Happy New year

More Tucson.

Wed AM dan changed into new  tubeless tires. he needed an air compressor to seat the beads using the high pressure. I called Abegold whom invited me to look him up in Tucson to show me trails. We salvaged the ride day w/ a ride @ Starr Pass. Abe is mid fiftys rides an old turner Burner. He brought along his 2 dogs. Made a loop out into desert. Abe knows all the plants. There are 3 kinds of Cholla, one the branches break off real easy and are loaded w/ spines.

Apparently you use a comb between your body & the cactus and flick it away as 1 piece w/ the spines attached to plant & not you. Lots of it around Tuscon.

Abe left us, Dan drove his dually truck and I rode back to our slice of BLM land. Dan’s wife made plans to join Dan in Phoenix so he packed up yesterday and headed out. I planned on joining the bike club to ride another of their 8ish rides of christmas. The trail head was just down the road from my camp.

Thurs ride was at 4 foot culvert to ride the new trails @ Robles. Bunch of riders showed up. Gaggle headed out. Trails here are mostly broken up sharp, square sided that roll, packs well  rock. Lots of cholla. Group shrank, I stayed w/ last for longest ride. Rubble is what the tread is. 4 foot culvert went underneath Ajo drive, 4 lanes & a median long. Walked bikes in a duck to the light. Long route took us thru the 6 foot culvert that we could ride in. Brian is from Scranton, PA and is visiting his laws here. Left cold & snow.

Drove back to BLM camp & chose another place to camp. Hiked up Snyder hill just above camp spot and took sunset pics. Left before the colors turned on.

Watched Zags school Oklahoma, game went 52 mins long because of a broken back board replacement effort. Went to bed just b4 midnight. At 12 the sky was rent w/ explosions.

Today’s ride was @ Fantasy Island across town. My route took me by airplane storage areas. There are commercial jets stored. Most impressive was the military storage. maybe 50 c-130s taped for protection. Lots of other planes. And then there is the boneyard where the dead planes are stored. Massive, C-5s, c-141s, Mind boggling collection of spent materiel that we paid for.

8ish ride was a hangover ride @ 12:00 except the riders were in fine shape. What a ride on mostly smooth trails literally twisting around in the flat desert, cholla cactus forming turns. I was riding mid chain ring and higher gears when Jim, the organizer passed me that should have not happened. I rode his wheel and noticed he was running his big ring. Wow. I jumped up into mine and away i went. Most fun since I parted w/ my VW Golf GT car years ago. Slight bermed corners counter steer, ghost ride a turn, bring the bike back underneath while spinning out in big power gear. What fun and a great hammer. Made entire loop series for 22 miles. My fun tank started getting light towards the end. Loose rock like alluvial wash rock, rides best w/ power. I muscled up some short hills in a big gear. Kind of like FATS only in the dry desert.

Plan is to join the bike club tomorrow for the 50 year trail and the baby jesus trail. I drove around the E side of town on a gps plotted route. Decided to stay @ Catalina SP for a shower and found place to stay. $15 for a shower & legal quiet campspot.

Another upper 60 degree day w/ shorts. Sunburned my arms. Didn’t use heat last night, did light it for breakfast.

Desert in raw state is all kinds of cactus, creosote bush. Javelina eat the prickly pear. Called stink pig because of smelly  scent glands w/ a unique smell per animal.

2 days ago Dan let me shower in his 5th wheel camper. A first. Too many resources & work to deal w/ a shower. Because I do not have one aboard I just as soon as shower ashore. I didn’t size my van for a shower or head. Tanks are external which means freeze.

I need to plan what to do beyond tomorrow.