February 13, 2025
Scottsdale and the Arizona Falls
For day two of our Phoenix junket we'll ride around Scottsdale on partly familiar terrain. We are meeting Paula and Bill at Herberger Park to have a look at Arizona Falls, a 20-foot waterfall billed as a can't-miss attraction.
Arizona Falls was a popular spot as far back as 1884 when it was formed as part of the Arizona Canal. People came to picnic by the cooling mist of the falls. The first hydroelectric power plant in Phoenix was built here in 1902.
After decades of disuse and deterioration the site was rebuilt as a power station and a public art project that opened in 2003. There's more to see here than what we did, like poetry about water in the region and old hydroelectric gears; something to devote a little more time to on a future visit.
Other than a couple miles of packed-dirt at the start, the trails are paved today. We ride through Old Town Scottsdale past bright splashes of scarlet Bougainvillea.
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In Old Town Scottsdale we cross the Soleri Bridge and Plaza over the Arizona Canal. Designed by the Italian artist Paolo Soleri, the plaza is both a solar calendar and pedestrian passageway.
Two pairs of pylons anchor the space, the taller pair rising to 64 feet. A cluster of Soleri's beautiful Cosanti bronze bells hang from the lower towers. Large earth-cast panels with totemic symbols surround the pylons.
Between the pylons, a six inch gap allows a shaft of light and shadow to stream through. The shadow varies in length with the time of year. It's longest at noon on the winter solstice, and fades to nothing on the summer solstice. While I'd love to linger in this space and see what happens at noon today, I better hustle and catch up with my companions.
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North of Old Town I recognize scenes on the path from our Via Linda ride here two years ago. The swoopy bike trail meanders around ponds and fancy homes with mountains rising in the background. We don't have to wait at many street crossings; attractive underpasses keep things moving.
The skies are just starting to cloud up when we get back to PHX Beer Co. for lunch. While we wait for our food I look up the location of the water horse sculptures I remember seeing on the ride two years ago. They're not far from the path back to the car, on Indian Bend Wash.
Just before we leave, rain starts to fall so we decide to skip the side trip to see the water horses. It's a short shower though, over by the time we finish our ride, so we drive up back for another look.
February is the rainy season in Scottsdale. There's a 60 percent chance for rain all day tomorrow. That's better than the last time I looked when it was an 80 percent chance. Still, I might have to get wet to keep the ride streak going.
Today's ride: 29 miles (47 km)
Total: 540 miles (869 km)
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