Sonoita to Tucson

Today's ride completed the 4 day tour from Tucson to Sonoita to Bisbee to Sonoita to Tucson. Today's ride covered 46.6 miles with an elevation gain of 1082 ft. Total riding time today was 2 hours 53 minutes. This was 1 hour and 26 minutes faster that for the same route on Friday. I wonder which direction was more downhill?

Most of the elevation gain on today's ride was within the first 14 miles, after that it was mostly downhill. Nothing extraordinary to comment about so the following are some of he pictures I took

On leaving Sonoita there was a steel sculpture

About two miles north of Sonoita 

When you are out cycling and you come to the following sign it means you have been working hard, your cycling jersey is probably soaking wet. It is time to stop, take a long drink of water, maybe something to eat, put on a wind jack or vest so you don't freeze and then ................ HAVE SOME FUN!

Sonoita to Bisbee

Saturday 21 March. The ride today covered 64.4 miles with an elevation gain of 3225 ft.

 At the start of the GABA ride. Temp was in the low 40ties. I have a shirt, wind vest, wind jacket and long finger gloves

Today's ride was a Greater Arizona Bicycle Association (GABA) club ride with approximately 70 riders.  The ride started at the Sonoita Fairgrounds. There were three sag stops where there were snacks and water.  

The first of 3 sag stops

The weather was great. Very unusual that there was very little wind but today was one of those days. There were a few clouds around but nothing serious enough that we might get wet.

A couple of pictures from the ride

After the ride a need to replace the carbohydrates

Then after a shower... laundry. 

Bisbee to Sonoita

Today's ride covered 69 miles with an elevation gain of 2214ft

The map of the ride is HERE

We left Bisbee 6:30ish and rode to The Bisbee Breakfast Club.  On the way we passed an old open pit copper mine

The Bisbee Breakfast Club has Great food and friendly service. There was a bus parked across the street from the restaurant. 

Note the way to get down from the second deck.

After breakfast there was some up hill riding then almost ten miles of downhill

Heading west and going downhill :-) 

Sag stop #2

Some type of cholla cactus 

and along the way, once in a while, you get a flat tire. 

I picked up a nail, but how big is it?

about an inch and a half long 

and about a mile outside of Sonoita was a metal sign

another day of great riding coming to an end. 

Tuscon to Sonoita

Friday 20 March. Total miles 52.2 elevation gain 3490 ft

This is today's route. LINK: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/7189544

I loaded my Surly and left Tucson this morning abut 9:15 heading to Vail. I stopped by Butch and Mary Beth's house to say hi and to fill up my water bottles. Butch took my picture. 

From Vail I headed down route 82 to Sonoita. Here are a couple of pictures I took along the way.

Flowers along the roadside 

A close up of the flowers

A long, steep road over the hills 

About 5 miles north of Sonoita looking east 

Getting Ready

Originally published Thursday 19 March

Collecting all of the stuff for the trip in one place.  I work from an excel spread sheet.  The spread sheet was compiled from input from a couple of people that do lots of self-contained touring.  I fine tuned the list for my needs.

This is the route for Friday  http://ridewithgps.com/routes/7189544

This is the route for Saturday http://ridewithgps.com/routes/7189626

This is the route for Sunday http://ridewithgps.com/routes/7189678

This is the route for Monday  http://ridewithgps.com/routes/7189694

My list of stuff to bring. The list is a work in progress.