 We arrived at the trailhead and encountered this group, wearing matching shirts.  This is my favorite Sedona hike and I do it every time I'm here. The destination is so interesting. We begin our hike with the Enchantment resort on the left. Soon, it disappears as we walk....  .....deeper into the canyon with rock walls towering over us. Beautiful place for sure!  As our route finder, I was somewhat erratic as I had trouble finding the side trail to our destination but with help, we arrived at the bottom of it. This pic does a terrible job of showing the steepness of the ramp to enter the subway. It's steep!  I have the obligatory pic taken inside the subway and so too....  ....Jackie. Next on the itinerary is a kind of risky....  ....move to the opposite side and then....  ....round a corner with some decent exposure.  What the.....Jackie encountered a woman who had brought her yoga mat. That was a first for me.  We visited some Indian ruins and took a few minutes to enjoy the awesome scenery.  A final look around and then we headed back, finishing with 6.5 miles. Good first day.
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 Two century plants bending under the weight of their flowers so most homeowners cut them about now. The weight of the plant endangers people and cars so....  ....and a small coyote moving through our complex.  And later, javelins trot across the road leading to Jackies.  And some rain! but....  ....lightening ignited a wildfire. It did so in a couple of places and each was extinguished with personnel injected into the area, planes dropping fire retardant and, fortunately....  ....more rain!!!  With that excitement, we head to Sedona!
 And so, back into the canyon I ride. It's such a treasure to ride up and coast down what is.....  ....kind of a hazardous descent with 9 bridge crossings, each at roughly a 90 degree left or right angle to the road.  This is one of the tamer crossings.  A ping pong buddy, Jim, invited me to his condo in Mexico for fishing. He catches some large fish and his descriptions of the fishing are intriguing but I can see myself doing that for a day but more than that....not sure.  Jackie and I take the Sabino Canyon shuttle to the top of the road where we get out and....  ascend from the turnaround point for the shuttle.  In the above pic, you can see the switchbacks we followed. OK, the earliest shuttle was 9am on this very hot day so not an ideal time to start the hike, about 9:30.  A yoga pose which I have no idea how any body can do that. We miscalculated how much water we would consume as we....  ....followed the trail. We eventually reunited with the road and waited for the shuttle to arrive where we were each given a cold bottle of water. That tasted great and I mentally beat myself up for having not brought sufficient water!
 Many century plants who have pushed their life ending stalk, high into the sky, have been cut by home owners because of the danger of it falling on people or property. Some still stand as we await the flowers to open. On the right is a desert willow which produces beautiful flowers during summer.  Out the door by 6 for a ride that included, again, thee beautiful ascent of Sabino Canyon Road.  Saguaros come in all shapes and sizes!  While road runners are seen everywhere, it's rare to have the opportunity to grab my camera and take a pic before they scoot.  From Jackie's patio, a grand view of Table Mountain and as the sun sets.......  ....the colors change dramatically.  We headed to AZ's version of wine country where Las Milicas is an awesome addition to the area's wineries.  The patio has a good view of what I discovered is known as "The Biscuit". A hiking friend told me there is a route to he top.
 I was unaware of the existence of this chapel but Jackie clued me into it. It's named "Mary Undoer of Knots" but was closed so we could not enter.  We drove down the mountain but stopped at Rose Canyon Lake. Again, having this resource, so different and so close is fabulous.  I asked Jackie to pose.  Oh my gosh, many people fishing and catching trout.  A beautiful view!  Alas, we reach Windy Point Vista and return home. Note the formation on the left that kinda resembled a face, looking to the west.
 We awaken to the sound of a turkey, strolling past Mount Lemmon Lodge.  We drive to the Marshall Gulch trailhead a short distance from the lodge. There we discover a group of SAR vehicles. A man has been missing for a couple of days so they are searching for him. Sadly, while we hiked, his body was discovered. Unsure the cause of death.  It's kind of a steep climb to a ridge but it's nice to hike in shade and greenery. I'll soon be in Ohio and overwhelmed by all the green but for now, it's a pleasant change.  Hey! Long time hiking buddy, Scarlett with new husband, Peter. That she caught and passed us made a favorable impression on her as she commented how surprised she was that she caught me. LOL, I simply said there were extenuating circumstances.  At the ridge, there is this neat boulder. Yes, it is possible to climb the sloped rock on the left and jump to the larger one and I seem to remember doing that but not today!  We continue our loop which simply continues to climb. For some reason, I thought once at the ridge it was downhill but not even close. In the meantime, the sound of a helicopter, searching for the missing hiker was ever present and distant views emerged. We paused on the trail and just then.....  ....a black rattlesnake began buzzing, at our feet. They blend in so well with the surroundings and I had been looking for one as we hiked but I still missed this guy. He decided my skinny ankle would not yield enough protein so he declined to bite and slithered away.  The Santa Ritas in the distance with Mount Wrightson the high point, Thimble Peak and Blackett's Ridge in the mid ground and of course Mount Lemmon on which we were hiking.  I noticed a cleft in a nearby boulder so scrambled up it with Jackie coming too.  Twenty+ years since the Aspen Fire and plenty of evidence still exists of that tragic fire. We finished with a little over 4 miles and throughly enjoyed our time on the mountain.
