Road Biking Around Canyon de Chelly Nat'l Monument

Tsaile Peak about 20 miles NW of Canyon de Chelly

This past weekend the temps were expected to get up into the 50's.  I prepared mentally and physically to get on the bike, Gentle Readers of This Blog!  The last time I rode was back in KS when I was home for Christmas - I went out one day for a short ride in the warm sunshine, which real quick turned into cold headwind, so I high-tailed it back to The Little House.  I'd say it got up 50 there in Lawrence for about 30 minutes, and in that 30 I actually felt human again.

KS back for my visit was super frigid cold - colder than up here most of the time....

It has been very cold up here in High Country too.  Lot of snow - then with that Arizona Sun, some melts, but quickly re-freezes.  I have been lucky to not have crashed going back and forth the mile from my trailer to The Library in the ice and stuff, and as you would expect - I put on studded snow tires and the temps raise to the 50's and the snow (well, most of it) melts away

Saturday morning I got all my shit done - laundry, ironed a few work shirts, did dishes, etc as the temp outside rose from like 18, then to 30, then to 45.  About noon I saddled up.  Living in KS and doing brevets there meant I had to get the cold weather gear.  So I had just the right amount of layers, and I was comfortable in the dry cole- and ready to ride out on the Rez.

The Mighty Trek

The car sits unused.  I save the gas.  By the time the car warms up (should I drive to work) which I will report does not warm up, and does not even get hot by the time I would arrive in the parking lot - I could be at work on my bike.  And could come home and have another cup of coffee by the time I walked from the parking lot to my desk.  You heard me say this shit for years, about people I've worked with that live less than 3 miles from their office - and they drive.  This was primarily in Tucson, where the weather is pretty damn nice all the time.

Okay so I am about to roll out on my first adventure.  What I have been told by many Navajo colleagues is that drunk drivers are like loaded guns - and everywhere.  I will not lie that many times riding to work, empties litter the side of the road - even as alcohol is strictly forbidden on the Reservation - and alcohol at the college will end your academic career forever. I was told that you are gone - unceremoniously shown the door - this goes for students, faculty, and staff.

Often when I drive, in the back of my mind, any on-coming car is a drunk driver.  It's just part of the lore and legend here - but a reality that plays out all the time.  What I will do today is only ride from The College to the first two turn-outs in the Monument; Mummy Cave and Massacre Cave.  It should be about 30 or so miles there and back.

Those are the Chuska Mountains.  Tsaile, AZ where I work and live are at the base and to the right a little bit.  I think I'm about ten miles out, Gentle Reader.  I like the road as there's a wide shoulder, and the road is straight.  People can see me on the road from pretty far away.  There is a prevailing head-wind that today was not too bad.

I will tell you that starting out, I had to climb for about five miles - that was very tough on me.  I could hardly breathe, and I don't know how long I can blame that on the altitude: When I did reach the highest point  of my ride I was at 7,200 feet (I actually only climbed about 1300) but who knows?  It was difficult.  At the top of the hill (Navajo told me they know that hill) my ribs hurt and my lungs where beat up.

Then I got some down hill and mostly flat road into the head wind, but really was wanting to get to the pull-out.  I almost thought I may have missed it (sign below) because the next pull-out would be 10 more miles.  I was not really ready for a 50 60 mile ride today!

I've been riding right along side the Canyon.

Little Egypt and I drove out here on her Thanksgiving visit, but by bike, you can really see and get a feel for the land.  I enjoyed this first view as back there is Tsaile Peak, which really dominates the campus!  Slowly, I'm meeting people that know the way to Tsaile Peak, by road that I can bike, and have climbed it - one of the faculty is from Chinle (30 miles from Dine College) and is married into a family that lives in the Canyon.  He will take me there - he also knows the roads and has biked himself from Tsaile to Chinle via the back ways - most white people don't know these roads and are not allowed as you can only enter the Monument with a Navajo Guide.  Well, my new friend knows all the rangers, all the families.  I may have a very rare opportunity to actually ride into the canyon to Chinle - but maybe I should not write about that

There is no one around so it's fun to be on the fast rollers in the park - but you have to watch out for horses.  When Little E and I were here, they were on the road - kind of mean and tough looking horses, and depending if they're used to people, or were once pets - if they are hungry they may come and see if they can get a handout - but be careful because they will stomp over you to get to that chip or candy bar.  Best leave them alone.

