At mile 5.4 of this map, you can take the bridge and ride a few miles down to Drexel, cross the bridge, and come back up the other side. It's an easy little loop to add a few miles. I have never stopped, but you ride past a big shopping area near Irvington, where you could stop and get something to eat. I've heard Mod Pizza is good.

Have you been to see the Mission yet? It would be an easy drive from where you are staying, if you don't feel like a road ride.

Could you ask the trike rider with the American flag banner what the source is for the banner?

I've read of other riders having an encounter with a worker as they circumvented the barricades. The recumbent club rode that direction yesterday, and said the barricades are gone, and that a landscape worker said it would take two weeks for them to finish up.

Yep

Someone’s garage door?

Depends on who you ask … we’ve been through it 3 times now but today got stopped by a Civil Engineer working the project asking us if had seen the trail closure barriers. Said we went around them like everybody else which got us a much longer chat as other cyclists rode by. Officially the line is liability, unofficially the pavement is in, the lines are painted, and the only other work is landscaping. There were no construction vehicles or workers anywhere to be seen.

One could spend quite a bit of time mapping the Oro Valley out. We’ve succeeded in getting bits and pieces now. Might just have to come back next year to continue the quest.

Agree … it’s really too bad as it is a nice ride in beautiful country but not worth getting hurt over. I can say I did it, but won’t be returning for sure.

The bike path is good all the way now … and very nicely done.

We've camped several many times at Catalina SP and rode the Oro Valley trails. One route we often did was to go north on Innovation Parkway past the hospital and going north of Tangerine Rd. When we got to Rancho Vistoso Rd, we would go right to Highway 77 where there is a light (you miss the BIG climb from the state park). There is still a climb, but it's more moderate and by going through the Sun City area, there is a bike lane and less traffic.

Continue north on Highway 77 (it has a wide shoulder) past the next community. The road levels out here. You can turn east into the neighborhoods and have a nice tour around those properties - rolling hills - before returning to the Highway and zooming downhill back to wherever you started which could be at the shopping center across from the state park or further south at the Steam Pump park.

You can also ride into the state park and up to the east end where the road ends.

It looks like the bike path Twin Peaks must be open again? Its been closed in stretches for the past year but it looked like they were finally about done when we left.

This must be on Picture Rocks? It looks good on paper alright, but really is dangerous without a shoulder. I tried it once too and won’t go back.

Looks like a warthog, actually..Or, a boar..the tusks are a throw off. However, I do know the warthog is probably better suited for this bike than the mean boar. Just sayin’….

Thank you

This photograph looks like a painting. Simply beautiful!