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.
This deep freeze has been expected for over a week. Winter storm Blair blew in from Canada and this was the residual. Winds and the blast were expected overnight from the 7th to the 8th but it came in 12 hours later.
The morning was unusually dark. Incoming clouds were so thick I couldn't even see San Jose Peak to the south. There was no evidence of a sun. I drove to school feeling like it was 5:30am instead of 6:30am.
Temperatures only dipped further, too. Snow began to fall in the afternoon. By the time I got home, there was two inches of snow on the ground.
I did not walk the dogs today, but I let each dog out individually for as long as they wanted to be. Fritz and Zana, though, managed running around outside for six hours in this cold blast.
The deep freeze arrived then early on the 9th, with temps in the 20s and a school open delay by two hours.
Meanwhile, the hills northwest of Los Angeles are ablaze by four merging fires, burning down the homes of celebrities
I had a much-needed two weeks off. While I didn't travel much, I got to see Eric, explore new places in Tucson, and get a lot done around the house. I put together six privacy screens, two metal shelves and one overbed table that I discovered I'm using more than any other firm top. While I didn't do daily hikes, I got my walking in and I made sure all six dogs got some walking or off-leash time every day.
More importantly, my new home is starting to look like a home. The shelves make the space more organized and tidy. I want to now start decorating it.
For my last free day I stayed local, walking Gretchen to the mailbox and back for a two-mile walk. A few hours later I drove to Bisbee with Hansel to try out a new eatery in town: Bad Assery, a burger bar right off Main street owned by couple Janna and Kevin. Both are passionate bikers.
On the drive back home I stopped at the San Pedro River to let Hansel out. I wanted him to drink some water and pee before heading back home where I knew he would refuse to get out of the car. He likes to den up in my Honda overnight. I don't mind as he doesn't destroy anything, but it's going to dip into the 20s overnight Wednesday when that massive cold front slams the central part of the country.wa
It was a short stop of 14 minutes and 0.6 miles, Hansel splashed around in the water and sniffed around. I came up on a small cross near the water's edge. I thought it was a placeholder cross for a deceased migrant. Instead it was for a dog that only lived to be three years old, Fuu. Its fur was still on the harness that was wrapped around the cross. Seeing that cross hit me hard. Losing a pet is never easy.
