Dawdling in Tucson

 From Benson I rolled into Tucson where I would remain for the next six days.  

Of the two large metropolitan areas of Arizona, I prefer Tucson.  I've stayed here in previous years...  In terms of population is is about a fifth that of the Phoenix metro.  With at a little over 1,000,000 people, it's not small.  But I can comprehend it.  Not New York or Los Angeles.  The main attraction for me is the bicycle system which is called "The Loop".  This is a paved bike trail system which is fairly easy to comprehend.  If I were going to move to a city for cycling, I guess it would be Tucson.  The Loop essentially follows two major river systems (hardly any water!) that go thru Tucson.  There are over 131 miles of paved trails which generally are totally removed from regular vehicular traffic.  For days and days of mindless cycling, you can't beat these.  Also, there are plenty of roads with good bike lanes as well.  So it is easy to cover the whole city on a bike.  Here is an online map of the Loop at the Pima County website.  I have a paper version which I keep in the map sleeve of my handlebar bag.

My Map of the Tucson "Loop"

As with the the desert, it's not about the aesthetics, but rather about the opportunity to cycle in the winter.  So I am very glad for the chance to get out each day and put in my miles and build a base for 2022.  I can only take so much of this desiccated world.  I miss the colors of deep lush green.  But for now, I'm happy...

Tucson has other charms for cyclists..  Mount Lemmon is a good long sustained climb just outside Tucson.  It's a sustained climb. Lance Armstrong used to use this as part of his hill climbing routine when down in the area.  I have a tweaky right knee and so I'm currently foregoing hard long climbs.  But in the past I've done Mt. Evans in Colorado and hope to do it again.  But for now I'm "ill disposed"...

Sabino Canyon is another popular destination for both cyclists and hikers.  If you like to look at a pretty desert canyon (there is water!) this is a good stop.

For the next 5 days, Feb 18-22, I boondocked at the Walmart on the southern end of town.  This specific Supercenter is at 1260 Tucson Marketplace Blvd.  Six nights of free, no-hassle existence.  Thank you Sam Walton!

Buying Propane at Walmart

As I appreciate the "Evil Corporation" from Arkansas, I try to show my gratitude towards it in my own actions.  I shop there for 90% of my groceries.  Also, I try to be careful to keep a low profile at the edge of the it's parking lots.  Periodically, I'll pick up refuse that I happened to encounter in the parking lot and haul it to the garbage cans.  At this particular Walmart in Tucson I ran out of propane and so went into the store and exchanged my bottle for a new one.  Net cost around $18.00.  I think that Walmart's benign attitude to RVers and other travelers is enlightened and I always hope that the beneficiaries don't  neglect nor abuse what I consider is a charitable (mostly) policy.  Walmart has gotten a lot of bad press over the years for 'destroying Main Street'. They've been tough competitors.   But I never heard of local merchants in America letting RVers or travelers stay in their parking lot overnight. They'd more likely have called the cops to have the people cleared out for loitering!  I credit Sam Walton's original decision to leave it alone and let people be. The corporation has continued to live accordingly. Enlightened for as long as it lasts.....

Myself and Other Walmart Guests in the Parking Lot

Each morning, I would attend to my daily rituals. Then I would drive the truck to a specific starting point on the trail by the late morning and run up around 30 miles on the bike.  The next day I would to to a new section, starting where I had stopped the day before and add more miles.

About to Start Another Day on the Trail

Life is Good

When the weather shifted and the temperature dropped and the winds picked up, it was time to go and so I pulled up stakes and headed west again, following the warmer weather to the west. My next stop was the Southwest Corner of Arizona.