I could take (and did) scores of photos of this place!  But my main objective is to this time ride to here, and return.  Get a feel for the course and how much time etc.  See how I improve, and of course, go a bit long next time.  Really for me to ride to the Monument's Visitor's Center one-way is 30 miles.  To continue to the other pull-outs on the other side, and then return back to The College - it will be close to 90 or even 100 miles.

Mummy Cave - these were built about 1000 to 1100 AD, and were occupied for about 200 to 300 years.  During cold winter nights hold up in TS - 39 (my little one-room trailer) I read a book by Campbell Grant, "Canyon de Chelly - Its People and Rock Art"

Next I want to read about the geology so I can understand the miles as they pass by the Mighty Trek and I...

It is still quite a walking dream-like movie I'm living - I mean can you believe I'm actually in this country?  Often I cannot, mes amis - I'm doing this and doing that - typical campus stuff - and then Tsaile Peak strikes me - I'm in this Country.

Heading back now and I have a tailwind - oh so nice.  I can look around a bit more, and see the mountains that I live with.  I'm not sure but there's Buffalo Pass that one day I will attempt - its like Mt. Lemmon but probably a bit more dangerous (drivers going fast - drunks - I've been told Highwaymen) but we'll see.

I want to let you know Gentle Readers of This Blog, that one of the things I did while waiting for the warmest time to ride, was renewing my RUSA Membership - Randonneurs USA.  I am going to get back up on that horse - but more about that later.

11 miles of tailwind and a slight descent means I make really good time heading back!

Okay, I have to make one last really difficult and long climb.  Driving by car I did not notice this, but Tsaile and The College are down there I'd say five to six miles off?  The college is off to the right.  Notice the snow still hanging on there on the right.  Just this brief pause for a photo, and then off I go.

I enjoyed this part because it was fast and I was flying, mes amis!  But I was warned because not long before I arrived, a faculty member crashed at high speed coming back to The College.  Some people said he hit a cow, some say a rock - but probably he may have tried to avoid a cow and then crashed.  I was careful because even though this looks like an okay road in my pictures - it is not the best road, so I think said faculty member probably hit a rut or something and crashed.  Poor man - he has not been heard from and will probably not be returning.

Trailer Park

So there's the trailer park.  On the weekends pretty much everyone is outta here - I guess I don't blame them.  It is a tough place to be, and the Navajo staff that live here probably go see there relatives someplace.  

I'll be out on the road if things are good.  Maybe you''ll see me out there - If you are ever out this way, let me know - we'll go for a ride.  I hope to have my lungs in good working order so you don't drop me!  Be safe and enjoy the roads, and as always, thanks for stopping by the blog!

Cheers!  Bruce

Bike Snow Tires for the Rez

Made in Finland

I took some big chances riding in the ice and snow to work, Gentle Readers of This Blog.  Before leaving for KS (and waiting for the snow to melt off the roads) I looked on the web for some snow tires for the Desert San Campus Bike.  Right away you see Peter White's pages, and that is great because the man and his staff tell it like it is - so after reading Mr. White's pages -- yeah I need to get set up with these.

All the really good tires are made in Finland, and I pretty much had to settle for what I could afford - a good tire made in Taiwan probably would have to suffice - and I'd have to wait until I got back to Lawrence before I could even think about getting some shipped to me.  I needed money for gas to drive home, and a hotel for one night along the way.

I got back to Lawrence with a big ice and snow storm snipping at my heels as you know... but a few days later I did pop into the Local Bike Shop and inquired about the guys there getting me some tires sent to Lawrence.

This is why you should frequent and get you bike shit at the LBS, mes amis - So Joe and Collin say about the same time, "Aren't there a set of 'em down there in basement that nobody ever bought?  Yep been down there for years..." Turns out that they got ordered, never were sold, got put away - oh and maybe one of the guys put them on his bike once that worked there, just to see what they were like.

So Collin brought up the tires from the basement and handed them to me.  "There ya go Bruce.  They've been sitting around down there in basement, kinda dirty and stuff" I saw right away what they were, Gentle Readers - a set of the expensive Made in Finland studded snow tires - and at $100 a piece - even with dust on them, they were the best tires you could buy.  

