Day 10: Monday 03/14/16, Catalina State Park, Tucson, AZ to East Tucson, AZ

Day 10 distance: 43 miles

Total miles:  514 miles

Elevation Gain:  1061 feet

Map of today's ride: 

I need to start today's blog with a confession. I actually rode today's ride route yesterday but didn't include it in yesterday's blog. Everything in yesterday's blog was factual, but I did not want to get the ride's overall schedule out of sync, so I omitted summarizing the ride. The ride today was on a new route that I proposed and sent to Bubba last December for his consideration. Bubba, always looking for better and safer ride routes, recognized the route I proposed had merit. He then sent it on to Joyce Gillette, Bubba's official route guru, to put the final map and cue sheet together. Last year, we rode through Tucson on bike paths for about 8 miles and on city streets and roads for 35 miles. This year, the ride is on bicycle paths for the first 38 miles and on streets and roads for only the last 4 miles. This would not have been possible a year ago but Tucson recently finished several missing trail links to make this possible. I recognized this since I winter in Tucson and ride these trails all winter. Yesterday I rode the route with two staff members and two other coasters to physically mark the trail for the coasters riding today. Marking the ride route is done at critical junctures every day to remove any question a rider may have on the direction to proceed. Bicycle trails are especially difficult to follow because of the many unmarked junctures normally encountered on these trails. 

This is a photo of the bio-degradable arrows that we installed yesterday. These arrows usually dissipate and are gone within a week. An estimated 70+ of these green arrows were place on today's route.

SAG staffer Hans Meinesz installing a route arrow at an intersection on the bicycle trail.

Yesterday was another beautiful day for a ride. This view looking from the bicycle trail near I-10 at the Tucson Mountains to the NW .

The other four riders who rode the Monday route on Sunday taking pictures from the Canáda Del Oro bicycle trail. From right to left, John Murphy, John Ilinin, Hans Meinesz, and J.T. Turner.

The Loop Bicycle Shop was open and a food cart was available for bicyclists to stop for food and drink. We estimated close to 100 riders were stopped at the time we were there. Too bad the shop is closed Mondays when the other 35 coasters pass by.

The Catalina Mountains as seen from the bike trail when looking to the NE.

The University of Arizona "A" on the mountain at Sentinel Peak. The view from the road on the mountain by the "A" is fantastic and allows the viewer to get an excellent view of the geographical layout of the Tucson area. The bicycle path we rode is in the lower left.

With the exception of only a handful of streets, the bicycle trail passed under the streets. 

If you go under a street, you must come back up!

On the Julian Wash Greenway Trail, the last of the three trails ridden. The bicycle path dips down into a concrete lined "wash" designed to carry the rain water away during the monsoon season. It is a unique spot for a bicycle trail. At this point two "wash" drainages were merging. Note to self: Do not ride this section of the trail during heavy rains!

On Sunday the US Air Force Thunderbirds were putting on an air show. We got to view part of it from the trail.

Typical Julian Wash Greenway Trail view. 

There is a very large solar energy farm along the Julian Wash Greenway Trail.

Hans, John I., John M., and J.T. under a trail arch a few miles before the end of the Julian Wash Greenway Trail. The symbols on the arch represent the Hohokam people that once lived in the area. 

Cheryl took me to the campground we are staying late this afternoon so my "home" visit for the rest of the trip is complete. I will not see Cheryl again until I arrive in San Augustine, Florida on April 25.

 I was very pleased with all the positive feedback about today's route. Apparently it is a keeper!

LINK to Day 10 of my 2015 C2C blog.

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