It will be a short drive to Phoenix, so we take our time packing up the trailer. We are curious if Phoenix will be as enjoyable as Tuscon has been for cycling. Traveling to Phoenix made me wonder how the city got it’s name. Knowing the story of the Phoenix from ancient Egyption history. The bird lived for 500 years then rose from it’s funeral pyre.  So the story goes, A fellow on the committee to name the city was an interesting man, his name “Lord” Darrell Duppa. He had a rowdy lifestyle, he suffered from serious alcoholism.  An embarrassment to his relatives, he was banished to Arizona. It was said “Lord” Duppa was fluent in seven languages. This drove many people crazy because he enjoyed using all seven in the same paragraph. When it came his time to speak, he gave a speech about the Phoenix and compared it to the ancient civilization that lived in the area many years before. His name, Phoenix won hands down

Jim caught up with his cousin Pam. An evening with her and we went to the cemetery to see Uncle Russell’s, his wife and cousin Marsha’s site. Their ashes are in the legs and seat of the bench. We had never seen this before. What’s   a great way to visit family.

Today we got up hopped on our bikes and went to get our feet wet on the trail system here. There are canals all through the city. Running along those canals are bike/multiuse trails. We find  streets are marked with cycling lanes. This is going to be fun. The day before we went to Landry’s Bike Shop, a great friend we have known for a long time owns these shops. We picked up a Bike Ways map and we were ready to roll.

We’re riding one of the canals called the Arizona. We came into this area in Scottsdale with these sculptures in the canal. This sculpture was by an artist, Bruno Munro. We did not realize it, but we would be seeing more of his creations at the Botanical Gardens. This sculpture is made of fishing rods with the line being string light. It must be beautiful at night.

Where the sculptures were, we found this one of Pony Express riders. At the end of the ride we get a nice 30 mile ride in. It was in the high 80’s and very comfortable. There is something to be said about low humidity.

I had seen an advertisement for the Sonoran Lights at the Botanical gardens. Jim and I drove over to the gardens after taking the pups to a really cool dog park. We thought we would be able to just walk in and get tickets. Oh no they were sold out plus you could not get a parking place just to get out and walk up to buy tickets.                                               The next day we knew we could get to the gardens by bike. Down through the campus and following the bike lanes and paths to the gardens. Looking up we saw people up in one of the big holes in the cliffs. We got there and were able to get tickets for Friday night. We decided to have lunch at the resturant called Gertrude’s. It was quite tasty and with all the cactus around it was a pleasant surrounding. On the way out I spotted the pigeons nesting in the cactus. We headed out and wandered the streets and bike paths. Where we are located it is right near the campus for ASU. Again we are impressed with how well the autos, bikes, and pedestrians live together. Another 30 miles in and we are home. It is amazing how the day slips by. This was a great day on the bike. Tomorrow we are going to ride out to the Superstition Mountains.

Today will be a great day to ride we should get 50 miles in by the time we get home. Riding to the Superstition Mountains! It’s going to be a hot one, up in the 90’s. Drinking lots of water and as our great friend Chris Kegel says, “Don’t waste shade.” At some point the road name turned from Brown Road to Lost Dutchman Blvd. There are quite a few stories about why the mountains are called Superstition. It is fun to read them. All of them center around gold. The Apaches say it is protected by a great Thunder God. Gold found and lost with many losing their lives in the process as you ride up you start to wonder “just where Is all that gold?” We had just a little bit to go to get to 25 miles out. We ran out of paved road, just shy of it. We went back to a bar/grill at Apache Junction. As a cyclist really would not recommend it. They were not the friendliest we have encountered in the past five months we have been on the road. It was nice ride back and we both road really well. When we get home we will go out to dinner and see the Sonoran Lights.

We didn’t know what to expect,the lights were amazing. They worked the lights up a mountainside. As well as wandering through the maze of cactus. These strings of light were constantly changing colors. We kept finding ourselves mesmerized by them. The dome and the columns were filled with water with filiments of lights floating in them. All the while we are walking there was a band playing, which they have on Friday nights. The theme for the band was all English bands. A most enjoyable evening.

This is Saturday and after riding everyday we decided to go drive into the Superstition Mountains. The pups are going as well. We’ll let them take a dip in Canyon Lake. The drive is long and twisty and with Spring Break happening traffic was quite heavy. That didn’t keep us from enjoying the view. Tonight dinner with Angie and Tom.

