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.