 .....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.
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 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.
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