Post #454614 by Digitiki on Sun, May 17, 2009 9:33 PM

On the 9th & 10th, Tikiyaki, Marty Lush and Jonpaul "Rummy" Balak headed east for a mini roadtrip to Arizona to see the Chihuly galss exhibit in Scottsdale and to visit the Kon-Tiki in Tucson.

we kicked off the trip at 5am on Saturday morning and didn't stop until late Sunday night when we arrived back in L.A. Along the way, Rummy had a few tiki roadtrip placed to stop at and check out.

Our deepest, heart-felt mahalo to Mark & Baggie Bloom for their gracious hospitality!!

Here's some photos of the trip:
(Check out the online photo album: http://www.digitiki.com/AZroadtrip/ )

1st stop: the Tropics Motel in Indio, CA

A lone tiki hidden in the bushes at the Tropics. Urban archeology in full swing:

Next stop: Blythe, CA for a look at the former sister motel to the Caliente Tropics complete with former Sambo's restaurant (right)

Next stop: Scottsdale, Desert Botanical Gardens for a look at the Dale Chihuly glass exhibit:

It's only 150 degrees, you wusses!

A quick stop to see the building that used to house the Scottsdale Trader Vics:

Next stop, the current location of Trader Vic's in Scottsdale:

Happy hour is about to start!!

Toes in the sand on the patio at Vic's, Scottsdale

Valley Ho hotel next to Vic's in Scottsdale - A tiki near the pool:

Finally, arriving at Kon-Tiki, Tucson Paying tribute. Sadly the big tiki outside showed signs of vandalism

Kon Tiki was full of the college crowd. They may not appreciate the tiki factor but they keep the place alive:

Kon-Tiki has a rather high tipsy factor--and all vintage tikis

Enjoying a late night cap at Mark & Maggie's house (Velvet Glass) Breaking in the Ohana Hut:

Something never before posted on in T.C. - a 4-moai fountain at a Tucson condo complex:

The vintage Tucson Inn motel, still in operation

The Tiki Motel sign, the only thing still tiki about the place:

Next stop, Sunday at The Hut in Tucson to see the cement moai that was rescued from the Magic Carpet Mini Golf Course

Rummy donates $$ to help save the Moai at the Hut

Heading home: our bug collection on the windshield:

"You're not drunk if you can lie on the floor without holding on." -- Dean Martin

[ Edited by: Digitiki 2009-05-17 21:37 ]

[ Edited by: Digitiki 2009-05-18 10:36 ]