The Sandy Days of January

Rincon Moonrise

Tim and I are hiding out in the Arizona Desert for January.  Periodically joined by our fellow Jackson Hole winter escapee, Rob Gowler, we’ve explored the Black Canyon Trail, the Arizona Trail, the 50 Year Trail, Charouleau Gap and every Starbucks from Scottsdale to Tucson.

Chilly-Dipping 2012

Ringing in the New Year with Ann and Scott was the best way to start 2012.  It goes without saying that we had to keep our midnight polar bear swim tradition alive.  This year’s dip in the pool was at a frosty 45 degrees.  It was a good thing that we’d saved that last bottle of champagne.

The Day After, a refreshing New Year's breakfast

Crab cakes and mimosas were the New Year’s morning menu after a big night before.   We followed up this meal with black eye pea chili and spinach salad for our yearly dose of good luck, good health and much wealth.  Not sure what you eat to ring in a new Sailboat.  Tim and I will be munching on everything from kelp to sushi to bring this 2012 dream to life.

Let's Jamboree!

After a festive holiday, it was time to get down to biking business.  We drove to Tucson to begin our month of pedaling.  Verizon hasn’t seemed to become acquainted with Tucson though, so Tim and I spent as much time driving for cell service as we did on the saddle.  While Rob relaxed at primo camping on Pistol Hill with7 bars of ATT “5G”, we drove 40 minutes into town each day for our daily blast of data.

If you’ve not driven in Tucson before everything is at least 20 minutes away.  Mileage is inconsequential.  Whether it’s across town or down the street.  You’re in for at least 20 minutes behind the wheel.  Convinced that there must be the perfect trifecta of biking/free camping/Verizon Bandwidth somewhere in town, Tim and I searched from the top of snow covered Mt. Lemmon to the dales of Vail.

With limited success through the week, we returned to Pistol Hill to meet up with Rob and Mike and celebrate the completion of the Arizona Trail with a 35 mile bike ride in the Arizona Trail Jamboree.

Shuttling to the Jamboree Start

Mike and Rob on chilly Saturday Morning

20 miles into a 35 mile ride. Now that's a rest station.

Relaxing over a Mesquite Grill on Pistol Hill

After great rides on Saturday, we drove into the wilderness once more to set up for the work week. This time we went North and found camping, cell service and riding just north of Catalina at Charouleau Gap.  The trail head’s busy so we may not stay long, but it’s a good stopping point for now.  And the view’s not shabby either.

Catalina Sunset