I insisted that I pay something for them!  "No. Take them..." "Guys I can't do that..."  So they sold them to me at cost (so they said) for $30.00

After this trip to the bike shop, I added one more quick errand to my list of things to do, which was to purchase said LBS guys a case of their favorite beer, and then deliver back at the shop before closing.

Okay so back up here on the Rez I put on the snow tires - and of course we've had sunshine and almost 40 degrees.  The snow has mostly melted but more will come so the Navajo tell me - a lot more.   I am ready!

Heading West on Old Historic Route 66, Texas-New Mexico Border

What I do is buy enough supplies to last me for about a month.  Things out here are expensive, and you got to drive pretty far.  The rule is that the roads are beat to hell and in turn beat you vehicle to shit.  And gas is incredibly expensive.

The oil, gas, and coal companies take billions of dollars worth of energy out of this county, and you would think that the Tribe would subsidize fuel for Tribal Members or something, anything- but that is not the case and here on the Rez the Navajo pay out the ass.  If they charged you and me that price we would be in revolt and some politician would lose their job unless they put some heat on the greedy energy companies.  Not happening here, but I will tell you many want to change that equation for the Navajo People...  The energy companies take all the resources, make huge profits, and leave pollution.  It really doesn't matter if you skin is red or white - money talks, and paying certain people in positions of authority or bookkeeping or what ever - to do nothing - works very well out here.

Okay so I had the SUV packed full of food.  I was making okay time, and the weather was warm for a change - so driving West on I-40, I was inspired by one of the ladies in the New Mexico Rest Stop/Information Center, to drive on part of Old Route 66.

If you stop, ask questions, and listen to locals about where they live - you can get awesome information about places.  The woman I spoke to told me that I could get on the last 20 or so miles of Route 66 - the last part to be open before Interstate 40 shut 66 down.  I did and was rewarded with a feel for The Mother Road - and an idea to bike some of it as well maybe in the future.

Blue Swallow in Tucumcari, New Mexico

Route 66 officially closed in 1984 I think.  Anyway, the route went through Tulsa where I grew up, but already that area of town was run down, and not the best part of town to be in or drive around in - you could get shot.  Route 66, and the old diners and motel on it where eye-sores and ruins.  But now of course all that is having a Renaissance.  Old Historic Route 66 through Tucumcari is awesome!  

Restored in Tucumcari

 I found a great cafe at this place - more like a museum than a motel, its been restored and has "period" decor.  It's basic and no frills - you can see from the prices that it is cheap.  I think the airplane was left over and back in the day would catch a traveler's eye, and they might stop in.  

What caught my eye was the bright neon sign that said "Espresso Bar" and "OPEN"  I don't drink the Methodist Coffee at the hotels and truck stops, mes amis - this was what I wanted and it was the morning and I needed coffee.

Oh yeah, I made my first stop on the two day drive in Shamrock, Texas, and ate at Big Vern's Steak House on Old Route 66 there, so I wanted to see what was up with this stretch.  Really glad I found this place...

Funky and Cheap - from the 1950s of 1960s

 Might stay here next time around.

Good Espresso (Finally! A place with a Barista)

I had my Americano here - and got a few post cards.  Young hip kids, high-school age, were here as it was also an Internet Cafe.  When you probably live in a Podunk, NM shit-hole town, and have pink hair, might appear gay, or just beat to a different drummer, a place like this can be a haven - and who does not like friendly and sexy girls that work there that want to know your name and where you're headed? 

Sunday Morning and need to un-pack

I took my time and photographed some cool places, but don't have time to put in the blog.  Little Egypt's mother (full-blood Navajo) worked as waitress on Route 66 back in the day, and her father was a highway worker (Irish) and worked on dam projects - and when they married, they built and ran a motel and garage in Winslow, AZ.  So Little Egypt loves this kind of stuff.

Speaking of the wife - she loaded me down with stuff she thought I would need - like yet another chair?  And as you can see I packed up and brought the LeMond back to Arizona - for rides up here in the High Country!

I got in Saturday back up to The College - it was getting dark and the last 50 or so miles on the road up to here are pretty scary.  It is dark, all the road signs are "tagged" which means they're spray-painted over with layers of graffiti by Navajo Gang members- so sometimes you don't really know where you are exactly...  The road is rough and the paint faded.  At times, probably because I was so tired, the road seemed to just blend into the rocks and fade all together.

