Agua Caliente / Gates Pass

February 18, 2025

Today’s ride counts as a disappointment, especially after yesterday’s excellent luck with the birds. It’s a long way out to Agua Caliente, but we’re running out of days down here and today is the best shot at going out again. Unfortunately there aren’t many birds around this time but I’m really excited when I see this small bird on the same red-leafed shrub that a hummingbird was just hovering over - a gnatcatcher, one of the birds I was coming out here specifically for.

When I get home though it’s a letdown to see it’s just another boring verdin. Nice ride though, and weather conditions were nearly as good as yesterday’s.

After rarely seeing or hearing a mockingbird, suddenly there’s one every time I go out. They must be just arriving from their winter quarters.

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While I’m biking 41 miles to score exactly zero new birds, Rachael’s off walking into the foothills of the Tucson Mountains again, this time up toward Gates Pass, and hoping she’ll be lucky enough to see another deer. Which she does, plus the rest of its family of five. That plus a crested saguaro qualifies as an outstanding hike in her book even though she ran into another hiker who asked if she was turning back already. She let him know she didn’t start at the trailhead and would put in 13 miles in total. He was duly impressed. Definitely worth celebrating later at dinner.

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For dinner tonight we go down to Perche’ No again, and in a mood to celebrate. Sadly we can’t celebrate my 100th bird of the year and I’m still stuck at 99. But there are a few other things worth raising a glass to:

This excellent Belgian white ale, one I’ll have to shop around for;
Completion of my 10th birthday ride
Reduction of my steroid dosage
Five deer!
A crested saguaro!
Completion of a thousand miles on the bike! Amazing to contemplate, after being stuck at 9 for six weeks.
And this amazing pistachio ricotta cheesecake, good enough to warrant another trip back before we head north.

Athletic Belgian white ale, my favorite of their offerings so far.

Rachael reeled in her salmon again, but I was happier with my sweet and sour penne with chicken.

Wow! Remembered the camera just in time.

Today's ride: 41 miles (66 km)
Total: 1,006 miles (1,619 km)

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