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  Topic Name: Bikepacking AZT south on: October 13, 2008, 08:39:02 AM
ScottM
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« on: October 13, 2008, 08:39:02 AM »

Paula and I spent a morning gathering gear and packing.  We left from the house, using a combination of city bus and pedal power to head southeast to the Arizona Trail.













Soon we were on the trail and the race was on.  It was 93 degrees and we had ice cream and burritos on the mind.  The desert spoon fresh air cafe lies about 0.1 miles off the AZT.







But it closes at four, not five, as we thought.  With some sweet talking, the grumpy caretaker was convinced to sell us 4 ice cream bars, and confectionery bliss ensued.







We proceeded on the trail, with some 350 oz of H2O on board. 

A wonderful evening for cycling.  As if there are poor evenings for cycling!







I had a camp spot in mind, but when we got there Paula would have none of it. 

"I'm having too much fun... and I never get to night ride!"

"You got it, hottie!"

We flipped on our headlamps, gliding down the sinuous trail.  Through ocotillo and saguaro we dodged, trying to keep our eyes off the fading light over the Tucson mountains.

We stopped to observe reflective spiders, declared freaky with their robotic/mechanical movements.







Railroad tracks and interstate 10 preclude a quiet place to camp for while, so we just kept rolling, enjoying the cool air and smooth trail.







A beautifully still, warm night had us up early, anxious to gobble up more narrow trail.



















After many a mile of bikepacker friendly singletrack, courtesy of the aztrail-build.org effort, we were forced onto the highway for about 5 miles.  There's still a missing link of trail.

As on any rural highway, the passing distance and speed of cars varies.  After observing a small car with an Obama sticker slow down and give us a wide berth, we started joking that we could tell voting preferences based on passing behavior. 

So, we started the bikepacking.net election pollster service.  I'm sad to report that McCain is winning in the redneck Friday morning scenic highway 83 demographic.







We merged quickly onto new-to-me AZT on the Las Colinas segment.







Unfortunately a certain someone from the Forest Service exerted his influence on some pieces of this trail, and the result is a few fall line sections and wheel grabbing "knicks."







Mostly a great ride, though, and knee high grasses and flowers were enough to take our minds off any misgivings of trail alignment.







Oak Tree Canyon was less sandy than usual.  For whatever reason, going south on this section of AZT is always more enjoyable for me.







Some bonerbrain (me) left our bottle of denatured alcohol on his work bench.  So, we had pasta, oatmeal and hot chocolate, but no way to cook it.  We brought extra food, so we were fine, but the caretakers at Kentucky Camp were kind enough to offer to boil some water for us.

We were the only visitors they had all day, so we chatted as we ate pasta and watched the clouds float by.  They were an older couple, and hardcore Obama supporters -- perhaps there is hope to turn the tide in the aforementioned demographic.

It was a very pleasant break from the labors of the trail.  Paula had successfully navigated some 50 miles of desert terrain, with all manner of sharpness--both vegetative and geologic--waiting to injure her.  But it was the porch of the caretakers' trailer that almost did her in.  She stepped onto what she thought was a step, but it was a little table that was barely able to keep itself up.  A big gash on her shin and a slight possibility of a fracture was the result.

But she kept riding.







Waist high flowers and nearly invisible trail were not so kind to Paula's shin.  I suggested leg warmers for protection.







Time for some cloud magic...







Lights...







Camera...







Action!







I live for evenings like this. 

Clouds that provide dramatic eruptions of color also signal changing weather.  But with warm clothes and a tent there's nothing to worry about, no destination for the night.  Freedom.

Paula's hobo stove (campfire + rocks) cooked us some oatmeal for dinner.  As I set up the tent I watched lightning cracking to the south.







The wind blew most of the night, and some rain fell.  But it was still an above average night for camp sleep.

We tried to time the breaking of camp with a lull in the rain, but it was impossible.  The clouds were in a hurry and there was no predicting it.  From sprinkle to downpour in 30 seconds.







But strangely warm, so it was no big deal. 

Enough of a deal for us to abandon plans of exploring Hog Canyon or riding anymore AZT (it goes into the wilderness anyway).  We detoured off to the town of Sonoita, and every look back at the mountains we had descended from confirmed our decision.







Dark f-ing clouds.







Contrasted by bright fields of flowers.  It was still a fine day to be out on bike.

While staring towards Patagonia, watching clouds, a woman came over and offered us a ride to town.  One look at the strength and direction of the wind was all I needed.  Sure!

We hopped in and 10 minutes later we were wandering around the Patagonia arts fair, petting llamas and looking at desert photography.  In the sun!







We left town, now heading north on the AZT 300 route.







Salero Road is a pleasant cycle.  We saw two vehicles in the space of as many hours.  Scenic, quiet and a solid road surface.  It was a good day for those who like to watch clouds.

(I do...)







We were attacked from several sides by sudden storms.  Visibility would drop to 40 feet without warning.

I haven't been dumped on like this since living in Colorado. 







Yet, it was still warm.  So just a bit uncomfortable at being wet.







We descended into Tumacocori, through interesting new terrain. 

