on the wagon

It has been far too long since I've ridden to work.
I think the schedule has calmed down enough to start being able
to do that again.
































A quick stop at the gym to shower and change.


















A few shaded blocks to work.




























Then it was, of course, time for the ThNR.




























The Recyler startled a cougar.









Resting after a narrow escape.

car camping

The weather is on the cusp of turning hot. Coach had the idea to go camp with the kids in the Mcdowells before it gets any hotter. Sounded reasonable.

um yea

Adjusting back to life after the AZT is always the hardest part.
It wasn't 5 minutes at work and I would have traded it for headwinds from hell and hobo camps in a heartbeat. Blair had the right idea - tour South to the border and turn around for the AZT300. Some fantastic write ups from Scott, Troy, Mike and Marshal.
Riding the AZT pulls me very strongly in two directions. One direction is to never stop. The other is to get back to my family as soon as possible. So I try to have my cake and eat it too.
Some days I just ride my bike.


















And put things in perspective.




























Catharsis through climbing.














And one thing reigns supreme.

AZT Day 4

Molino to Meligrosa to Le Buzz.
The moon was exceptionally bright the night before.
I only remember because I was so happy when it moved far enough and I was in the shade
of an oak. The next thing I remember is Mountain Blue Jays waking me up. The ride started off proper with a nice cleaning of the stairs to the trail. We streaked down Molino with wide grins. It was nice to be on some trail. Even the climb up the other side didn't dissuade the mood. We saw a hiker and some Canyon Ranch patrons as we turned off the AZT to go down Meligrosa - still one of my favorite trails. Even with a rigid fork and loaded for touring. We bumped and ground our way down to the bottom losing Scott and Dave at the very end. I figured Scott was with Dave and he knew where Le Buzz wuzz. Blair, John and I made our way down towards grub and caffeine. Dave rolled in a short time later, sans Scott and it didn't really register that Scott was still out and more importantly, didn't know where we were. Blair started working the phone but before his work bore fruit, Scott rolled in on sheer clairvoyance.
Maybe he could smell us. With only one more day budgeted away from work and the warm temps. in Tucson we decided to pull the plug a little early and rent a van back to Phoenix.
So ends another AZT trip and talk has already begun for the next one. I can hardly wait.