The Leprechaun of Saguaro National Park

Chasing Dave Glasgow a.k.a The Leprechaun of Saguaro National Park.

Dave Glasgow has been a friend of mine for quite a long time, Gentle Readers of This Blog. Always an enigma to me, really the only way to describe this über-man is that he is charming, fearless, insightful, fierce, and fleet--he claims to be 105 years old. Ha ha we all laugh--but sometimes I wonder.

If you ever have ridden the 9 mile Scenic Drive in Saguaro National Park--or driven it--you will have no doubt encountered this endearing fellow--my friend Dave!

At the Visitors Center unloading the bikes.

Since I don't have a lot of time this week while I'm visiting, Dave and I drive out to the Park. We'll do three of four loops around the Scenic Drive, and Dave will meet up with friends passing through the Ramada, just inside the entrance of the Park. If you don't see him cruising up and down the fast rollers, past the saguaro--then you may meet him as he stops for water in the Ramada.

The Leprechaun is the totem name from his Furnace Creek 508 ride a few years ago.

Trying to keep up with The Road Warrior.

Saguaro Nat'l Park's East Side Loop is a good place to train. There's not much traffic, and the road is one-way. There's hills, fast rollers, and of course since this is one of God's Favorite spots on Earth--the scenery is fantastic! If you're driving, I would say take a chance to walk around on one of the foot paths or trails, Gentle Reader. This is an ancient, pristine place--and it often gently nudges you into self-reflection.

From the road, looking out over the Rincon Mtn Range, Southeast of Tucson.

Ocotillo Cactus are changing colors--their leaves turn a beautiful yellow and orange, but just for a short time in the Fall.

Every time I'm in the Park there's always something different, always some new sight revealed--as I said, this is a special place, and often when I've been out here, the temps have been murder! Into and way over 100! Today it is calm and cool--everything seems sleepy and dreamy.

The Regal Saguaro--they seem to be talking about things as they raise their arms to the Sun for warmth.

We're on the part of the loop that goes to the picnic area--fast rollers and fun!

Dave rockets ahead of me like a missile!

Here I go making chase!

Dave, and Mt. Lemmon in the background.

The fast two-way part of the Park Loop to the Picnic Area--once again, ahead of us are the Rincon Mts.

Dave Peashock, a good friend of ours--he had a flat and we've stopped to help out. But Dave is okay and about on his way--we'll meet him later at the Ramada. Dave Peashock is a fellow Randonneur, and he and I also crewed for our friend Gerry Goode when he did the 508 Furnace Creek as well.

The Ramada just inside the entrance of Saguaro Nat'l Park.

There's water here to refill your bottles--and this is a rest stop for riders going on to Pistol Hill, Colossal Cave, and other places around the boundary of the Park. Riders of all levels you can meet here and get information about their favorite rides around the city. We met some cyclists visiting from Quebec, and I was able to tell them about riding Saguaro National Park West, McCain Loop, and the Desert Museum.

Bon jour la bon jour!

Thanks for stopping by the blog, Gentle Reader.

Cheers! Bruce

Tucson Thanksgiving -- Time to Ride

We arrive at Saguaro National Park!

Dave Glasgow and I will do some miles in Saguaro National Park, East this beautiful Thanksgiving Day, 2010. I drive from Dog Mtn and meet at Dave's house over by the U of A, and then we drive out the rest of the way together. That saves all the driving for me, plus we both get in on Dave's Park Pass.


My coach and mentor, Dave Glasgow...

Dave crashed on the Cochise County Cycling Classic--or Cochise as we all call it--back on October 9th. At the time he told me he suffered four broken ribs, but today he's told me besides the ribs, he ruptured his spleen and bruised his remaining kidney. The other kidney he donated to a family member a few years ago. I did not know the extent of his injuries--riding with a ruptured spleen is pretty dangerous, mes amis--if he were to have another spill it would be life-threatening. So we're going to take it easy.


Visitor's Center at Saguaro Nat'l Park East.

For now there's only cyclists entering the Park which is good because there won't be any car traffic. Not that I mind, its just that people visiting in cars will stop often and drive slow so to take in the sites. You need to keep an eye open so you don't suddenly run into someone from behind while they're stopped.


Dave in the Park, Mt. Lemmon off in the background.

It was pretty cold this morning in Tucson, Arizona, Gentle Readers of This Blog! I'm glad I brought the leg warmers. As we did a few laps around the 8 Mile Loop, and then picnic area, we warmed up a bit--however there was a cool breeze for us.


Happy Thanksgiving!


The Beauty of the Desert.

Even though its only about 50 degrees, Saguaro Nat'l Park is still beautiful and well worth the trip this morning. The air is cool and clean, and Winter is now in charge--but taking it easy I'd say--not so cold that we're feeling uncomfortable.


