Casa Grande to Tucson
John and I were scheduled to ride this section. I was especially delighted since I was sick last year and missed it. We were blessed with 70 miles of great weather and warm temperatures. The saguaro cactus and other “Dr. Zeus- looking” cacti began appearing.
There had been a little rain recently that brought out the wild flowers as well. Alan, one of the riders this year, was an excellent riding companion for speed, conversation, appreciation of the day. We even enjoyed our first DQ experience of the trip. Our campsite and facilities at Catalina State Park are good enough to make even a non-camper enjoy camping. John and Cathie D joined us in the evening for dinner and the tent experience.
Day Off in Tucson
This is the first year that the staff had the day off also. John and Cathie generously offered to spend a vacation day [they are still employed] and SAG for us while John, Jeff, a rider, and I climbed Mt Lemmon.
The temperature was perfect but there was the wind. If must have been blowing between 30 and 40. It was enough to stop my bike and nearly knock me off my feet. John dismounted and the wind picked his bike up to chest level. I didn’t feel too bad about SAGing 5 miles of the 21 miles as the D’s also picked up a 20-something 2-time “Iron Man” woman cyclist because she couldn’t stand up either. We all eventually made it to the top. Great day except that the D’s had to leave for dinner with family. We would have loved to spend more time with them.
The Iron Man competition, for those who are not familiar, involves swimming 2 miles, biking 111 miles and running a full 26 mile marathon as one continuous event. When I said to the cyclist that I could not imagine doing that she replied that it wasn’t all that difficult. It was just a different kind of suffering.
The East Tucson and Tombstone destinations were work days for us.
Tombstone to Douglas
We were able to ride again. It’s a good training day when there’s climbing, headwind and rain all in 49 miles. We travelled through Bisbee, a former mining town, now artsy community. We stayed in the historic Gaston Hotel in Douglas. Check out the stained glass and stone work. Quite a change from camping.
Desert rains are amazingly intense and come upon one quickly. A big storm with lighting hit as we were coming into Rodeo and a stay at the compound owned by MacAfee, of antivirus fame. We were able to get all the riders off the road safely and up the 3 very muddy miles to the houses. Very interesting, if illogical layout of houses and guest houses and hangar. MacAfee had intended to make Rodeo NM into the hang gliding capital of the world. His dream fell apart when he was arrested in South America and accused of murdering his neighbor because of a barking dog.
The rain ended as suddenly as it began with a spectacular double rainbow. I’ve seen doubles before but never one with both ends visible on the ground.
We rode the segment from Rodeo to Columbus. Certainly wide open spaces for 92 fast miles. Even I managed 15 mph average for the day. The rain brought out the wild flowers.
Today we arrived in El Paso. On the way John found the most interesting set of cairns and monuments.
