Bike Riding to the Top

There is a family of Javelinas that appear each night and grovel below my window for whatever they eat.  A day ago, a baby was lost so I herded it toward a wild area where I suspected the parents were hiding and if not, for sure they would be reunited that night.

I have ridden more than usual and after the Kitt Peak climb of Sunday and the Superstition Peak hike, I followed up with a ride up Mount Lemmon to Windy Point at mile 14, rode around the valley another day and on Saturday, headed back to the mountain.  In the parking lot, there was a group of 21 tri-types from New York, in town to train and today to head up the mountain.

On my way out of the parking lot, I just had to take this image of a Polish fast food/take out restaurant.  In Tucson, a Polish restaurant, how neat.  I contacted cycling buddy Eva and asked for a recommendation and will stop soon for a Pierogi, what she recommends.

And so it begins, again.  At mile 0. I reset my Garmin after the 5 mile warm-up to the base and begin.  Being Saturday, the road is swarming with both cyclists (way over 100 today), motorcyclists (they love the curves) and vehicles of all types. I begin at 9:45am with a temp of around 70, a forecast high of 85 and a high on top of 62 degrees.

At  7 Cataracts Vista, around mile 7 I pause at 1:03. Although you are supposed to see seven distinct mountain ranges from this view, I've never counted more than 4-5.  A nice couple ask if I need an energy bar, how nice.

I reach Windy Point Vista at mile 14 in 1:32.  The worst is over and continue on past a variety of turnouts and parking spots to reach the Pallisades at the top of Mount Bigelow where I am surprised the water pump has been reinstalled so water can now be found here.  The climbing continues to just under 21 miles where the road flattens at last and then bends down.  The road then plunges down around a mile prior to a 1-2 mile climb and then descend to the village of Summerhaven.  Rather than head to Summerhaven, I turn around and enjoy the marvelous descent....

....with grand views to the south.  The above is taken around Hoodoo Vista where the road flattens briefly and ....

....I pause to take another pic, here just before Windy Point as a cyclist passes me.  I end the day with 50 miles nad 6100' of climbing.  Well, what to do on Sunday?