We drove on to Tortilla Flats. Tortilla Flat is the last surviving stagecoach stop along the Apache Trail. It is the smallest community in Arizona with a U.S.Post offices and a voter’s precinct . The population is 6. In it’s day it was a camp for prospectors. Then a freight camp for the construction of the Roosevelt Dam. Now it is pretty much a tourist place with some pretty good food. I could not resist the door of the bathroom stall.

Angie is back home and we touched base with her and Tom. We were so excited to get with them. We made plans to go back to the Gardens on the following Monday. In the meantime we will go to their house for dinner and catching up. They have a lovely home. The best place is out by their fireplace.

Did I say the cycling here is awesome.Today we ride along the Grand Canal. The TownLake has been drained. They are installing a new hydrolic Dam. They had a rubber Dam. Unfortunately it failed because they did not let water run over the top to prevent the rubber from rotting. The architecture along the canal is beautiful. It was a great day for a 40 mile bike exploration.

Golly another day of cycling. Riding the Arizona trail the other direction we encounter some guys that were on their way to the Arizona Falls and a bicycle and dog friendly brew pub. The Falls are man made.  They were pretty neat.

However the brew pub was awesome. O.H.O.S. Means Outrageous Hometown Social Outpost. Bike friendly, dog friendly. And off the path. How cool is that. They have several locations and the food hit the spot. A 30 mile day and we are home and will meet up with Angie and Tom for dinner at Gertrude’s and to visit the Sonoran Lights with them.

Dinner was was on the patio the temperature was perfect and a big full moon was coming up.

It was a wonderful evening. This time it was not a crowded and walking the gardens was pleasant. We sat in front of a Chihuly glass sculpture and had our photo taken. Jim and I saw the Chihuly sculptures at the Arboretum in Dallas a few years ago they are quite dramatic and beautiful.

A “cool” front came through and the winds for the next 2 days were fierce. We chose to do projects and get some things done around the trailer. We did go into Mesa and had lunch. This newspaper guy on his bike with his dog running along was right down the sidewalk from the cafe. A nice relaxing time.

Angie and Tom have a cabin just north of Payson which is about hour and a half north of Phoenix. We were there  back in 1989. They invited us up for the weekend. We loaded up the pups and headed out. The road was winding with ups and downs as we drove up into higher elevations. This is the last of the Saguaros. Out in the desert where they don’t get the water like those in the city. It is said they get their first arm after 100 years. Whew, that’s along time to stand in one place.

They really do live at the top of the hill. Their cabin is cozy and warm. We can’t wait to settle in.

But first a quick hike through the hills. Off in the distance is the south rim of Mathis Point. We won’t make it there this year. When we went last time this snow was deep and very windy. We dropped down on a ledge. There  was no snow and it was so warm we took our jackets off and had a picnic. The view from there is breathtaking.

Being at the cabin you automatically wind down. It’s ok just to sit and talk or find a sunny place to read. Even a nap is an ok activity. Buddy is their pup dog.

We went to their local hangout for a cocktail then back to the cabin for dinner. Angie is a marvelous cook and makes everything seem so easy. Their cabin has an open floor plan so the kitchen is an easy place to hangout.

Angie and Tom have made some wonderful changes in the cabin. They have several places where you can enjoy a fire or the sun.

Happy Easter! It’s a beautiful day here, not a cloud in the sky. Off to breakfast at Sheila’s Creekside Restaurant. Back at the cabin we get ourselves ready for the trip back to Phoenix. It’s been a special weekend. We hope to catch up with them this summer in Traveres City.

The trip back to Phoenix the different warning signs were entertaining in themselves.

This evening we are taking Pam to dinner at a restaurant called the Salt Cellar. It has been around since 1972. What you see in the photo is the entrance. The resturant is totally unground. Pam has never been there and it across the street from where she lives. Really a  wonderful dinner and Pam is a great lady to spend time with. After dinner and back to Pam’s we say our good byes and will see her this summer in SouthHaven Michigan for the Hoyt family reunion.  Tomorrow we head out for Flagstaff Arizona. That will get us north of Sedona where will visit a cycling buddy from the Tour De France trips we’ve done and also we will be close to the Grand Canyon. The only thing really on our minds right now is they are predicting snow showers  and around 28 degree temperatures. So much for staying out of the cold weather. The good thing about traveling with your home is you can make adjustments if you decide to.