Desert warmth, warmup

Life is funny sometimes. The way circumstance and timing work out. The way the pieces come together, come together beautifully. How when you find something beautiful, and believe in it fully, dreams really can come true. That things can and will go perfectly, and leave you feeling like things are almost too good to be true.

So it was that December had me counting off the days until Christmas like a kid. Saw me have a fair bit of trouble sleeping — out of excitement. Had me absolutely loving life and filled with bliss and gratitude for all corners of my life.



And finally it was Christmas. A tiny magic unicorn and a girl with pink socks came to Tucson!



They came looking for sunshine, endless singletrack and to be blessed by the warmth of the desert.



All were found, nearly to excess. As if excess on such goodness were possible.



Even some hike-a-bike goodness, which the ‘training plan’ did call for.



There’s no training plan for life, and you don’t need one when most of the day is spent flowing through cartoony Saguaros. When you get to do what you love.



This place is paradise, for me, and it was nothing short of a treat to show a glimpse of why, to one who appreciates and basks in it more than anyone else I have seen. (I have seen quite a few folks pretty excited to be out riding in the sun in December before!)

And that was just the first ride.



We found more blue sky and rock love east of Tucson.



Clouds and snow in the mountains threatened to shatter the dream of warmth and bare knees,



but in the end they largely failed.



From the Arizona Trail we skipped our way down Milagrosa, flexing a techy muscle or two.



A few tiny drops of rain were a small price to pay for techy goodness and a big day on the bikes. We could see the valley getting pounded by multiple storms.



Only thing glowing brighter than the clouds was us. After two big and beautiful days on the bike, how could we not be? It was the perfect warmup for the main event.

We proceeded to Trader Joe’s for trail food of the tastiest sort. We had adventure on the horizon. Bikepacking on the brain. Full moon a rising. Rest is for the weak.

Now, tacos are not for the weak. Ranchito tacos are good for recovery and even better for the soul.

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