The Loop, from Rillito River Park West to Oracle Road

Steve and I were supposed to do this last week, but I couldn't find the keys to Kevin's truck. We went instead today in my Honda with a smaller collection of recyclables. He brought his dog Trace and I chose Gretel. This was a good choice as the dogs got along well.

I had a late start, waking up just before sunrise in a light rain. The clouds hid the sun until almost 8am, which got me up later than usual to walk the dogs Gretchen, Sweetie and then Hansel. Our 8am meetup was postponed till after noon before we drove off.

We stopped at Ramiro's taqueria off Valencia before starting our walk just past 2pm. It was in the low 60s when we started our walk, and what rain clouds had lingered over Tucson had dissipated.

We walked past apartment complexes, several parks and parking lots for the loop, then several mobile home parks with grumpy dogs before we came past our first saguaros along the path. The Rillito River was dry, and few homeless were visible from the path. We turned around on Oracle Road, just west of the Tucson Mall. Most users today were cyclists.

Both dogs did quite well. Gretel hadn't been on a hike in a while, but she completed the 8.3 miles like a champ. She played gently with Trace and licked him a few times, never once showing any aggression toward him. 

We timed the walk well. We were back at the Honda at 6:20pm as dusk fell   Users of the Loop can only use the path officially from dawn to dusk and cops on bikes do patrol the area.  

Our next goal was a quick stop at MotoSonora (Dillinger's off Oracle Road is closed on Sundays as we discovered) for a quick beer. The brewery has a small dog run but two women and their black husky-shepherd were having fun chasing a ball in the dog play area. Trace played with that dog but  Gretel didn't take too well to that dog, so we stayed in the biergarten just outside the dog area and left before the place closed at 8pm.

I needed this day away from the house and dogs, but now must get back into hiking again.

Palominas Multiuse trail loop (1.7 miles) hi no

Distance: 2.89m

Elevation  4270'  - 4300:

Significance: level loop through high desert grass. Ideal for sun rise and sun set.

I discovered the existence of this trail last year.it officially opened last spring, Today I finally decided to explore it just to get away from the cramped RV where I spend a lot of time with Gretchen and Sweetie, my two preferred dogs inside the RV.. 

Sweetie is still grieving over Kevin. Sweetie misses her dad and I still hear her whimper for him as she lays on his old clothes that I kept for her to sleep on. I will take care of her through her last days. She's ten years old now and has mellowed a bit, but she still gets annoyed at the pups. Gretchen seems to be one pup she gets along with.

There isn't much to this loop. It's ten feet wide and built for equestrians. It is totally exposed with no restroom or water available. It loops around the Palominas recharge project, which captures storm water to help prevent the San Pedro river from flooding. I'm sure it's much more scenic in the summer after heavy rains.

There are two access points. The one for horses is on Palominas Road. I started on SR92 for non-equestrians, to the west of the Palominas school district bus depot.

I had to walk 0.15 miles along the frontage road before the official start. It was 48F and clear when I started at 1030am

Signage and fencing are still very new. I followed the trail via my Strava app, as there is no trail marker at the start guiding one across this flood plain. Once on the trail, though, it's easy to follow.

I took Hansel and Gretel on this walk. They clearly enjoyed prancing in the dead grass, looking for deer to chase but finding nothing.

I extended the loop by walking from one trail head to another and then looping back to my car. 

Walking the Loop: from Country Club Road to Park Avenue (2.5 o/w)

I have not been in the mood to hike since Kevin died. I finally got his death certificate on Friday and seeing his official, certified death hit me hard.  I just want to crawl into bed and sleep all day. I know I will get over this, but for now I'm still struggling.

But I can't. I now have to make phone calls and run around to the local offices and cancel his various accounts. Luckily he left his iPhone unlocked so I could access his email. Kevin paid most of his bills online  via autopay, resulting in confirmations by email 

My first choice was his BoA credit card. While we do have a local BoA affiliate, the  website said its Lobby was still closed. I had the Honda packed with cardboard and plastic bottles, intent on driving to an affiliate in Tucson, taking care of his account, and then dropping off the recyclables, with perhaps a short walk on the Loop. Weather was in the low 70s and overcast, so ideal walking weather.

But I just didn't have it in me to walk far. I had Gretchen with me, who is a great car rider and easy on the leash, but that poor girl has been attacked by Gretel and Sahne far too often recently.  Now she has several fresh bites on her face. I need to work on rebuilding her confidence.

We started on Country Club Road and walked west, walking south of the Kino Sportsplex and along the Julian Wash. This is not a very pretty section of the trail, with trash and homeless camps hidden in the brush. 

But it was busy with cyclists nonetheless. Gretchen is easily startled by fast-moving bicycles close to her, but she didn't bark or lunge at anyone. She did very well. As an only dog she could develop her self confidence better.

It's only 2.5 miles from Country Club Road to Park Avenue. "A" Mountain is within view and I had wanted to make it to Silverlake Road, where I began a section of the Loop over a year ago. This would have been another mile o/w and completed the Santa Cruz River section of the Loop. I sat down on a ledge off Park Avenue (by a Carl's Jr restaurant) and decided to turn around instead. I didn't have a backpack and didn't want Gretchen to get dehydrated. The only water she had was lapping some water from a little puddle in the wash.

I will do a few more sections of the Loop while we have cooler weather coming. Steve and I talked about walking the Loop next Saturday, when I plan on talking the bulk of my recyclables to Tucson after clearing out the back of Kevin's pickup. 

I know I'm going thru a depression right now. I need to stay active and not dwell on my demons.

https://www.strava.com/activities/6492884131