Bicycling for Breath: Day 312-319 June 6-13, 2017 Rest days in Green Valley, AZ

It is good to have friends. It is very good to have friends who will invite you to stay at their home for over a week. It is especially good to have friends who live in great places who will invite you to stay at their home for over a week. Tim and Julie are those especially good friends.

View from their backyard patio.

These are the Santa Rita mountains. You can see a 'bump' on the highest peak that is an observatory.

Cool experiences in the Green Valley/Tucson area:

The desert.
In the Sonoran Desert between 2,000 feet and 4,000 feet elevation, which is where we are, you find Saguaro cactus. These are huge, and long lived.

They don't even put out their first branch until they are over 70 years old. I am 70, so the cactus on the right in the picture above is older than I am. I am told that they can live over 150 years, weigh over 4,000 pounds, and typically grow 40 to 60 feet tall. They are the largest cacti in the United States.

The Sonora Desert Museum, just outside of Tucson, had a lot of info. This is a slow growing cactus.

Lots of flowers on the cacti in the desert. Typically the flower opens during the night, and is wilted and withered by noon. This cactus was only about 18 inches high. The picture was taken around 10:30, and the blossom has already begun to wilt.

Tequila on the hoof, as it were.

This is a cholla cactus.

Close up of spines.

This is one of the nastiest cacti in the desert here. It is referred to as the "jumping" cholla.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cylindropuntia_fulgida
There are several you tube films about it. At least read the Wiki.

My shoes after walking by, and definitely NOT touching some cholla.

The Bike Hub bicycle shop.
Rob is the owner. He did some work for us at a very fair price. Knowledgeable man, and fun to talk with as well.

Tubac, AZ.
Tubac is a town that pre-dates the United States. It was founded by the Spanish in 1752. Beginning in the 1930's, the town converted to an artist colony. Lots of nice galleries and places to eat.

Thought seriously about getting a table like this. The spiral things are fossilized ammonites.

Margaret lusts after this fountain.

Have to stay well hydrated.

Mount Lemmon.
At 9,159 feet, Mt Lemmon is the highest point in the Santa Catalina Mountains. There is a 27 mile paved road that goes from the valley floor all the way to the top. Driving that road you experience six different climate zones.