In Tucson: San Xavier Mission

February 7, 2020

Well, I was thinking I wouldn’t post today’s ride, but why stop now? We might as well at least take credit for the miles. And, we wouldn’t want to forget what fun it was to blow the fuses at our new Airbnb this morning, while it was only about 28 degrees out. Apparently it didn’t work well to run two space heaters, the coffee pot and the microwave at the same time, all on the same circuit.

After looking in futility for the circuit breaker box we called our host, who directed us outside. I’m staring at five boxes, and our host is only vaguely familiar with them. Shivering in the freezing morning, I try everything at all reasonable without success, hoping that I’m not blacking out the neighbors in the process. We call the host back, he says help is in the way, and we wait shivering for another ten minutes before finally driving off to the nearest Starbucks. Two hours later we’re back, and help has finally just arrived.

But back to the ride. By eleven it has warmed up enough to hop on the bikes, and we head southwest to San Xavier Del Bac Mission, one of the more impressive historical sights in the basin and a major tourist destination. It’s a ride we’ve taken before, having come this way when we left Tucson three years ago on our ride to Tubac. It was in the middle of a heat wave then, and topped out at 93.

We bike the loop for the first half of the way to the mission, following the east bank of the Santa Cruz River. We’re riding the opposite bank of the river than we followed on our ride to Saguaro NP about two weeks ago. It feels completely different on this bank, impressing us once again with the variety available cycling the various parts of the loop.

A few miles into the ride,I’m arrested by a flash of red crossing the road ahead. I stop of course, thinking at first it could be a male Arizona cardinal; but it’s just another vermillion flycatcher. Perhaps it’s even the same bird I saw last time, just on the other bank of the river.

Progress is slow for the next few miles, as I keep getting distracted and attracted by ground squirrels zipping across the ground on either side. I just get brief looks and then they’re gone, almost like having floaters on your eyes. A frustrating photography subject, almost as bad as birds.

About halfway to the mission this leg of the loop ends at Valencia Boulevard, a busy, unattractive four lane highway that at least has a fine, wide shoulder. Two miles later we turn off onto much smaller Mission Road, a narrow, shoulderless two lane road that carries enough traffic that we wish we were still on Valencia. By the time we make it to the mission, we drop our plans to keep riding further south on this road.

We stop for lunch at the mission, looking around a bit but not a lot because we’re short on time, and then head back toward town. We overshoot our turnoff into town by about five miles, continuing north on the Loop for as far as we can fit in and still get back to the room in time for our dinner reservation.

Fortunately we find the power still on when we get back to our room, and rush through a pair of showers before racing off to dinner at El Charro Cafe, the restaurant we enjoyed earlier. It’s a good thing we made a reservation, too - it’s Gem Week, the town is awash in tourists, and folks have been waiting in line outside at the restaurant for an hour when we arrive to claim our table.

Yup, just another vermillion flycatcher. Ho, hum. Maybe after I see a few dozen of these I’ll get jaded, but not yet.

Southbound on the Loop, this time on the West Bank of the Santa Cruz wash. Last time we were on the east bank trail, visible on the left. It feels quite different on this side.

These little guys (round tailed ground squirrels, according to my expert source) are everywhere. Hard to get a picture of them though - you see them dash across the dirt just before diving in a hole, but they seldom stay put long enough to get a reasonable look at them.

Continuing south on the loop. This is another section that feels different than anywhere else on the network. Great cycling resource.

Looking across the Santa Cruz wash toward Tucson and Mount Lemmon. We see you out there taunting us, big guy. Saturday!

Approaching San Xavier Del Bac Mission. Don’t you think this looks like an attractive cycling road? No? We didn’t either. We planned to continue on for another five or ten miles but decided to turn back at the mission.

Vendors row. Plan ahead, and save room for some fry bread.

On the rise behind the mission. If I have my bearings right here, we’re looking southeast toward the Santa Rita Mountains. Or then again, maybe it’s just Mount Lemmon crowding into the frame again.

There are a lot of sleepy dogs lying around carpeting the plaza at the mission.

Just riding for a change, we stashed the camera and biked straight for the next 20 miles. A mile from home though we found a mural that we couldn’t pass up.

Which one are you, Rocky asks after quickly claiming the jack rabbit for herself. Lovely - I get to choose between being a wart hog or a desert tortoise.

Heart

Comment

Link

Ride stats today: 40 miles,800’; for the tour: 1,660 miles, 78,700’

Today's ride: 40 miles (64 km)
Total: 1,660 miles (2,672 km)

Rate this entry's writing	Heart	8
Comment on this entry	Comment	2

Patrick O'HaraGood luck climbing Lemmon. Hope it's not too cold at the top!
Reply to this comment
4 years ago

Scott AndersonTo Patrick O'HaraThanks! Just leaving now, so check back. We’ve got as fine a day as we could hope for today, with a high on the basin floor of 74. It’s today or not at all - snow in the mountains is forecast for tomorrow.
Reply to this comment
4 years ago