Exhausted, I got back to the trailer (I was not robbed and was not broken into - which I feared) and then I just threw everything into the house.  Stuff that needed to went into the fridge, but soon I crashed and slept like a ton of brinks.

Sunday I unpacked.

Well, here's to 2014, some riding, and some blogging.

Please come by and check out the blog from time-to-time!

Cheers!  Bruce

Have a Happy Christmas!

 

I want to tell you that I got busy and did not finish up this post - Luckily the snow up here at The College melted and I was able to drive off the mountain and start back to Kansas.  My timing was perfect, Gentle Reader of This Blog, as I left AZ for KS on December 19th and arrived in Lawrence two day later with a big snow and ice storm right on my heels!  As soon as I pulled into the driveway of The Little House, the ice and snow started.

 

Not much t really tell you about my stay in Kansas other than it was shit-ass cold - stayed in mostly, went down to Tulsa to see family, oh and one day, it got up to 50 degrees so I went out and rode about 30 miles.  As I was coming back into town, there was a huge strong tail-wind, which was yet another snow storm hitting the plains...

 

Before I left back to KS from the Navajo Reservation, I was in Shiprock, mes amis.  Part of my job will be doing some work here at the Senator John D. Pinto Library - the Senator was one of the famous Navajo Code Talkers, and this library is quite beautiful!

 

Still getting my head around how things work out here at this place, but happy to report that the job is going well, thanks in part to working with good people (for a change)



The Rock with Wings



That's Shiprock - about 7,100 feet.  Sacred to the Navajo.  Might bike out there sometime so stay-tuned to the blog!

Cheers!  Bruce

 



The Way the Navajo Know Them

My commute home

The Navajo tell me that there are too many horses in the High Country.  I know because when I first drove up to The College on narrow and rugged Route 12 from Window Rock, I met a couple of these wild creatures standing defiantly in the road such that I had to stop. 

And when I say wild I mean, long shaggy mane, mud smeared, and “Spirited.”  These were Mustangs – and I have to tell you – to them, I was some kind of uneasy annoyance. They weren’t arrogant so much as – the best I can do is say – dangerously regal.

These were not Gran’ma Indian’s ponies grazing beside the road.  As I rolled down my car window to say something like “shoo!” or “git!”  They stood glaring at me with trigger-ready eyes.  They smelled something about me, sensed I was a strange thing – their look pierced into me as they formed an idea as to what I was – and this same moment I realized I among the Wild Ones!

They bolt and sprint fiercely offended, “Ehh! Be gone from us!”  And then a short distance away glare and stand stiff.

It was scary for a heartbeat, but at the same time exhilarating!  These were not feral horses, because I know – you too would know because this kind of encounter takes hold to tell you!

We rode in a big van provided by The College to the Shiprock Campus, and also provided was Kurt, our driver from the Maintenance Department, to take us the long way to the annual College Christmas party.  I rode shotgun and while people slept, Kurt told me all the names of the mountains the way the Navajo know them. 

The other members of the staff in the van seem very quiet when we see the Wild Ones – they don’t use the Spanish word Mustang.  I am filled with emotion and try to find and feel what was so close when I first met the ponies on the Route 12.

Kurt says so many, too many…  Struggling to live.  It is Winter and the snow is deep.  The ponies are smeared in that red mud – the same that is smeared on the pickups and caked on the souls of The People’s boots.  I think it breaks their hearts as we ride by in the van, to see the ponies bewildered, angry, and starving – longing for the Creator.

 

Cheers,  Bruce

Exploring is Not Boring

Wearing my RUSA Vest just in case

The College is pretty much deserted as it's Fall Break for the students.  A skeleton crew is keeping things going.  I'm getting my head around my position, and settling in okay I think.  It was the weekend and Friday the rains came, and then the snow- I decided I needed to get out of TS - 39 and just embrace this new place where I now live!

The snow was coming down real good, Gentler Reader of This Blog - so to be on the safe side, I wore my Randonneur's vest, which is water-proof and wind-proof, and you can see it for miles.  If I got myself stuck or in trouble, at least I could be spotted.  I also put part of a John Brown Belt (hope I got that right) on the Campus Bike so as not to be mistaken for an Elk or a deer - or anything else by a hunter.

I put this on the bike so I could be seen if got lost too.  Also, the road from the trailer park to my office can get a bit busy with people going to work and school - this makes me more visible.

