Chasing Cool
Chasing Cool
One may be the loneliest number, but June is the toughest month...at least here in Tucson. Cloudless blue skies, a baking, unrelenting, UV-index-in-the-teens sun overhead, daily temps in the low-100s, and no relief in sight until the monsoons hit sometime, hopefully, after Independence Day.
Elevation = Cool. Time to get High.
Alpine, AZ, at 8200 feet, is the go-to ride for Cool. Usually highs in the low 70s, and lows in the 50s. Ahhhhh. Several good routes there; the most storied, The Coronado Trail. Been there, done that, last week in fact. This time, I'll head over Mule Creek into New Mexico and north on Route 180. Recently paved twisties and sweepers, interspersed with panoramic views.
A quick stop on the highway blast east. I could tell you, but then...
The back way thru Bonita
The Thing's Revenge: the dreaded LAMPF! message.
Bunny To The Rescue! Here I am to save the daaaayyy!
Starting the climb
New state, new time zone
Definitely from another time...
But then it's time to go back...
Just past Alpine is a great loop to Big Lake.
Dinner that night at the Alpine Grille which has its own slot car track. Who knew?
Ok, true confessions. When I was about 7 or 8, was sooooo into this. Even built my own cars. There, I said it.
A quick breakfast at the Bear Wallow Cafe the next morning, and I double back on the same route because, you know, it's all different in the opposite direction.
Every rider's "dream sign."
Standing silent vigil to bygone times
This refers to the doors, right?
In here be magic!
Desert survival gear...it is amazing how well these cooling vests work in the arid Southwest.
52 when I left Alpine, 101 when I got home. Cool is now in the rear view mirror...
One may be the loneliest number, but June is the toughest month...at least here in Tucson. Cloudless blue skies, a baking, unrelenting, UV-index-in-the-teens sun overhead, daily temps in the low-100s, and no relief in sight until the monsoons hit sometime, hopefully, after Independence Day.
Elevation = Cool. Time to get High.
Alpine, AZ, at 8200 feet, is the go-to ride for Cool. Usually highs in the low 70s, and lows in the 50s. Ahhhhh. Several good routes there; the most storied, The Coronado Trail. Been there, done that, last week in fact. This time, I'll head over Mule Creek into New Mexico and north on Route 180. Recently paved twisties and sweepers, interspersed with panoramic views.
A quick stop on the highway blast east. I could tell you, but then...
The back way thru Bonita
The Thing's Revenge: the dreaded LAMPF! message.
Bunny To The Rescue! Here I am to save the daaaayyy!
Starting the climb
New state, new time zone
Definitely from another time...
But then it's time to go back...
Just past Alpine is a great loop to Big Lake.
Dinner that night at the Alpine Grille which has its own slot car track. Who knew?
Ok, true confessions. When I was about 7 or 8, was sooooo into this. Even built my own cars. There, I said it.
A quick breakfast at the Bear Wallow Cafe the next morning, and I double back on the same route because, you know, it's all different in the opposite direction.
Every rider's "dream sign."
Standing silent vigil to bygone times
This refers to the doors, right?
In here be magic!
Desert survival gear...it is amazing how well these cooling vests work in the arid Southwest.
52 when I left Alpine, 101 when I got home. Cool is now in the rear view mirror...