 Earlier and earlier I'm forced to get out and so too, any other people doing outdoor activities.  My beloved Catalinas with Cathedral Rock prominent on the right side.  We drive up Mount Lemmon where....  ....the temperature is around 25 degrees cooler. What a benefit, to have this one hour drive from me.  We do a short, 2 mile hike around the top, with a longer hike planned for tomorrow.  What great.....  ....views throughout.  In the distance, a fire lookout. Seems like drones would do a better job but probably a good reason not to use them.  Always a curious site, water being pumped, deposited in this bathtub sized item and then flowing down canyon. Hikers dip directly from the tub but I think I'd filter the water, first.
 Hacienda del Sol Resort claims the best views in Tucson. Very nice but not hardly the best.  We had a drink and appetizer while watching the sun's influence wane.  Next morning, I was out the door early as after a very mild May and early June, summer has definitely arrived. The overnight lows are still modest but that will change soon. While coasting down Sabino Canyon Road.....  ....this guy was crossing the road. Visitors stay way back but I know the strike range of it and somewhat calmly, walk up and push it along with my bike tire. Lots of cyclist zooming by so didn't want it to get run over.  St Phillip Plaza to meet friends and listen to some good music. Jackie enjoys music and sang in a local band for awhile.  One of my favorite views, about a mile from home. Entering Ventana Canyon Resort, I arrive here in a few pedal strokes.  We visit Catalina State Park for a hike to what I hope is running falls.  A dead saguaro between two healthy ones.  A slab of rock containing grinding holes. I see these frequently in various canyons where the Indians could reach higher elevations during the summer.  Alas, the the slope that can have spectacular water fall, was dry. Still, this was a shady and cool spot so we enjoyed our time there.
 Around the corner of the Catalinas I drove to the Linda Vista trailhead to do a first time hike with....  ....my new friend. She definitely checked out on the trail. A strong hiker so that's nice. Not necessary but it's a plus, given my history.  What would cause the right angle of the saguaro arm where all others are vertical. Returning from Oro Valley....  ......a Ferrari passed me! The Catalina Foothills, just north of Tucson, is fairly affluent and there is talk of it becoming its own entity, separating from the terribly managed Tucson.  A spectacular sunset from the patio of Dove Mountain Brewing Co where a band was playing, rather well.  So, she checked out on the hike (not that it really matters I say again) and next, since she had a nice road bike, we went for a ride. Wow, she's the real deal on the bike too.  We paused for a selfie and by coincidence, really, the background was maybe symbolic?  Separately, I did a short hike in Sabino Canyon following a brief shower. Love the mountain views with clouds. Water is still trickling over the dam but not for long as an extended period of dry weather is settling in.
 .....Jack, a wonderful wheaten terrier, who enjoys action movies. Following my dog sitting duty, my plan was to drive to Ohio for the summer but......  ....I met her. Jackie checks all my boxes and some boxes have been checked that I had not previously considered, lol.  She visited me and met Jack. She is very fit and active which, unfortunately, is not very common in my age range. She had a good job in health care as an administrator but also owned a yoga studio in Chicago. Naturally.....  ....she wanted to teach me, which explains the yellow mat behind her, where I am not, having tapped out. Next is pilates, about which I am somewhat anxious. I delayed my trip to Ohio until early July. Finding someone like this is so, so rare, I've got to spend the appropriate time together to solidify the relationship. It's been a month and things are going really well.  A century plant! They live 10-25 years and then, in their final year, send up a stalk that can reach 30'. Beautiful yellow flowers, known as "death flowers" appear and then the plant dies.  Riding up Sabino Canyon. The weather has been about perfect so I'm riding and hiking a bunch but really glad a huge void in my life, otherwise, has been filled.  A gorgeous, desert scene, following some rain.  I've had an unusual spate of flats. This one caused by a short piece of metal that I was unable to grasp and remove while on the route. Fortunately, I was about a mile from home so just pushed the bike and pliers did the job.
