After last year’s Road Trip Almost Without End, MBH vowed that for our next big trip we would go somewhere and stay. And then she planned another road trip of moving every three days or so but added the wrinkle of flying to different cities to start and finish just to add to the degree of difficulty. I’m looking forward to the next trip in so so many ways, one of which is how do we increase the degree of difficulty?

Today we officially determined that we had too much to do and not enough time in Tucson. We didn’t realize that when we set up the trip so here we are. After considering the options, we decided to head to Mount Lemmon, the 9,000 plus top of which is reached via the Catalina Highway which is a bit of a misnomer since the (top) speed limit is 35mph. It is a stunning drive, and fortunately not popular in mid March so we could go at our own pace which was good except when I was freaked out which only happened a few times on the way back down.

When I say not popular, I mean with cars since there were more than plenty bicycles on the road, and at one point a lady running downhill with her dog. Kind of reminded me of Ireland – narrow, windy, never know what you’ll meet only without the stone walls but instead with mountains. I was very impressed with the cyclists pedaling away like mad, barely moving, at altitude with a relentless climb and the only reward the satisfaction of an outstanding workout and stunning scenery. And, oh yeah, going like a bat out of hell on the downhills. I imagine it’s hours growing up and then minutes going down.

The temperature steadily dropped and the wind increased as we went up, so at each scenic overlook I put on more clothes, and by the time we got to the top and hiked portions of a couple of trails we had a multilayered defense against the cold including hats and gloves. It was so cold we ate lunch in the car, which kind of reminded me of the time we did that in Scotland only the view of the loch was better, at least what we could see when the rain let up.

After a brief recovery at the casita, it was off to dinner with my former coworker Dave Ridyard who lives here. It was great to catch up with Dave and I know how much MBH likes to talk to people, especially people who aren’t me. There is a lot of togetherness on a road trip. A lot.

Today’s ussie (selfie, twoie, dosie, or usie) at a scenic overlook on the road less traveled
We saw a lot of pine trees today. A lot of pine trees.
We saw some snow today, not a lot.
Today’s dose of soothing riparian video.  

Turns out this is the top part of Sabino Creek which forms Sabino canyon and is the creek in yesterday’s videos. It is a small world after all.
Our view at lunch- pretty much the same for both of us except I had a better view of the reflection of my sunglasses
Majesty!
Another trip, another phone booth, this one outside El Charro in downtown Tucson. Sadly, not the kind Clark Kent can change into Superman.
The sun is so bright here I often can’t see what I’m taking a picture of, so somehow I got Kilroy instead of MBH