You know it's been a good trip when not rain, not direct headwind, not hunger can faze you (or your ever patient ride companion, whose interest in spending time with you outranks her interest in bikepacking and suffering on the bike).







We crossed the Santa Cruz river after marveling at the green corridor of the flood plain.







The spoils of bikepacking: tasty grub and a tail wind to blow us north to Tubac.  We stayed the night at Lee Blackwell's house, then he ferried us back to Tucson the next morning.  Paula's first grade class resumes Monday morning!







~120 miles riding, 18,000 feet climbing, and 3 days out on the bike.  (~2000' more climbing than descending, making it a reverse shuttle... doh!)
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  Topic Name: Bikepacking AZT south Reply #1 on: October 14, 2008, 06:27:24 AM
sewinkleman


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« Reply #1 on: October 14, 2008, 06:27:24 AM »

Looks like a great trip! 2000 feet more climbing than decending?! Hang onto that girl, she sounds like a keeper!

I read through your "couples set-up" on the Personal setups page & saw you took a Tarptent Contrail.  I've got a Contrail but had pretty much abandoned the idea of putting two people in it.  Is that what you did?  If so, how did that work out for you?  Also, how do you like that BA Clearview pad & what size do you have?

Scott
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  Topic Name: Bikepacking AZT south Reply #2 on: October 14, 2008, 07:26:27 AM
Goatrak

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« Reply #2 on: October 14, 2008, 07:26:27 AM »

I had to laugh about the alcohol left behind,… since variations on that theme is something I tend to do every now and then. But best of all though, it sounds like you have someone with you that could perhaps see the humor in it? That’s the priceless part. Great photos and writeup. Thanks for sharing that and your gear list. Any idea roughly what your total gear weights were for the trip?
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  Topic Name: Bikepacking AZT south Reply #3 on: October 14, 2008, 08:09:09 AM
ScottM
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« Reply #3 on: October 14, 2008, 08:09:09 AM »

Looks like a great trip! 2000 feet more climbing than decending?! Hang onto that girl, she sounds like a keeper!

Yep.

I read through your "couples set-up" on the Personal setups page & saw you took a Tarptent Contrail.  I've got a Contrail but had pretty much abandoned the idea of putting two people in it.  Is that what you did?  If so, how did that work out for you?  Also, how do you like that BA Clearview pad & what size do you have?

Doh!  I meant the Squall, not the Contrail.  Sorry about that.  I fixed it.  The Squall works quite well for two people, and it did fine in the rain and wind.

I have a 20" x 60" x 2.5" mummy version of the Clearview.  It's very light and very comfy (better than even the heaviest thermarests IMO).  Not sure how it would work in below freezing temps, since it has no insulation. 

So far so good with not popping it.  I have a half dozen nights in Oregon and a handful in Arizona (!) on it so far.
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  Topic Name: Bikepacking AZT south Reply #4 on: October 14, 2008, 08:20:00 AM
ScottM
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« Reply #4 on: October 14, 2008, 08:20:00 AM »

I had to laugh about the alcohol left behind,… since variations on that theme is something I tend to do every now and then. But best of all though, it sounds like you have someone with you that could perhaps see the humor in it? That’s the priceless part. Great photos and writeup. Thanks for sharing that and your gear list. Any idea roughly what your total gear weights were for the trip?


Thanks.  Yeah, we were able to laugh off the lack of fuel.  I blame it on the bus ride at the start -- we left in a bit of a hurry to make the bus, so I didn't make a final check around the house.

On the flip side, this was the least amount of time I've ever spent preparing for a trip, and we didn't forget anything too critical!

Weight... that's a good question.  I've never weighed it all, but I'd say somewhere around 10 pounds per person (without food/water).  But little things have a tendency to add up, so who knows, that might be off.

For reference, gear list is here:

http://www.bikepacking.net/2008/10/13/scott-morris-couples-setup/
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  Topic Name: Bikepacking AZT south Reply #5 on: October 14, 2008, 03:36:09 PM
rocky rode


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« Reply #5 on: October 14, 2008, 03:36:09 PM »

Great photos Scott!  It's cool that Paula is into it too.  She must have enjoyed the OR trip to go bikepacking again.  I've got Patti out ultralight backpacking a few times and she's a convert.  Gotta get her out on the bike now, maybe AZ this winter. 

Hey, nice shoes... how'd you like 'em?

Gary
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  Topic Name: Bikepacking AZT south Reply #6 on: October 14, 2008, 04:45:43 PM
ScottM
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« Reply #6 on: October 14, 2008, 04:45:43 PM »

Come on down Gary -- plenty to do down here in the winter.

Shoes were good -- they'll come along for the next trip.  It always takes me a few hundred miles to break in a pair of shoes, but I'm off to a good start on these ones.  Thanks again for the tip on them.
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  Topic Name: Bikepacking AZT south Reply #7 on: October 18, 2008, 10:56:06 AM
hungry gnome


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« Reply #7 on: October 18, 2008, 10:56:06 AM »

Quote from: sewinkleman on October 14, 2008, 06:27:24 AM

Looks like a great trip! 2000 feet more climbing than decending?! Hang onto that girl, she sounds like a keeper!

Scottie is the keeper.    Grin  I am pretty stuck on him.
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