The Rita Road loop / Basqueria!

February 8, 2025

I’m still gradually stretching out my rides, working my way up to the big one when I try to bike my age in miles again for I think the sixth or seventh year in a row. Today I’m aimed southeast along Julian Wah to the southeast bend in the loop at Rita Road, after which I’ll return home via the Pantano Wash, then, Rillito, then mountain. I promise Rocky I’ll be home by five, leaving us plenty of time to get downtown for our dinner date at six.

Looking northwest across the Kemp basin to the Tucson Mountains.

It looks like the Snowy egret has caught onto something a bit too big to swallow. It looks like that cormorant would lend a beak if he could.

Rolling on, with Julian Wash just ahead.

The miles come easily as I bike southeast up Julian Wash to the high point of the entire Loop at the junction with Rita Road. I’m really feeling good, actually - I’m gradually getting strength back, my vision is good, and I’m even doing much better with the glare. I’m not finding myself needing to slow way down or even stop at the entrance to an overpass to let my eyes adjust to the darkness. The new prescription glasses really help, and I think the brain is gradually doing better at ignoring whatever nonsense the right eye tosses in.

#91, Black-throated sparrow, hiding on the railing of the fence. I couldn’t get the Canon turned around to zoom in before he flew off, but I’m sure we’ll do better before leaving town in four weeks.

Nearing the end of Julian Wash. the junction with Rita Road is just a mile further on.

Cactus wren, another bird that places itself prominently and loudly announces itself. Like phainopeplas and Gila woodpeckers, they’re easy to spot once you’ve got an ear out for them.

Lunch break. I enjoy my Pb sandwich and take in the view of the Rincon mountains from Schoonover Point.

I stop for a break at Schoonover Park, which just a week ago felt like a few miles further than I was ready for but now almost comes too soon. Really, if I’d gotten started a couple of hours and kept moving I’m pretty sure I could have done my birthday ride this week. I’ll start watching for the right day, but it won’t be long now.

Southbound now, there’s a small additional rise on the short inroad connection on Rita Road before quickly returning to the loop - and then it’s all gradually downhill for the next twenty miles, all the way to Mountain Avenue.

I take my time because I’ve got the time to take, allowing myself time for another look along Sellarole Road and then again wandering off into the saguaros alongside Harrison.

Harris’s antelope squirrel, identifiable by the lateral white stripe along its side.

The wren was perched at the top of this tall saguaro when I first saw him - it’s what lured me off the trail - but I didn’t think to take a shot that included the whole cactus before he flew off.

The drop down Harrison is always impressive but needs music. We’ll have to return soon with rhe videographer along.

Soon after stopping for that cactus wren and some towhees hopping around through the cholla I looked at the clock and realized I was in trouble. Fortunately it was still mostly downhill the rest of the way, but with an unexpectedly strong headwind it took some work and diligence to arrive home berfore the hour. Barely.

This shot counts as a minor disappointment. I wa looking forward to captioning it as Moon and starling, but the bird flew off too soon.

Rachael decided to give her feet a break and take one for the Team today, walking down by Fair Wheel Bikes to do the laundry and then over to Safeway to restock the larder. She’s bored, half-famished and anxious that I’ll be late when I finally roll in at 4:55, a whole five minutes sooner than promised so there’s still plenty of time for me to shower and change before we head off to the nearest streetcar stop.

We arrive fashionably late at 6:05, and join the Branhams at the bar while we wait for Wendy and her rock star, long-haul cycling son Kurt to show up five minutes or so later. Kurt is down from the far north - Edmonton, which he lovingly describes as the Texas of the north. It’s -29 when he left home a few days ago so there hasn’t been much biking in his life for a few months. Today is really the first time he’s been on the bike for awhile, which doesn’t stop him from biking up Mount Lemmon all the way to pavement’s end so he can claim his Giant Cookie at the Mount Lemmon Cookie Cabin in Summerhaven. Tough guy!

And they’re a few minutes late because Kurt has the misfortune of flattening about three miles from Wendy’s condo where she’s staying. While we wait, the four of us are lined up at the bar waiting for a quorum because the house won’t let us take our reserved table until they know enough of us will show. While we wait Rachael takes a break from knowing on my wrist to order a quick shrimp pincho.

The meal, the visit and the venue are all great - and thanks to Janice for planning it out. It’s the first time Wendy and the Branhams have met, so while they’re getting to know each other at one end of the table we enjoy getting to know her personable and impressive son. While he’s shoveling all the food into his mouth he can get his hands on he tells us he was down in Oregon this summer to ride the Oregon Desert Trail across the high desert, and of his plan to race down the Great divide from Jasper to the Mexican border next summer. He goes on to describe how wonderful the cycling was when he lived in Tasmania and Perth in the past.

Too soon, the time comes to break up. The musicians who’ve been playing flamenco in the background are packing up to leave and the place is emptying out so we take our cue and rush off to catch the streetcar home. Too late, I see the open cigar box at their feet that Rachael could have dropped her pile of quarters into.

Thanks to Janice who remembered to draft our server into photography duties so we have a shot of the whole half dozen of us.

Sorry, guys. Your music was great, we should have paid more attention.

I always like getting a shot of Rachael when she’s cross-dressing. My Pendletons really look better on her.

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Today's ride: 48 miles (77 km)
Total: 725 miles (1,167 km)

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Wendy BeaudoinThanks for the nice comments, Scott. We really enjoyed the get-together with everyone, and my “rock star son” is thrilled to be included in the Anderson’s blog. He’s heard me talk about you, so he considered it an honour to meet you, and to hear about some of your adventures in person.
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1 week ago

Scott AndersonTo Wendy BeaudoinThe honor was all ours. It was really a nice evening but I’m so glad he came along. Now if I can just talk Rachael into giving Perth a try one of these winters.
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1 week ago

Janice BranhamGood grief. I missed the part about Kurt's trip up Mount Lemmon being the first ride after a dry spell. I'm still working up the nerve to take on that one.
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1 week ago