Clock Out, Click In

Refreshing rain on morning bike ride in Tucson Mountains

In addition to biking to work, I decide to take a brief tour of the Tucson Mountains foothills this morning. As I leave the house, I think "Do I need a rain jacket?" I instantly determine it will be sunny later in the day, and the door is locked, and I really can't be bothered to get the jacket. I ride downtown in remarkably cool weather (for September in Arizona, about 78) and cloud cover.

Dump my backpack of work clothes and lunch at the office and head for Grande Avenue south to Starr Pass Blvd.  I have a flashing red light clipped to my jersey. I turn west on Starr Pass and face a very dark sky ahead. Hmmmm, what was that about a jacket?

Instead of wondering about rain, I focus on climbing ever upwards on Starr Pass Blvd, through the curves of the resort community, past Genser Trail head and its tempting mountain biking, to Players Club Drive. Turn right and enjoy a lovely descent to Anklam. Turn west and head into the ever darkening sky again, and I see rain falling on the upper peaks of the Tucson Mountains.  I wave to a few cyclists flying down Anklam in the opposite direction--early birds!

Then I  feel rain on my arms and hear the pitter patter of drops on my helmet. It was so peaceful and cool, and not pounding like the usual monsoon rain storms. A lovely morning rain in the desert. I figure that as soon as I head east, back toward downtown, I'll ride  right out of the rain anyway.

Turn downhill and east on Speedway, and the rain continues. This part of Speedway can be amazingly quiet, I can hear  the sound of rain hitting the desert grasses, creosote, hard packed dirt.

Looking north, clouds cover a few peaks of the Catalina Mountains, but the sun illuminatesPusch Ridge. The rest of the Tucson Valley spreads out before me, looking not quite awake and slightly shrouded in misty rain.

Is there such a thing as a dry rain? Because although the rain was light and steady, my body and bike don't seem to be getting that wet. Desert evaporation at its best.

I make my way back to Anklam and tried to take a picture near Pima College West. Cell phone photography doesn't work too well with limited light.

Looking west on Anklam Road toward Tucson Mountains on a rainy morning.

I continue my descent into town, past the joggers and walkers finishing their Tumamoc Hill punishment, through Menlo Park, beneath the freeway to my office. I'm happy my wet tires don't slip on crosswalk bricks.

Great to be on my bike, in the desert, in the rain--perfect start to this beautiful day!

If you want to check out this 15-mile ride, here's the map: http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/12965618

Commuting the De Anza Trail 3

 

  
Sahuarita's Sandy Santa Cruz River. 

This morning, I imagine De Anza travelling on the west side of the Santa Cruz River, not the east side designated "auto route" on Mission Road. That would make my commute to work 6 miles longer with a climb up Helmet Peak. Not up for that today.

My commute begins with a cruise down 6th Avenue through Tucson and South Tucson. Bad Odors! Blech, I smell a ginko biloba tree with smashed stinky ginko pods somewhere along the sidewalk. I'm all for pleasant streetscapes, but please, no stinky ginko! Memo to South Tucson: Remove this offensive tree.

I continue south past assorted used car and used tire retaliers, fighting a slight headwind. I pass the road to the airport and vice corner: Tobacco Barn and Desert Diamond Casino. I'm now riding on Nogales Highway.

The Tohono O'odham Nation is next with Lazy Acres Mobile Home Park, a few horses, a few hay bales, and lots of empty space. In 1774, De Anza hired an O'odham translator to guide him through southern Arizona. He paid the translator as much as his Spanish soldiers. It was worth it:  a native named Luis warned Anza in the O'odham language that he might be in danger from the natives near Yuma.

But Yuma is far from here. I parallel the railroad tracks and enjoy the Santa Rita Mountain view.
 
Union Pacific Railroad spur crosses the Nogales Highway. 

As I approach the Town of Sahuarita, I turn west and ride the northern edge of the pecan groves. I turn south into Rancho Sahuarita, bedroom community of happy young families and assorted trails including one called the De Anza Trail.