I was not sure what to expect actually.  The trail starts right by my house, so I thought I'd give it try.  I should be able to ride okay!  While not a mountain bike, The Desert San Campus Bike I would say is like a jeep - it has a triple ring on the front like a mountain bike - shifts great - and fenders should keep me dry and clean.  As long as I just pedal and keep going, I should be alright.

On the The College Fitness Path!

Right away I took off and I was surprised how easily I cut through the three inches of fluffy snow on the fitness path!  I think I averaged about seven mph for the three miles I road.  I just took it easy, mes amis, because I'd not ridden on the path but only knew it was supposed to circle around the main campus.  I couldn't make out my landmarks from the last ride to Tsaile Lake - Tsaile Peak and Black Pinnacle, and really not even The College.

No worries - The College comes into view and I know where I am.  I would say this is about the half-way point in my ride.  This is pretty close to the eastern entrance to the campus.

A few times I was not quite sure which way to go.  The path has black gravel and by just swiping my foot in the snow I could see if I was on it.  Otherwise, thick gooey vermilion mud underneath!

Foothills of the Chuska Mtns

Navajo people are telling me that I'll be able to find roads that lead up into the mountains, and I will find great beauty!  But maybe need to wait for better weather I think.  I'm not quite equipped to venture out in these kinds of conditions until I really know my way around - have the right bike for the job, and gear to survive a few days in snow.

The altitude made this a workout!  I was only out for an hour but that was okay.  My bike clothes keep me surprisingly dry and comfortable.  I should have no problem riding to work in any conditions.  If it was pouring rain and I drove to work, it would take me the same amount of time to walk from the car to the library as it would to ride from TS 39 to the office.

But every day I try something new and try to discover some unseen part of this place that will help me know and belong.

Cheers!  Bruce

Bruce Back On-Line - Starting a New Job

Dear Gentle Reader of This Blog,

I was hired as Systems Librarian at The College, up on the Navajo Reservation.  I started the job on November 11th, and left Lawrence, Kansas November 8th.  While back in Tucson, Little Egypt sent me word about a job up there in Navajo Country, so like all the other scores of jobs I applied for this past year, I hammered out the application, sent in the resume, and waited for the email form-letter type response from some HR Associate saying I was not being considered - if even that...

After a year of applying for jobs as a librarian, I found myself now with two job offers.  One back in Kansas (it would be just a half-time cataloger) and then another from The College.

So, I am preparing to drive back to Kansas from Tucson- I have a phone interview with some great folks from Ottawa University in Ottawa, KS - about 25 miles from Lawrence.  I like them and they seem to like me - believe me after working with some pretty shitty people, mainly in academic libraries, I can pretty much sniff out the losers/the library and their staff that suck.  But this time I was talking to some real professionals - it was a relief!

They wanted me I was pretty sure, because the library director said she wanted to meet me and see if when I met them - we could make something work.  This was a bit different I thought - also the library director was South African, so maybe they do things a bit differently there.  Okay - cool.

For The College job, I started emailing and calling the director - to put out some feelers, and to let him know that I was in Arizona, and if I was being considered as a candidate, I'd come by the college up there and check it out.

Well, people weren't going to be interviewed until late October the Library Director told me.  So I was on my way and thought I really didn't have a chance anyhow.  As I was driving home, almost to Hatch, New Mexico (which means I was a good day's drive into my trip back to KS) I get a call from HR saying that my interview for the position was to be in a few days...

HR people, no matter from what company or what organization - are retarded

I'm at The College as Systems Librarian because the HR Rep from Ottawa University (also retarded) fucked up some paper work - delaying me actually signing the dotted line to work at OU there in Kansas  - I was offered the job back in Arizona - more money, full-time, and a good position for a librarian with my skills - so I accepted the The College job, and sent a quick email to Ottawa saying I changed my mind.

See I had told The College that had they called me just a day earlier, I would have driven up to Tsaile, up in the Four Corners Region, and interviewed.  Now I was back in Kansas and I didn't have the money (I didn't mes amis...) to turn around and make a trip back even if I wanted to - so I declined an interview.  The Library Director worked it out so I could have a phone interview - so what the heck, okay that's good for me.

And while waiting for Ottawa paperwork so I could officially start there, I was offered the job at The College.