Dave feels good this morning.

We set a strong pace and enjoy the rollers the 8 Mile Loop has to offer. There's lots of riders in the Park and we chat with everyone--locals out for an extra few days of riding, and visitors riding here for the first time. Its a good day to be on the bike!


America's Best Idea--The National Parks... That's something I'm very thankful for this lovely Thanksgiving Day!


The Rincon Mountain Range, and the saguaro cactus sunning themselves in the late morning warm sunshine.


Mt. Lemmon, my old friend--I bet it's a bit cold up there today!


Saguaro--this large one is by the side of the road is probably quite old as it has several arms. The City of Tucson is off in the distance, about 30 miles as the crow flys.


Rex, a friend of Dave's stops by to say hello, ask Dave how he's been since the spill.

We see so many of Dave's friends today--I would say we were invited to at least five Thanksgiving Dinners! Dave is feeling better and soon we're on our way to a his favorite Chinese Restaurant for spicy hot vegetarian food for a late lunch. I can't do spicy or hot--just had Sesame Chicken, which is a specialty at Old Peking where we had our food.

Cheers! Bruce

4th of July Ride in Saguaro Nat'l Park -- West

Le Tigre on Gates Pass Rd.

Saguaro National Park has an East section and a West section. When I used to live out near the East Park, I would be out there every Saturday morning without fail. Since I live in Northwest Tucson now, riding out at the West Park is where you'll find me most weekends.



There are mostly the old established Tucson Mountains neighborhoods that border the Saguaro Nat'l Park, West.

For several years, I rode the 45 mile loop with John and Kathy and Wing every Sunday morning, Gentle Readers of This Blog--through the scenic, quiet and hilly neighborhoods off Sweetwater Rd, and then on the Gates Pass for the morning climb through the saguaros.

Le Tigre heading West with me on Sweetwater, and then on Gates Pass Rd.

We take Sweetwater off Silver Bell Rd. We've met at 6:30 a.m. at Silver Bell and Grant at the Safeway Store. Ryan can bike there fairly quickly, and I just get on the Freeway quick and I'm right there. Silver Bell Rd is pretty rough and narrow--and the local people can sometimes be impatient. Sweetwater offers us a bit less traffic and smooth rollers.

It's 4th of July! I'm wearing Red White and Blue.

I'll tell you that it was quite muggy this morning, mes amis, and the steep rollers made us sweat--and we weren't even to Gates Pass yet!

Get Ready to climb!

Gates Pass was a mule team road trekked by Thomas Gates in the 1880's.

We'll make the steady climb on Gates Pass Rd up to and just around the two peaks you see there on the left, and then do the hard part of the climb up to the pull out on the top where there's a small rest area. The best thing to do is to ride early in the morning. Local people, again, tend to drive fast, and be rather impatient. The road is narrow and there will be no shoulder for you to ride on, so you have to take the lane. There's many a blind curve as well--but early in the mornings most of the haters are sacked out, and we'll be long gone before they make their runs for cigarettes and beer...

This is the small pullout on the top of Gates Pass.

Tucson's way down there in the valley. I tell Le Tigre that this is part of Susan's 300 KM Brevet Course, and right about here a Randonneur has 100 miles on his or her legs.

Down into Tucson Mtn Park, Old Tucson Studios, The Desert Museum, and Saguaro Nat'l Park!

If you like fast descents, then this downhill is for you--and it could be you last bike ride too--don't get killed because you can easily reach speeds of 50 to 60 mph on the descent. I do not even attempt to go that fast. If you go off the road, there's nothing but sharp rocks and boulders to slow you down, plus all vegetation is spiny and wicked-sharp. My max is usually 40 mph going down--this morning only 37 mph...

We're riding on McCain Loop.

McCain Loop has fast rollers.

We did not see The Wolf today--I was saddened by that as I had promised Le Tigre we would site Him. No matter; Ride in Peace!

On Sandario Rd, heading North.

I will tell you that we had a strong tail wind for our ride down Sandario Rd, mes amis. Sandario Rd is affectionately know by a lot of us as "Red Neck Road" but this morning no Red Necks were in abundance. We just simply flew down the road like jet fighters! Most of this stretch we rode 27 to 30 mph--Sweet!

Enjoying a tail wind, mes amis!

On the way up and over Twin Peaks Pass.

One last section of road that has always been rough and tough, has been Twin Peaks Rd. But this morning we discovered it newly re-paved. That was of little comfort, Gentle Reader of This Blog, as now Le Tigre and I found ourselves riding in a moderate head wind.

