A beautiful winter day in Tucson

Another bike ride in to the hills and it's beginning to get easier. I am getting familiar with the roads, and we are pushing the intensity a bit now too. There is a group that goes out to bike every day. Have you ever heard of such a thing? It is really nice. Not so good for the job search though. All in due time. I hope :)

yay! My first visitor will be coming to Tucson!

I'll be in my new apartment thankfully, so we will have much more space, although the new place could be bare bones. Yet we can bike and hike and check out the sights of Tucson! I am very happy that Cathy is coming!! Sweet. They say March is great weather out here. It has lifted my spirits and I love the anticipation.

I bought a new mattress and box spring today. Crap those items are expensive. My mattress at home was well over 10 years old, but still...

I went over to U of A to swim today, since it was rainy and cool for biking. I paid the guest fee, only to learn that the pool is outside! And the scuba team was there. wtf! I sweetly asked the manager for a rain check, and she obliged. So later in the week, when it is sunny and warm(er), I'll be there doing laps. She joked that being from Boston, I should be used to the cold. Little does she know how nice and beautiful and INDOORS the pool is at BU. The best pool ever. With the best Masters Swim Coach. Hope you are reading this, Fiona. I know you agree.

Snow on the mountains in Tucson again

Tucson has had more rain in the past two months than they typically get for the whole year. An unusual day, they tell me. It rained for the whole afternoon and part of the evening, with snow falling at the higher elevations. I noticed the new snow tops on the mountains today. A pretty sight. And the rain fills the rivers, or I should say the wash. Those sad looking dry river beds that fill a rowers heart with dread. But they are flowing today. I'll go out tomorrow and take some pictures and show you. It's not enough to take out an 8+, or even a single, though. Typically dry, people take their horses and gallop down the river course. That is kind of cool to see. I'd like to do that sometime.

I visited the downtown area of Tucson for the first time. I had dinner at Caruso's on 4th Avenue with my childhood friend, and we walked around the old hippie town. It's an amusing throw-back to the sixties with the stores and the locals. But been there, done that.

I'll be moving in to a new apartment that is much larger than my current 344 sq ft studio. I'm ready. Cooking is definitely a challenge here; and I am moving north, closer to the mountains. I'll be living next to the bike path that connects the city to the foothills. Just get on my bike and go. And the U of A is only 6 miles south, along the city bike route, in case I get a job there. A good location, I think! Here's a photo I took off their website. I'm on the 3rd floor.

some random pictures in tucson

My bike and hike stuff
kitchen stuff
enjoying the porch, and the views

My Friday Night Date

watching the Olympics... and waxing my car... look how nice my car turned out! This is the reflection of the house next door in my hood.
That's my house in the background.

I found the granny gear today

We went on a bike ride through the Saguaro National Park, which is east of Tucson, called the Cactus Forest Trail. After you bike there from the city, it's an 8 mile loop through a national park that forced me into my granny gear. It's a beautiful one-way loop with mountains and desert landscape all around. The spring flowers are almost ready to bloom out here. Amazing, right? This is my kind of winter day. The temp was low 70's and full sunshine. Maybe you will be pleased to know I did full sunscreen with biking shorts and a short sleeve top. No long sleeves today. It was time to go AZ style.

more miles on the road today

A beautiful day in Tuscon, and 30 riders came out to bike the foothills in 70 degree weather. I've still got the long sleeves and long pants on, and my biker tan will consist of only the wrists where there is a gap between my sleeve and biking glove. Funny. Today was a good bike ride, and I am meeting people around my age. It's a fun group. Apparently we have a former Olympian who rides in the fast group today. Nice.

The Tuscon Gem show is finally over, now we have a golf tournament (Match Play), and then the rodeo. February is a big month around here.

I planted pansies in my window box, so when they get a little thicker, I will show you.