 The Texas Ranger bushes are spectacular this year as I look at the Catalinas and wonder, will I ever visit the "Window" again? It's in the jumble of rocks on the right. 4000' of elevation gain to get up there and 12 miles. Physically, I can do it but damn, the hiking pain.....  And a surge of repaving continues around here.  This was a rectangular piece of grass that has been removed and replaced with trees and bushes. I'm ok with it, dog walkers, not so much.  I went on a short hike in Sabino Canyon and as usual, there were several people, looking at the mountains and trying to recreate the beauty. Some of the efforts are very good, others not so much.  I again pass an abandoned mine and just then, another hiker comes along and I ask if she has seen the inside. Saying no, I shine a light and.....  .....the end is near. Maybe 30' in length so the park never bothered barricading it.  I encounter another artist on my return.  The sun rises on another day and I think, a new chapter has opened in my life. It's about time. More to come.
 Our glorious sunrises!  Another ride up Sabino Canyon Road to one of my favorite overlooks.  Well! My condo building is being painted. Part of the process is of course, covering the windows and doors. It's odd how having these covered at night is different from being denied views during the day. My neighbors above me asked me to bring a knife and cut around the door frame so they could get out.  The painting begins and they did a great job!  More cactus are blooming as I ride a route that includes....  .....this spectacular view from the parking lot at Ventana Canyon Resort.  I'd passed a climb, dozens of times but never really tempted to ride because it appeared steep and so it was. Pitches of 18% but once on top, there was an enjoyable winding road to follow.  Project time! My friend Amy had a handyman quote on a variety of projects but after looking at the list, I thought I could do three of the four so volunteered. I'm always up for anything that involves wood and a saw. An hour later.....  ......not bad, if I do say so myself.
 A healthy saguaro and....  ....more great views of our surrounding mountains.  After several days of hiking and cycling, I opted for the spa, lol. Feels great to sit in the swirling water.  The saguaros are blooming! Each of those flowers represents a potential new arm but statically , few ever make it.  With El Camino Rinconaado Now repaved, it adds to the growing inventory of newly paved roads off Redington Road. Nice!  An off day but still gotta do something so back to Sabino Canyon for a short hike. With the snowbirds departed, finding a parking spot is a little easier but this place is always busy.  Some water still flowing over the dam but most of it in the creek, "flows" below ground.  How bout that! My daughter Olivia at St. Andrews in Scotland. She went with friends for a week then solo for another week.  The oleanders are blooming. Supposedly, the leaves are poisonous to dogs although why a dog would munch on them is a mystery.  Outside my condo, the grass has been stripped to be replaced with stones, trees and bushes. A couple of roadrunners converged to pick up convenient bug meals.
 I was invited to a pot luck at the clubhouse, where I live. Hmmmm, the only option was to go to the deli department at my nearby grocery store and ask, "What would you take?" and so, macaroni salad won.  Doing a group ride that included a good climb through Saguaro East NP. If it appears I'm struggling, I am.  Beautiful sunrise, again.  My favorite road, Woodland, there's always something interesting to see. Side by side, a field that's not watered vs.....  ....one that is. Quite a contrast. Hard to believe but water is plentiful beneath our region.  Horse riding is so prevalent around here.  The repaving effort in the area continues. This road is a pretty good climb with a kick at the end.  And it rains, briefly.  The oddest design feature at the ground floor condo patios where I live. Narrow openings on the floor. Southern AZ....what could go wrong with the creatures that slither and scamper around? I took a 1x8, measured carefully and cut the length of the board, adjusted as needed and fit it into the opening. That was too much work so I thought the mass of a brick would work and so a line of them now blocks the other opening.  Then, I received a notice that all the buildings were to be repainted with a warning to remove any objects from the patio walls. Neighbors who have returned to Ohio asked me to take care of their patio so I climbed over the patio wall and took out the above. I'm a good neighbor!
 Now that the early mornings are warmer, I can get into and out of Sabino Canyon before the deadline, for cyclists, of 9am  A novel way of walking a dog. She said it took about 2 weeks to train the dog and the strap is not attached to the handlebar but to a hook on her clothing, so the dog won't yank the handlebar.  More visits to Saguaro East NP where there is a new, covered patio to take a break and enjoy the views.  Another good example of a blooming ocotillo.  The bougainvillea were not subjected to a hard freeze this winter and are thriving this spring.  On a very windy day, it's nice that cycling visitors have the option of hiking, here parked at Sabino Canyon.  It was too windy for me too so I hiked and saw muted views due to dust in the air.  Water still flowing over the Sabino dam but probably not for much longer.
