January 29, 2025
Flirting with the rain
Rain is a sure thing today, not yet but soon. This morning looks dicey, the afternoon worse. If I’m going to get in a ride now’s the time.
I have an eight-day streak going so far, the longest since our Atlantic coast tour last spring when we rode 34 days in a row. Barry doesn't have a rainy ride on his Bingo card for this trip. He wishes me well.
I’m scouting another route to Saguaro National Park. This one is a big loop with some of everything - gravel, pavement, dirt. It starts out a little ways south of the RV park on Bopp, a road I avoid taking east at all costs. Instead I'm riding west from San Joaquin on Bopp and there's no problem because there aren't any cars on the road.
When the pavement ends, I ride on gravel roads four miles southwest to Sandario Road. Slippery soft spots and bumpy washboard add some fun. I'm zig-zagging all over the road to steer around them. The only sounds I hear are birdsong and the crunch of my tires on the gravel. So far I like this way.
At Sandario Road I turn north, back on pavement now and peeling layers as the sun comes out. One other cyclist passes me going south, arms down on the aerobars and cranking. This is a fine training road - straight, flat and empty.
Rain clouds to the west are advancing on me. Maybe it won’t be a hard rain, just sprinkles like yesterday. That cloud looks heavy though.
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At Mile Wide I turn east for the short ride uphill to Saguaro National Park. I'm tempted to ride down to Bajada Loop, the six-mile scenic gravel road that Barry and I started up five days ago. We bailed on it that time since it was rather late in the afternoon. After a check of the weather radar, I think it's best to skip it this time too, and continue on to McCain Loop.
As I pump up and down the McCain hills, the big clouds seem to be blowing northeast. I’m going south now; maybe I can get out of the way before this blows through.
Afraid not. The rain catches me a couple miles later before I pull off into Gilbert Ray Campground. It's less than a downpour but more than sprinkles, and soaks my gloves in no time. My wet hands are freezing in the wind.
It's lucky that there's a small shelter at the registration station. I'll pull my jacket back on and wait out of the wind for a little while.
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It's not long before the rain subsides. Now comes my favorite part of the ride - the dirt. There's a couple miles of trail I can ride from here to chop more of Kinney Road off my route. I've been on these trails on the mountain bike; this will be the first time on the gravel bike.
Gates Pass Trail runs out to Kinney where I keep going for just over a mile to Hal Gras Road. That links me back to Ironwood Trail and home.
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2 weeks ago
2 weeks ago
Today's ride: 23 miles (37 km)
Total: 177 miles (285 km)
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