SPNCRA north of Hereford Bridge

It was a cold morning. I wanted to take four of the dogs on a challenging walk but waited for the morning temperatures to warm up. I spent the time planting another oleander shrub that will eventually be part of a natural barrier along my property. It us my fifth of what will be many more shrubs by the end of this year.

I took Hansel, Gretel, Fritz and Zana who were all beyond excited to get out. We started just past 1:30pm and walked north to the Big Wash 3.2 miles away. I wanted to see the water level there and be alone with the pack.

I briefly got off the main trail when I saw another dog walker come toward us, so I went to the river but was surprised to see it dry. The dogs found a mudhole on their own nearby. This didn't bode well. There was no fresh water after Friday's rain and mountain snow?

I enjoy watching the dogs run as fast as they can with each other and without bothering other dogs or people. And these dogs need daily runs of 2-4 miles. This is the incentive to get that fence put up.

Something spooked two of the dogs about halfway into the walk. Fritz and Zana never returned despite me calling them. At the 2.8 mile mark I came across a cattle coral that wasn't there the last time I walked this rather boring trail about two years ago. A javelina and its young were at this coral rooting around, but got startled and scurried off. Did javelin scare off the two dogs?  

The big wash was still a half mile away. I let Hansel and Gretel cool off in the water, but the level was low. While flowing, there is usually more water at this point.

We made it back to the Honda by 3:30pm. Fritz and Zana were already waiting. How long had they been by the car? Someone left a cooler top full of water for them. Both dogs were across the road but came right to me when I called. All dogs were now panting. 

I will stop this route going forward because the trailhead is right off Hereford road and having lose dogs running around is neither safe nor smart. I will explore this route maybe after the monsoon with no more than two dogs.

At least all dogs got a good workout and raw chicken for dinner

Sunday March 9

Tempe one last time

Spent the afternoon with Eric and Margaret. Tomorrow they begin their big move to Seattle. I will miss the closeness of having them nearby.

I took Hansel with me. He is such a good copilot! I even lucked out wirh the 76F weather and smooth-flowing traffic. I got into town by 1:50  pm and they were already waiting.

Eric wanted one last meal at Lou Malnati's pizza, a Chicago-style pizza chain that originated in Chicago. I don't like it as much as Gino's East as the crust doesn't have the cornbread beer batter, but it is still good pizza and this lunch was in their honor.

We had a large size Chicago classic with pepperoni and sausage. There were two slices for each of us. I took the rest home for lunch tomorrow.

We wanted a bit more time to talk.  Eric is proud to have landed himself a $130,000  annual salary working a trade he learned in the Air Force. And yet his aspirations of becoming a successful writer still eludes him.

I enjoy urban walking. We walked three miles to the Townlake from their apartment, a short walk from Papago Park and Curry Avenue.  The park was busy. The water in that lake stinks, with much dead fish along the banks. And Hansel whined a lot most likely because he was on leash and he wanted to jump into the cooling water.

I would have enjoyed chatting some more over craft beer, but both were tired and ready for their new chapter.  I have been in their shoes and understand the anxiety of moving and starting a new chapter.  By 5:30 pm we departed and I stopped at Goldwater Crossing, a brewery in south Tempe zi had always wanted to try.

The brewery is dog friendly. I sat at the bar, plugged in my phone, and for an hour plus had two pints of good beer before resuming my trip back home.

I will miss having Eric close by, but I am proud that both of my children are successful adults. 

SPNCRA south of Charleston Road

I wanted to take my best hiking dogs on another workout, some place more isolated but close by with water. I had Escapule Road and the wash in mind. I wanted to see what the water level was.

I took Hansel, Gretel and Fritz. They are very manageable together with good recall.

Sadly the wash is now fenced off and private property. My next option was Charleston Bridge a few miles away. 

That parking lot was crowded, with a few parked cars and an RV still trying to position itself. I noticed land had been cleared across the river with a new road graded. Is this a new housing area?

The dogs were wanting to bust out and run so I parked at the most southern edge of the parking lot and took the dogs south. The unmarked social trail is still there and  I followed it as far as I could

The trail ended at a spur that lead up to the abandoned railroad. It was my only option as heavy foliage made following the river too arousal. I needed to be able to see the dogs.

I was now just a mile into this hike and made a two- mile turn around my goal. This lead us south on the old rail road, pass some low chapparal covered hills. A bridge across a dry was was the mark. Susan and I had been here before a few years ago

I let the dogs drink here for a bit before turning around. The sun was low and I wanted to get back to the car before sunset.  Everything went well until the dogs spotted a white-tailed deer in the distance. Oh great, I thought. I stopped to watch where all three dogs were heading. 

Bluffs along the rail road now hide the old path going north. I wanted the dogs to hear me. Gretel came back first, then Hansel, but Fritz took a while but 15 minutes later we were all united again and made it back by 5:40  pm

The total mileage was just under four miles.

Two weeks of unseasonable warmth

February has been warm and dry so far. While I am enjoying these 40F morning walks, I worry about an upcoming brutal fire season. My outdoor plants are starting to bud. I want to wait a month before I plant them in the ground, but this warmth is too tempting.