 Participated in a group ride that includes a nasty climb at the end of Reddington Road.  Another unexpected surprise! Newly paved El Camino Rincondo. It's a 1 mile climb off Reddington. Not sure why these lightly traveled roads are getting so much attention. Paul MacCartney has a home nearby but doubt that's the cause. Anyway, glad to see so much repaving.  I've been taking evening walks and once again, love the changing color as the sun sets.  Wait what??? This too is being repaved? A horribly conditioned road that connects two sections of the bike trail. Amazing!  The ocotillos are blooming.  During a hike at Sabino Canyon, I passed the above feature. A lot of crevices and rocks so I thought maybe I'd see a rattler but alas, none were to be found. Probably a good thing.  The sun rises on another fabulous day.
 I've added Saguaro East NP to my cycling schedule at least once and usually twice a week. On this day, the vehicle traffic was unusually high but it's all one way on this 8 mile loop, so it could be worse.  I escorted a friend on her first visit to Mount Lemmon. She had a great time stopping at the views and doing some rock climbing.  We stopped at Ski Valley and ate on the porch of the Iron Door Restaurant. Still some snow on north facing slopes but won't last for than a few more day. The ski runs never opened this winter. Just not enough snow and with water restrictions, can't make it either.  Higher we drove and now more snow as we headed to a parking area below the observatory where we.....  ....went on a short hike but with.....  ....amazing views.  Plenty of evidence of forest management where downed trees and limbs are gathered and burned to eliminate fuel for a potential future fire.  Yeah, the raw beauty of this place is awesome!
 Another spotty bought of "winter" rain with some wind, so I go for a short hike.  Beautiful southern Arizona. I'll miss it when in Ohio.  And so the clouds clear out as my hike finishes. Then....  ....my friend Amy asks if I can watch Jack for a few hours and oh, do something about a Lemmon tree. Unfortunately, the tree was victim to a faulty watering system last summer and it died but then, like a coiled spring, it leapt back to life....as a bush.....  ....I identified the two, strongest stalks, cut away the rest. Doesn't look like much but eventually the strongest of the two can be identified and the other removed.  As I was wondering around her house, I noted the garage floor was a mess so with a mop and bucket, cleaned it and also swept the back patio. Then.....  ....it was time to entertain Jack and no better way then watch an action movie. He reacts to noise, especially guns and explosions and dances around. It's pretty fun to watch! My enjoyable obligation completed....  ....the next morning I jump in with the Cactus Club group ride!
 I've upped my weekly mileage. Partly to be in better shape when I return to Ohio for a summer stay but also to support weight loss. My weight had drifted higher over the last couple of years and so, I've lost 5 pounds and plan another 4. That 5 pounds has made a huge difference on my bike. Cyclists spend hundreds of dollars to shave a few grams from a component so 5 pounds is significant.  I have no idea what causes a saguaro to shape like this.  The friend for whom I did the tree trimming had a set of golf clubs. I checked them out and noted the grips were in pretty bad shape and she should get them replaced. Only later did it dawn on me that I'd replaced thousands of grips, I could probably do it, save her a lot of money and probably I'd enjoy it. I had none of the right tools but figured I could do it anyway so ordered grips, grip tape and solvent. It took awhile but I removed the old grips and applied the tape.  Then, grasping the shaft in my left hand (having a vise would have been ideal), I poured solvent over the tape, quickly grabbed the grip and forced it over and down the shaft. I did it!  I never and never will, tire of our mountain views. I'll miss this when in Ohio.  I've been taking evening walks, just because and also enjoy the sunset effect on west facing mountains.  The numerous cycling camps and clubs have been enjoying our ideal weather.  After a long absence, I've been doing the 8 mile loop through Saguaro East NP. It's a wonderful mix of short, steep climbs and long climbs, following a circuitous course. Good pavement and vehicle traffic is all one way.
 The sun rises on a new day, casting light on the foothills then....  ....I eagerly had accepted a task to trim low hanging branches from trees bordering a friend's driveway. Me, on a ladder with a saw....what could go wrong?  Fortunately, nothing as I assembled a good size pile of branches.  Not bad if I say so myself. I so rarely get to do this type of work while in AZ so I was pleased that I suffered no ill effects such as back pain or other potential issues. Can't wait to get to Ohio and do a lot of this.  A rain event came through and deposited snow on the mountain but alas, still not enough to open the ski runs and at this point, given the forecast, not going to happen until next year.
We've been blessed with some amazing views, this at dawn and.... .....this from my patio at sunset.
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