Updating the Travels in AZ

I have a neighbor who lives across the gully.  Good guy who loves golf so played 9 holes with him (I could not take playing more than that).  Played at Pusch Ridge Golf Course, a very tight layout through the foothills of the Catalinas.  No driving range so I strode to the first tee, having not played but once this year, once last year and.....heel sliced one into the middle of the fairway.  First 4 holes were bogey, bogey, double bogey, double bogey and 1 behind my neighbor.  I tried to put on the havin a good time facade but geesh, losing to my hacker neighbor was tough to take.  But wait, the light went on and went par, par, par, bogey and par for the Ohio victory.  Well, it will be at least another many months before I participate in this activity.

Beth arrived on Thursday and brought Ohio weather with her.  High winds kicked up the sand and obscured the usual clear views and saw clouds too.  Very odd.

A front came through and it rained all day Friday and by the end of it, deposited a very well needed 1"+ of rain in the valley and in the mountains?  Around 20" at the 7000' and higher elevations.  The folks at the ski slope at the top of Mount Lemmon must be thrilled.  Beth and I visited Tubac, an arts and crafts dominated village about a mile south of Tucson, just south of Green Valley.  Well worth the drive and all the goods are made by local artisans.

Pretty cool metal work.

Saturday it remained cloudy and kind of rainy so the hike to the top of Table Mountain was cancelled. Bummer.

Beth and I hiked the Seven Falls trail, thinking the rain would have filled the run-offs but too early and the water was still low.  The following day, the run-off had come off the mountain and I saw images of the creeks flowing strongly.  So, had been taking short hikes during the week, the "50 Year Trail" out of Catalina State Park, Rattlenake Canyon Trail out of Sabino Canyon, rode my bike to Oracle and was ready for the weekend.  After seeing theTable Mountain hike cancelled, I immediately took the last spot available for Sunday's Valentines Peak hike.  Off trail and quite an adventure.  This to come soon.  Also, heard about the Saturday bike ride at which Kenda Janet took some verbal abuse from Steve O and Mark V.  This is unacceptable.  Only I can make fun of the Kendaites.  Those two should kiss their bike shoes every day that they have the good fortune of mingling once a week with someone of such class and good taste as any of the Kendas (please note. no Kenda participated in the preparation, in any way, with these comments).

Looking at the weather forecast and looks like we will have a good chance to have the 3rd annual New Year's bike ride with champagne.