a
group of Airmen on a day tour pro-
vided through Luke Air Force Base
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