Yeah, I had moving adventures - packing my shit up and maxing out my credit cards on hotel and gas - but I made it, Gentle Readers of This Blog! I made it!

My last night in Lawrence, KS - at the bike shop to get spare parts.

The Library, and my new office!

  

Here's my trailer - TS-39, a small but pretty much brand new trailer.  I feel very lucky, and I am grateful to the Nation for this!

The trailer park and TS-39 are just about a mile from the Library, so as you can see, the Desert San Campus Bike is back in service!  The trailer park is for faculty and staff that work at The College, as everyone calls it around here.  Gas, food, everything out here is expensive - and its a long drive.  To save gas, plus since I've spent almost every penny I have to get up here for the job, I bike in to save precious fuel.

As always, click on the photos to get a bigger image of them mes amis.  So here after the first week I went out on the Desert San for a look around - wow is what I said too!

I live about 30 miles from Canyon de Chelly Nat'l Monument.  Tsaile, Arizona is on the east end of the canyon, and Chile, Arizona is on the western side.  The road to Chinle from Tsaile is wide and a good road to bike on.  I'm sure when the time comes you'll see many photos of the canyon, the Visitor's Center - and all the sights in between!

I've brought the Mighty Trek and when I can (snow here now, Gentle Reader) we'll be back on the roads in Arizona!

Okay, so I ride down to Tsaile Lake, about a mile from the campus.  Tsaile is part of some words that The People use to describe the water and the sounds it makes coming down the mountains (Chuska Mtns) which forms the lake.  The lake waters flow down into where starts not far from these photos the eastern boundry of Canyon de Chelly.

That is Tsaile Peak on the left, and over on the right, Black Pinnacle.  It is a cool crisp afternoon as well, mes amis...

Up until about two years ago, a lot of the campus roads were like this!  This road will take you about 20 miles down to part of Canyon de Chelly, but then it ends.  Only a few people live out here, and there is no back road to get to Chinle, or so The People tell me - the problem is, they say, you would have to climb down into the canyon, and then climb out - which is impossible.

The Navajo way of seeing the world, living within it, and with a balance of Harmony, Reverence, and Humility, is something I'm trying to get my head around.  There is Purity on many levels here, and you can feel it in every breath you take - yet every single road sign, stop sign, billboard, everywhere you go - every inch of it - is "tagged" or  taken with blight, or the Other...

What is Beauty?  What is Evil?  What is Wealth?  What is Poverty?  Would you see The People as poor compared to your material wealth?  Or would you see them as The People who live in the Mind of The Creator?

Tsaile Peak reflected in Tsaile Lake...

Another shot of Black Pinnacle - pretty much I'm just trying to get a feel as to where I am - you know it's a very primal thing - like being born again and waking up for the first time ; here I AM - where am I?  That is there, and this is there - that is over there... so I am in the world!

Some Navajo people I work with say, oh yes, you can go up there and get on top - you'll have to do some climbing!

That Arizona Sun, mes amis!  I think approving of my arrival into this country...

This is the fitness trail that you can take around the campus - people will run and walk, later ski in the winter.  This is up closer where my trailer TS 39 is and the campus are situated.

I need to get home as the Sun is going down quickly!  Here's the Library where I work.  We're at 7200 feet and I have to say that I can tell the altitude is having an effect on me - the roads I'm on are a bit hilly and I found myself out of breath often.  The first week I found I got tired quickly.

If by chance you are a reader of this blog, Gentle Reader, and you find yourself out this way, please do stop in and say hello.  I can offer you a place to stay - a floor at least, and of course a hot meal and a place to rest.  If you have your bikes, want to hike, or see The College - I will be happy to be your host.  My hope is that soon I'll know my way around - by bike, car, and by foot - so I can help you in any way I can.

Because my Internet is so slow - or sometimes it doesn't even work.  I'll probably have to write the blog off-line and then from work when I have a bit of time, up load everything.

Cheers!  Bruce

Pane

Cold morning climb on Old 59

I rode the Lawrence Bike Club's Octoginta 2013 - an 80 mile tour of beautiful Fall farm fields and back country roads of Kansas Territory.  Ahh...  Autumn in the saddle!  A bit chilly but I got it right and dressed just right, mes amis!  A constant wind that couldn't make up its mind - which translates to in yer face headwind - kept things on the cool side.

