I checked out Rachael's tires when I saw her today. Isn't that what you look at when meeting another cyclist? :) I thought you had replaced both of them. The tread looks similar to me.

I have Gatorskins on two of my three bikes, after heavy recommendation by two Tucson friends. For many years I've run Marathon Racers and have been happy with them.

The downside to the Gatorskin, for me, is that they don't come in a wider tire in a 26".

You must have bicycled past Tanque Verde Guest Ranch. We went the for drinks on the patio and to watch the sunset over the saguaros. The particular day we went, the sunset wasn't spectacular. But, I could recommend giving it a try on a warm night. I'm sure you could get some great shots. That is an active dude ranch, w/horse rides, etc. They have cabins to rent. I could see that being a nice spot to stay on tour, to get the feel of the desert. Except for the signs that say no bicycles . . . . I guess spandex ruins their cowboy vibe?

They’re a pretty little thing alright, and unmistakeable. It might be the cold, but I think it was the wind ruffling his skirts.

Anything reasonable that wears well and is thorn resistant. I think this may be the first time I’ve replaced the front tire actually. It was a Serfas, which is what the bike came with. The one on the rear is newer, an Armadillo. The replacements are both gator skins, on the recommendation of the good people at Fair Wheel Bikes. They know the territory, and I trust their advice.

It is very pretty, and looks all fluffed up like it is very cold.

Yes, that’s why I took the shot but didn’t think an explanation was required this time.

Vermillion flycatcher.

Somebody else was looking for Team Anderson on the Mt. Lemmon road in early January:

I arrived in Tucson on Jan.1 after a leisurely 2 week ride from Anza Borrego. I'd been to Tucson several times before but always at the end of a tour and just for a day or two. This time I was staying for longer and made extensive use of your Winterlude Tucson journals for ride ideas and previews. What a resource!
The fifth was going to be sunny and warm and I started out from my campsite in south Santa Cruz for Catalina Road and the Lemmon ride. I recalled from a journal that you started from a Safeway on Tanque Verde Rd. So I planned on getting some food and water there and as I riding in there was a black SUV with bike racks parked in an out of the way area like they were going to be gone for awhile. And then as I got closer I saw it had Oregon plates! I was stoked!, there was going to be a Team Anderson sighting and hopefully meeting on the road!
Well needless to say I was left wondering how I could have missed you and not until a couple days later when I got back to town and Internet service and another lesson in the folly of coincidences.
Anyway, I'm back home in San Diego now and want to express a heartfelt appreciation for your wonderful journals. They touch people in ways you don't imagine.
( And only afterwords did I see that Ravn is a VW and the SUV I saw was a Ford.)

Jack

And it is a ???

Awesome cloud. It must have taken a lot of restraint not to mention it in your caption.

What is your tire of choice for Roddy? And how many brands/models have you tried?

So fun to hear and watch the roadrunners skitter around. Glad you are recovering from the crud.

This was so lucky. At any other time, this would have been the bird shot of the week, at least.

Beautiful!

Oh, wow!

How lucky to be able to see the wings like this.

Makes my morning!

Thanks. 🙂

Correct on the 10th! We’ll be in Patti on the 16th and 17th. If you show up, we’ll buy you dinner and celebrate our anniversaries prematurely. Also fyi, we won’t be staying in Messina - we’ll catch the afternoon ferry and stay in Scilla instead.