Craig Butler IS Back & AZ Adventures

First the important stuff, Craig Butler, aka "Da Boss" put truth to my earlier post and returned to the peloton on Saturday joining Steve Oxley and others on a Saturday ride.  I talked to a member of the group and asked questions that you all would want to, given the opportunity to talk to this influential member.  First, knowing the guy has the cardio because he has been training and competing in 50 and 100 mile trail runs, I asked how Craig did on the bike,  "This is Butler you know???? was the reply.  So he must be close to where he was.  I asked if it was true that Mark C had gained a bunch of weight.  My source said it was hard to tell since he wore so many layers of clothing it could have hidden a blimp under there but while Mark has ridden several hundred miles on the sled, only 30 on the bike so yes, I was told he looks pudgy.  Sounds like a good group with some new people showing up so that is good.  Meantime, I hiked Tuesday at the Blackett's Ridge fitness hike, rode 62 miles with quite a bit of climbing on Wednesday, headed up Mount Lemmon (above but the actual mountain is out of site, beyond the ridge) on Thursday .....

....but spit the bit about half way up and finished with 31 miles and 3200' of climbing and then.....

....got in with a group for a 50 mile ride that included a climb up "Pistol Hill" which is a well known feature on rides south of Tucson.....

.....and then Saturday decided to tackle "The Window" a 12.6 mile hike with 4900' of climbing that goes up and up to a fantastic arch that overlooks north and south at one of the highest points in the Catalina Mountain range.  More to come on this including almost stepping on a snake, wetting my shorts, etc....