Sue and Natalia at the start on Mass Ave

You know if you've ever participated in El Tour De Tucson, you know that every bloke is just chompin' at the bit to blast off in a mist of testosterone, butterflies, and bravado.  The whole thing is an accident waiting to happen.  The reality is that you end up riding at a snail's pace until you see an opening to get the Hell outta the stampede.  The trouble is that every rider around you has seen their chance to bolt as well --- man its a bit scary.

But here, everybody just chilled out, and I must say to my amazement, rode in a orderly and carefree fashion until we all well out of town.  People were laughing and saying hi to friends.  It was the most sane thing I've ever witnessed.

All the glitter boys got up front - and that's okay.  They too took things nice and easy, and really the ride started out of town with the first big-ass hill and introduction of the wind.  Of course the Wind wins the day!

Pane

I tried to ride with my friends, but I actually found myself able to hang on to a fast front group at a nice easy pace.  On the first climb, and really early in this ride, I got dropped.  Mostly I rode by myself for about 10 miles.  I slowed down to talk with some of the Retro Guys, and then a bunch of us suddenly found ourselves together again - so we went into our club pace line and steamed along to the first controle/SAG.

A great breakfast there put on by Sunflower  -

Some people were just wanting to do the 45 mile, while others were trying to decide about the 80 mile course.  Me I made up my mind to ride the 80, and loaded up with as much of the free stuff as I could - lines for the bathroom get long, and food lines long too - so best if you have to wait your turn for a porta-john you don't have to wait for food - eat while in line.

Natalia thought it was funny that I stashed one of the large bread rolls in my jersey and she wanted a picture.

Mile 50

It was a windy and cold one, Gentle Readers of This Blog - but I feel I rode strong.  After riding 70 miles with Le Tigre in Tucson, I felt 80 would be no problem.  But you know, I worked hard to stay with my group of friends, but they were too fast and I had to back off and ride at my own pace.

I did ride with several people on and off, just to chat and have a friend - which is very much appreciated by everyone at all levels.  Very fast dudes would slow down, talk with me for a bit, then see a chance to roll on.  I did the same.  Really it was windy and there was a chill - and there were many hills!  Why just go out and kill yourself?

There was no traffic on many of these roads, and the colors of the trees were such that it was a vivid show of Fall and the season coming on.  And very serene silence took over for many miles as I could feel and almost hear my heart working to get me up and over the next hill.

Soon a friendly group of about 15 riders came up and I jumped in the pace line - this took me close to the end with only about 10 miles to go.  I was sure glad they showed up as we all talked and laughed and looked at and pointed to deer watching us go past, and wild turkeys nervously peering through patches of Winter Wheat.  They were much faster than me but they weren't in a hurry.

As we got closer to Lawrence, the group got into urban ride mode and they formed up into what seemed a platoon of men and machine and flew away.

I was not far behind, and when we got into Downtown, the group flung apart as people went their way home or to their cars - no medals or awards to give out to the Speedy Weedies - so the ride is done.

I wanted a big bowl of the famous stew promised to all at the end of the ride - like a picnic lunch and dinner in the park.  There were all my friends looking like I felt - tired and glad to be finished - warming themselves in the warm sun that finally came out.

Two bowls of soup later - a few jokes - and many stories about the ride, I rode home back to the Little House to take a two hour nap.  And all was good!

Cheers!  Bruce

Farewell Ride - Owl Head Butte



Interstate 10 and Frontage Rd

Basically I was in Tucson for just over two months, Gentle Readers of This Blog - it started with our plan to evict our piece of shit renter from our house in Dog Mtn.  He was a chronic late-payer - and he pretty much figured that since we were not going to renew his lease, he just wouldn't pay rent.  He came up with some very elaborate lies - had cancer, grandma died, etc etc - and finally he pissed Little Egypt off such that she sent me down to evict him.  I did take him to court - which really surprised him as he felt he had done nothing wrong. "It's not like I'm five months behind on the rent or anything," he said.  He also stated he had never lied to us - when I mentioned the fact that he lied on his application, and that he in fact had seven felony arrest for fraud - that got the ball rolling.

