Pima Canyon

February 17, 2025

I needed the easy yoga class this morning. There were no gravity defying poses or handstands, just a slow stretch to work out the knots in my neck and spine. All blissed out, I'm excited about the hike we have planned today with Sue and Mark. We're going back to the Iris Dewhirst Pima Canyon Trail in the Catalina Foothills. Barry and I did a bit of it two years ago and want to see more.

This being my first hike in a couple of months I'm taking it slow. Our friends have been snowbound in Michigan and are just getting back into fighting shape; they seem fine with an easy pace. Barry isn't holding back. He leads us out and marches ahead up the trail. A few times he waits for us to catch up, then charges on again. Eventually he's done waiting and is gone, on a mission.

The rest of us are content to amble up the rocky trail, taking in the mountains and the views over the Tucson valley. The canyon is much drier than on our last visit; there's just a little bit of water in the creek. Leaves flutter in the sun, the Ocotillo are blooming and fruits hang on the cholla. It's a perfect day, partly sunny, not too hot.

A little over two miles in we find a spot in the shade for a break and a snack. After an hour or so Barry texts that he is turning around at mile 3.99. So precise! Rather than wait for him to double back and then chase him down to the end, we decide to start walking back, taking our sweet time.

First Ocotillo blooms I've seen this year

Good vantage point to look out over the city

I like how the sun lights up a halo of needles on the Saguaro

I went to see what kind of flower this is, but it's just some pretty little leaves fluttering in the breeze.

Glad I wore the big hiking boots today, it's a rough trail.

In the end the three of us are happy with our 4.5 mile round trip. Barry feels great about covering 7.98 miles on his first hike in months. Amazing how he feels no pain afterwards.

Barry brought this one back from his trek up the canyon

On the way back to camp we make our sixth visit to Fair Wheel this year to pick up my mountain bike. Barry's recumbent is still there, waiting on a new crank. We're not done with this place yet.

For dinner Mark grills up some salmon and Sue brings over potatoes and salad. I dig out some brownie to make dessert. Over dinner we get the story on their 10-day trek in Machu Picchu last year, a trip I hope to take some day, and pass a chunk of the evening playing Mexican Train.

What I haven't done today, and haven't thought much about until 10:30 after the dishes are done, is ride the bike. Do I let the streak go at 27 days in the saddle? I really hate to lose the daily motivation to keep it going, and I'm just eight days from breaking my record. That's worth going out for a few miles.

I check my lights, front and rear, to find them charged up and ready to go. The roads in the RV park are empty, as is San Joaquin road. The neighborhood dogs have noted my presence and are all barking away. There might be some coyotes yipping out there too which spooks me just a bit so I head back, racking up three miles. The streak lives on.

The Saguaro by our neighbor's trailer is a beacon to find my way back.

Three miles is better than no miles

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Today's ride: 3 miles (5 km)
Total: 585 miles (941 km)

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