Julian Wash / Mission Road

January 16, 2021 to January 17, 2021

Yesterday’s ride: Julian Wash

Not too much to say about this ride southeast to the end of the Julian Wash bike path, except that we discovered a couple more miles at the end, where it bends south to follow Houghton Road nearly to the I-10 freeway before just ending in the dust. An odd patch of trail, but a nice addition if you just want to put in some enjoyable riding miles. Starting from our new home for the month, it’s just over 40 miles round trip to this point; but of course we found ways to add enough more to make our quota.

The weather, by the way, was fabulous. Light winds, fair, and a high that neared 80. It would have made a very pleasant midsummer day back in Portland.

Looking north along Houghton from the end of the pavement, just north of the freeway. I wonder what the long term vision for this spur is. It’s such an odd spot to end, with no obvious goal further south.

Crossing under the Houghton Overpass to the Julian Wash bikeway.

Tucson has dozens of striking, colorful murals. Now that we’ll be biking through the core more regularly I’ll start watching for them.

Playing it safe at 47 Scott Restaurant, we’re the only diners in the open back patio.

It took us long enough to discover this place, but I’m sure we’ll be back. Today’s menu: kale Caesar salad; roasted Brussel sprouts with pancetta, carrots, almonds and sour cherries; wild mushroom risotto with scallops, green apples and fennel; and salmon with asparagus, roasted potatoes and Bearnaise sauce.

Today’s ride: Mission Road

Another ride that begins right from home, which is always nice. And another day of fantastic, unseasonably warm weather. By the time we make it back home it’s pushing 80 and bordering on too warm for comfort by the likes of us.

Today’s ride cuts across town to the Santa Cruz River, and then follows the bike path south to its end at Valencia Road. After a mile on busy but broad shouldered Valencia we turn south again on Mission Road.

The first two miles on Mission carry a fair amount of traffic, much of it bound to or returning from the San Xavier Mission. There’s no shoulder, and if it continued on this way for long we wouldn’t care for the ride much. Virtually all traffic ceases once we pass the mission though, and the next ten are a thoroughly enjoyable gradual climb as we continue south.

We have our miles in by the time we reach Pima Mine Road, but this spur looks worth checking out for a possible future ride so we branch off onto it and continue climbing for another two miles before calling it a ride. We find a patch in the shade for our roadside lunch, and then turn back for a fast, mostly downhill ride home again.

A final note: at this hour, there are only 61 hours left before the swearing in of the new administration. Hope for the best.