I really leaned on him to pay my the rent he owed so he could get out of going to court and all the shit that would follow.  I gave him a fair chance to pay up before the court date.  We had arranged to meet at 3 pm one afternoon to go over the details - I arrived and waited and waited - I sent him a text at 3:15 saying where are you?  He sent me a text "Just leaving"

That really pissed me off - when he arrived 25 minutes late, I told him to go fuck himself.  Being late for an important appointment - like having not to go to court and have a judgement against you - you would think you'd be on fucking time - well he wasn't.  He ran down the street chasing after me begging me to stop.  It was pathetic.  "I'll have the money!  I'll have the money!" I've heard that one before from the asshole.

So he was out and then I started the process of taking back my place.  He left a suitcase in my garage with many legal documents that also pertained to his ex-girlfriend.  To make a long story short, it painted a picture of two people in deep financial trouble - her with the IRS and him with the courts in several states.  He also had about five collection agencies after him for unpaid bills and debts.  When he got utility bills, he just threw them in the trash.  All the utilities were in collection, and many were in his ex-girlfriend's name - they owed several thousand dollars for electricity, cable, water, trash, etc.

I called one of Tucson's oldest and "most respected" collection agencies.  I took said piece of shit renter to court and got a sizable judgement against him - of course he did not show in court (having been in court many time before and knowing how they worked) the very nice and articulate manager of the collection agency told me flat out, from all the information I had "gathered" on my tenants, that no collection agency would take my case - you'd get no money from these guys and spend more trying to get them than you would ever collect.

In other words, they were such rotten apples that no one would bother -

I spent five weeks cleaning (which wasn't so bad - the fuck kept the house very tidy) and did some touch-up painting.  I fixed the irrigation system and then I had to do some tile work in the kitchen.  I made the house look great inside and out, ready to sell or rent again.

That left me another month to ride the bike around Tucson - which I did mes amis!  Many good rides by myself and with Le Tigre.  All in all, I rode about 350 miles.

Here are some photos of my last ride on my favorite course - the Owl Head Ranch Ride!

Le Tigre is a good sport and drives out to Dog Mtn early Sunday morning.  We fly down Tangerine Rd at high speed with almost no traffic to be seen.  The Sun starts to warm us up as we sail North with the tailwind on the Frontage Rd.  By the time we reach Park Link Rd, we've ridden 25 miles of our 70 mile ride!

We'll have an 18-mile, slightly up-hill ride to Hwy 79.  I love this part of the desert because it is pretty much un-touched by hungry land developers.  It is much like what the first white people saw, starting with Father Kino in 1592.

I have been riding Dr. B's LeMond - the bike fits me perfectly!  The Titanium frame is ever so comfortable too!  Yes we are just enjoying a great ride - and I'm thinking about all the great friends I have and have had here in Tucson.  It is hard to believe that two months has passed so quickly...

The Road

I have to say that with Le T setting a fast pace (with some wind and a climb) we are making rather good time, mes amis!

Already we are at the half way point, at Cattle Tank Rd.  That's what Park Link used to look like when I first rode out here many years ago.  The pavement made it an even more great bike ride.  One thing however, all the new road signs put up in 2010 - and I do mean all of them - are all shot up with bullet holes from shotguns and high-powered rifles.  I hope to never encounter somebody driving out here, probably drinking, and shooting stuff...

Believe it or not, but I am actually 10 pounds lighter.  Well, the battle to slim down continues, Gentle Readers of This Blog - I'm a fattie for sure.  But I have so much fun on the bike!  And I can keep up (mostly) with my fiends - but the weight thing partly runs in my family.  My doctors tell me that I am very fit for 50 year old guy.

This is Hwy 79 and Mt. Lemmon is up ahead.  I must tell you that this stretch of road for me was always very brutal.  Its about five miles of climbing (to the snow line) and then a five mile super fast descent to Hwy 77, which is Oracle Rd.  I will report that with Le Tigre (up ahead of me there in the photo) and with the LeMond, I had no trouble and was very happy I didn't suffer going up.

After the climb, everything else is down-hill back to Dog Mtn - very fast mes amis!  We were soon coasting through Catalina, then Oracle, and then on Tangerine Rd once again!  We rode the 70 miles and our average speed was 15mph - not bad for all the climbing and wind we had.

One thing about Tucson, I had limited access to the web and I kind of neglected the blog - but you guys have seen enough pictures of me enjoying the sunshine!  I will try to keep up and revive the blog - and want to improve the quality of my writing too.  This is just a quick ride report - I'm back in Kansas and doing well - its getting colder and possibly the days to ride may be few and far between!

Cheers!  Bruce