You hit the jackpot with Barry! It sounds like he can fix anything!

That looks like a beautiful side trip to add to the route, many thanks

More information: I forgot about the ride down from Sonoita to Patagonia two years ago. The best part was the ride east from Patagonia up Harshaw Road, another ride I’d love to repeat some winter. https://www.cycleblaze.com/journals/winterlude2020/in-sonoita-the-ride-to-patagonia/

Kelly, I just found your journal from your ride here with Hank- https://www.cycleblaze.com/journals/tucsonarea/, look forward to reading all about it. Will see what he has to say about the route.

We loved riding the Sonoita & Elgin area last year, had a great stop in the Autumn Sage vineyards - food trucks, live music, NCAA basketball with Barry's beloved North Carolina Tarheels.

Thanks for all the tips.

Scott, this is just what I was looking for. I wondered about traffic on 82 but it looks like a fine road. Good to hear you'd go back there.

Show this map to Hank and ask if this is where he went accidentally. He might not have a happy face. I was in front, didn't get stopped by the train, he did, then he went left when he should have gone right. It's quite a story!

The road to Arrive is a nice ride, as is 286 up to Three Points. Between there and town, it gets busy.

Madera Canyon is good climbing practice.

The paved backroads around Sonoita/Elgin are very nice, some rolling climbs. 82 is busy, doable, but no fun. In Sonoita, the Copper Brothel Brewery is a good place to eat. The Xanadu Ranch is where we stayed with Hank.

I think so. Back in 2016 we biked from Tubac to Sonoita on our way to Silver City: https://www.cycleblaze.com/journals/tucson16/to-sonoita/. We passed through Rio Rico, Tumacacori and Patagonia, so I imagine it’s basically the same route. We didn’t keep a map for it though. I’d like to ride it again myself.

Good on you for your complete circuit of the Loop. I hope to get to that point this month. I do love that East Saguaro Loop. Hadn't thought of doing multiple laps on it but that's a good idea!

"Some tandem riding friends who are training for Paris-Brest-Paris have done 100 miles, trying to get some climbing in! Each loop is 8 miles. I think they rode 12 loops?"

Reminds me of the annual New Year's Day ride in the DC area. There's a 3 mile loop around Hains Point. It's tradition for at least a few hardy souls to get out for 33 laps, making it The Most Boring Century in the East. The good thing is you're never more than a mile and a half from the rest / cocoa stop, or your car.

AKA The "Kelly Iniguez Arch", at least within the CycleBlaze journalsphere. :)

Glad to see you all got together!

It was great to meet you. I'm glad you could make it on such short notice.

This is my favorite photo stop on the entire loop! It took extreme self control to NOT photo it each time I passed by.

BTW, today I rode a full loop and stopped at Cane's Chicken next door to Rudy's BBQ for lunch before completing the last 25 miles.

Another ride that is a must do before you leave is East Saguaro Park. I like to add in a side trip to Colossal Caves also. Rachael says they have gone up to the actual caves and made a loop. I didn't know that was possible. I thought it was one way.

I've done two loops of Saguaro Park. I could probably do three, and still enjoy it. Some tandem riding friends who are training for Paris-Brest-Paris have done 100 miles, trying to get some climbing in! Each loop is 8 miles. I think they rode 12 loops?

You are braver than I am doing the trail riding. I leave that kind of terrain for walking and hiking. Have a great time in Tucson!

How great!