Tucson Adventures

March 6th
This morning we picked up Cheryl and Gerry (aka “Geryl”) at the Phoenix airport and drove on to Tucson, with the intention of driving on down to Patagonia and camping. However, just as we were pulling into Tucson, I got a call from my friend Kathy who’s staying down there, saying they were predicting rain tonight and tomorrow, with highs only in the 50’s. Since Tucson looks warm and sunny, and is about 2000 feet lower in elevation, we elected to stay there. We found the very reasonably priced Days Inn where I have stayed before, right on the edge of downtown.

Tonight in the lobby there were 3 teenage girls just dressed to the nines, sparkly high heels, short skimpy dresses, all made up very pretty. I thought… hookers? But they looked so innocent, and so young. Then one of them asked me if this was where the party was? Party, what party? They are there to attend their friend’s Quinceneria. I tell them they are just so beautiful I can hardly help staring. They seem to really like that compliment!

March 7th
The day dawned with clear blue sky, and by the time I was up it was warm enough for just a long-sleeved shirt. Gerry and I located a Starbucks just a few blocks away this morning, while Cheryl contented herself with the hotel breakfast and Nancy went for a walk. By then it was in the high 60’s and off we went for a nice ride on the Rillito River trail. Like most “rivers” around here, it was just a dry bed. To start off with, anyway. After a couple of miles here came a little water creeping down the streambed. Then a bit more, and after 7-8 miles upstream, we had a full river. Perhaps this should’ve been a warning to us....

We rode to the end of the trail, getting sprinkled on just ever so slightly, and fighting a strong headwind at times. When we turned to head back, I checked my thermometer. 64 , then 62, then 57 inside of 5 miles, now raining pretty good. We decided to stop for lunch and wait it out. However, once back on the trail, OMG! Wind! Sideways rain! Sleet! We had to stop and huddle in a doorway at one point; it just wasn’t rideable. By the time we got back to the car the temperature had dropped to 47, and we were riding through half-flooded streets of cold water. But, we were all laughing about it by then… and adventure! Not one any of us wish to repeat, but still…