We went up and over the pass in due time and we felt strong. Normally about here is when John, Kathy, Wing, and I would pull into the Starbucks for a nice finish to our ride--but Ryan and I had to still ride several miles down Silver Bell Rd to Grant Rd. Those miles were very tough, as Silver Bell Rd is still in pretty bad shape. Those of you that have ridden El Tour in years past know that this last stretch of Silver Bell beats the Hell out of you--plus there's always a fierce headwind--which Le Tigre and I took turns fighting--and the road is narrow and full of holes, and by now at this time in the morning, the local Red Necks are up and speeding through.

Like a lot of roads in Tucson, they were once country roads, but there's been so much development that these old roads see tons more traffic. They're crumbling and they're hard to repair and re-pave as they are major arteries for the rural people to get to the freeway and into town.

Very slowly the repairs are being made--so I would say that the sections that are not there yet and are some of Tucson's most dangerous and punishing. El Tour moved to the I-10 Frontage Rd now, and no longer will we have to take our chances the last 20 miles on roads worse than cobble stones!

Parade Rest.

Back at Grant and Silver Bell after the ride, we saw these two Firefighters on grocery detail, and they happily showed this Gentleman's grandson the Fire Truck.

I hope you all had a Happy 4th of July!

Cheers! Bruce

Sunday Ride in the Nat'l Park

This morning we ride in Saguaro National Park, East.

I meet Dave Glasgow at his place, over by the UofA, and then we drive on over to the Nat'l Park. I meet him at his house as if I drive the whole way out the to park, it's like almost a 100 mile trip for me. By riding with Dave, we save on the entrance fee.

Friendly Park Ranger at the entrance--Welcome Cyclists!

Le Tigre lives about 10 miles or so from the Park, and he joins us for a few laps as well.

It's been a while since I've been out here in the Park--the pavement improvements have just been finished, and special attention was payed to have a good surface for bikes. I'm glad that the Park Service had finally gotten some much needed stimulus money to pay for the Saguaro Nat'l Park's roads and exhibits, mes amis.

One of Dave's many friends, Mike is on the road with us as well. The 9 mile loop in the Park is challenging and all riders, what ever fitness level, will enjoy the beauty. Best to start out early because it's starting to get hot.

Le Tigre will do a few loops with us and then he'll head back home.

Dave is recovering well from a separated shoulder from a spill on the bike several months ago. His tire blew out and he crashed here in the Park.

The Rincon Mtn Range is the back-drop for the ride this morning.

We ride two loops on the 9 mile course, and stop in the Park's Ramada to get some water. Ryan will need to ride back to his house before the Sunday morning traffic picks up here in Tucson.

The Ramada has shade, cool water, and a place to rest. It's just outside the Park, so there's no entrance fee. Many riders meet here for a quick water re-fill, a chance to use the restroom, etc before either heading home, or riding further up Old Spanish Trail to Colossal Cave and Pistol Hill.

Ryan and Dave at the Ramada, Saguaro National Park East.

Dave and I ride two more laps in the Park.

Dave, like Alan, knows how the heart-rate monitor works for training, and Dave sets a pace for me and coaches me on ways to improve my riding and workouts--and I am working quite hard. Dave and Le Tigre are light and fast, and I'm a Clydesdale--there are some challenging climbs in Saguaro Nat'l Park, Gentle Readers of This Blog, and I'm always pushing myself to the limit.

There are also some fun rollers and fast descents. Today we didn't see Rangers with speed radar, so we were riding a bit faster than normal. The new pavement is oh so smooth as well! Just some of the best riding I'm done all summer!

The 9 mile scenic drive is only a small part of the larger Park, which is vast and incredibly breath-taking. I truly love it out here, Gentle Reader.

Dave Glasgow is one of the legendary Ultra Riders in the United States--Super Randonneur, Ultra Cyclist of the Year, Furnace Creek 508, Fireweed 400, are just a few of the ultra rides Dave has under his belt--and he's a great friend!

I'm climbing the hard part of the course, at about he half-way point, mes amis--but I took a quick photo for you because, although the climb is challenging and it's very hot, you seem to get encouragement from the stately saguaro, which stand silently in the summer sun.

Dave met some friends and does another lap, but I sit this one out at the Ramada. I'm tired, I've ridden hard, and it was a long week. It was also that time of day when everyone was headed for home, and no traffic was in the park. I enjoyed the solitude and the stillness of the desert. As I sat quietly, all the birds and lizards came back by the Ramada to get a drink, and cool off in the shade.

I took this pictures of the saguaro that are near the Visitors Center for you.

The flowers have wilted and now the fruit begins to ripen. The Indians still use long poles to knock the fruit off to make jams and other foods.

A close up of saguaro cactus for you. Click on the image to see why you don't want to get too close to these gentle giants. The spines are very sharp!

Mt Lemmon will be nice and cool at the top--it's about 100 degrees now in the late morning.

Time to head for home, and rest during the heat of the day.

Cheers! Bruce