Today the pups turn give years old. Every dog got some exercise this weekend with no less than two miles. Gretchen got the mailbox walk, Hansel, Fritz and Zana got a river run yesterday. This morning Gretel and I did the 3.2 mile grid walk and later today Hansel rode with Steve, Trace and I for a short walk along the Rillito wash in Tucson.

It was already in the 80s so we only did one mile out before turning around and then stopping at the Tucson Hop Shop. It has a spacious dog-friendly patio and the first round of beer was delicious. It was Steve's first time there.

I had a Pure Project Tropical Mist blonde ale (5.1 ABV) out of San Diego. Steve had a creamy Rogue chocolate stout out of Bend, Oregon. The pizza from Ciao Down next door was also tasty. Service was great, the dogs were behaved and the noise level was low. 

I then took him to the Casa Video film bar on Speedway but we didnt stay long there. The big surprise was an early dinner in Benson at the Horseshoe Cafe that Steve treated me to and that was another tasty meal.

Super Bowl 59  was playing with the Eagles ahead of the Chiefs with 24-0 before halftime. The place was loud but the food very good. I had a honey mustard grilled chicken sandwich with cheese and spinach.

I was so stuffed when I got home at 730pm that I walked Gretel for .6 mile and then Wolfie for two miles at 11pm to close out my daily log.

Old rail bed from Tombstone to Fairbank

This was my first hike wit the hiking club in ovrr a year, SteveA was the leader for this shuttle hike We eere a group of nine, I brought Hansel.

I had walked the southern part of this hike a few times with the Meetup group but we never went past the first trestle, I was curious to see the rest of the route, which at times was a single track or part of a wide dry wash along the Tombstone Hills and grazing cattle.

Weather was near ideal with overcast skies and cool breeze, in the upper 40s. It was 65F in the end.

Sweetwater Preserve

I had always wanted to do a longer perimeter hike of this park. It has 15 miles of trails that meander around this Sonoran desert landscape on the north side of Tucson. I took Zana along.

I planned on starting mid afternoon to finish at dusk. I parked at the Steve Anderson trailhead and proceeded on the Saguaro Vista trail heading north. 

None of the trails are very long. You have to connect to other short trails to make a 4- mile loop. Every trail is well marked and color coded.

I discovered that 3pm is a popular time for cyclists and families. I also noted a lot of dog poop at the start. Zana pooped in the parking lot but I acooped it up and threw it in the trah.

Saguaros dominate the landscape, but as I reached the 1.5 mile mark I noted creosote and teddy bear cholla as well. This part of the park would smell so fragrant after a summer rain.

The Black Rock loop is on the north side of the park but the rock really should be called Butt crack rock.

I continued my hike back on the Saguaro Vista trail to Sunset Cirle loop and then the Homesteader trail. It was 5pm and the sun had set behind the mountain. I was now in the cool shade.

Zana did a great job staying close to me and coming back to me when I had to leash her up as I passed other people. We both kept a good pace and did not stop for water.

There were no clouds in the sky so the sunset was bland. I got to see the Tucson skyline enhanced in purple.

I had energy to do the Eldorado loop but I was running out of daylight. I will do that section next time.

We did 8.1 miles in just under three hours.

McClure Canyon with Doug and Hansel

This 4.4- miles hike up a steep path was a last minute decision. Doug sent cluv members hus hike fir today and I showed up. It was just us two humans and Hansel

The El Paso -Southwestern Greenway in Tucson

This proposed six-mile greenway is still being worked on but the first mile is already complete. I first noticed the signs for this path over a year ago when Steve and I were walking the Tourquoise trail in Tucson.  I took Hansel with me. 

Trips to Tucson always include a recycling run for glass, plastic and metal cans. I also had a quick lunch at El Minuto, a family restaurant in the northern part of the Barrio district, a historic neighborhood of small adobe homes surrounded by native flora and pretty murals. 

I began my walk from the restaurant a few blocks away since there is no designated parking for the greenway yet.  Walking south on Main Street, I turned west on Simpson before merging with the greenway. 

The greenway is signed here as it follows the old railway. Rusty tracks still remain here along the north-south greenway. Tall street lamps and historical signs and benches also align this heavily-used section. But then things quickly turn less attractive.

 

The farther south I walked, the more evident the litter became. A ditch just to the east of the path shield the homeless who make this greenway their home.  I saw one homeless man cutting live branches off a mesquite tree for firewood.

The biggest encampment was in a big culvert by a warehouse off Frontage Avenue and I-10. A stray GSDx followed us a bit before turning into a side street in a low income neighborhood. This is the kind of neighborhood I would feel very uncomfortable in at night or without a dog.

The pretty section was now behind me at the 1.5 mile as the pavement became overgrown and heavily littered. I turned around at 29th Street where La Frontera, a mental health clinic, has an office. It was a good turn around section as the pavement ends here.

I walked back the way I came and followed the greenway to its northern terminus on Cushing Avenue. I followed Cushing Avenue east past an emotional firefighter memorial (in light of the Los Angeles fires) back to my car. The entire walk was just over three miles in one hour.

I stopped at Costco on my way home, then had an artisan tea at a Bachsa and a take- out pizza from Oregano's on Speedway. Stopping here reminded me of Kevin and Eric, who both enjoyed this place.