I turn onto its broken pavement heading south, with pecan groves on my left and open space, also known as "flood plain" on my right. Beyond the green-from-monsoon-rain flood plain, Mexican tile rooftops sprawl across the former Sonoran desert to the copper mine tailings pile. Little did Conquistador De Anza know what the Sonoran desert would become. Copper, cotton, and cattle--the three Cs of Arizona.

 

Front to back: Open space, stucco, copper mine, mountain, sky.

FICO pecan groves along the De Anza Trail in Sahuarita.

Monsoon rains create mud puddles and muddy cracks that spit out baby toads as I pedal past.  The Colorado River Toad is know for its toxic skin and venom that is poisonous to dogs and people. So don't lick them, even if you have heard about the hallucinegenic properties of toad toxin!

 
Click to enlarge; can you see the Colorado River Toads in this picture?

 
Pecan trees use a lot of water, but not as much as copper mines.

The owners of the pecan groves plan to develop "Sahuarita Farms" which is nothing like a farm and a lot like a housing development, but with pleasant Santa Cruz River walking and biking trails.

I ride near an overflow channel of the Santa Cruz River and admire the flowers and mountain scenery.

I continue south and hear a truck coming from behind me. He and his co-pilot dog drive on the bike path instead of on the dirt road.

 
Looking north on the De Anza Trail; a truck driver who can't read.

 I turn west onto a neigborhood street, then the De Anza Trail abruptly turns north. I realize I have been riding on the IMPOSTER De Anza trail. The trail that is circular. De Anza never rode in circles. Conquistadors just don't do that.

I turn south, because it was the path of De Anza, and more importantly, the direction of my office. I ride through the road construction zone without incident, reach my office, take a quick shower and I'm ready for work.

De Anza is everywhere in Sahuarita.

I've ridden about 20 miles in the Conquistador's route on my morning commute. The Santa Cruz River remains dry, but tall green grasses and blooming creosote mark the middle of the Sonoran monsoon season. I'll retrace my route on a humid ride home on this August afternoon.

Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail runs from Nogales, AZ, to San Francisco, CA.

De Anza Trail miles: 20

Total De Anza Trail miles: 34

Total ride miles: 20

When Work Is Play

 

  
Sahuarita Mayor Lynne Skelton leads the way.

Sahuarita’s Mayor arrived by bicycle to the ribbon-cutting ceremony for new bike lanes on La Canada Drive. OK, it was a ceremony for the whole road, but cyclists made the event better, as they always do. And as Communications Coordinator for the Town, I made sure that cyclists were part of the celebration. Cyclists from the Santa Cruz Valley Bicycle Advocacy Committee escorted the Mayor from her home to the ceremony using the new lanes.

A strong tailwind propelled them north to the corner of La Canada and Sahuarita Road where the high school jazz band played among the creosote bushes and palo verde trees. Assorted residents, contractors, Town staff, and dignitaries enjoyed assorted fruits and savories.

 
Hungry cyclists devour savory snacks.

 
Saxaphone at rest with gold sandal.

About 50 people listened as the Mayor emphasized the Town’s commitment to healthy lifestyles:  all new roads built here require sidewalks and bike lanes. Sahuarita has 20 miles of lanes right now, and by the end of this year, we’ll have 30 miles!

The Mayor and other Council Members cut the ribbon, and the Santa Cruz cyclists started their ceremonial ride in the bike lane, headed south into a massive headwind.

I even managed to get a local TV station to cover the road improvements with a SuperPawn commercial: KVOA.

A blustery good day at work!

Bike Commuting Photos--Things to Do on My Way Home

Eat tortas

Purchase tires

Fix airplanes

Enjoy public art

Mow grass

Visit the local military industrial complex 

Spin in the sunset

Fix muffler 

Wait for dinner

Buy liquor

Relax

Visit Paradise