Housing, Senior Shootout & Hiking

Friday we went out to breakfast at the Main Gate. There were only 4 from RCW. We were vastly outnumbered by the Western Way RV Park contingent. They're the group behind Jim.

The key to the restroom was missing, and the door was locked, so we rode up to the U to use theirs. While there we visited the monk to see how the mandala is progressing. He has made great strides. The outer red ring will be embellished with many many little figures. See the February 24 post for previous pictures.


He's using a compass to rough out the round things he will draw.


After the U we rode out east. We had intended to ride far and fast, but were overtaken by inertia. So instead we looked at houses. This is a cool house out on 3rd. It's a non-traditional southwestern style. I like it a lot.


Then we rode over to El Encanto, which is an old neighborhood in Tucson. It was originally platted and approved in 1928. It was out in the boonies, east of Tucson, near the El Conquistador Resort. Tucson has since replaced the resort with a mall, and has engulfed the area. However, the style and elegance of the neighborhood has been preserved through draconian covenants, and really high prices. It's just breath taking. When you go in, sound is muffled and the temperature drops significantly. There are many large old plantings in there.
This house is just enormous.



So is this one.
The area is on the National Historic Register. There is interesting reading on the matter here.


Today (Saturday) we were up with the dawn to photograph the Senior Shootout, which we missed last week because we spent too much time messing about with the laptops, causing us to be late. Today we were more timely.
Here they come, and I must add they were moving out smartly here. At this point they were traveling faster than the young whippersnappers when they come by the barber shop.


This is Manitoba Dave waving. He is from Winnipeg, Manitoba, hence the name. He has a park model in RCW and is a very strong rider. Today he was wearing his FOG (fast old guy) jersey, which is a group of guys he rides with back home in Canada.


Farther down the road. Dave had a flat and was not in this picture.


Even farther down the road. There were two or three guys off the front heading towards a sprint point. These guys were chasing.
On the way back to the RV park we saw Dave on his aerobars. He had already caught the people shelled off the back and was making impressive time.


After mooching about the RV for awhile, we decided to hike. Weight bearing exercise is a good thing. We went up to Starr Pass from the Genser Trail head. It was just delightful. The sun has returned after 3 really grisly overcast days, and it was in the upper 60's. It was also blowing the ears off the donkey again. It's supposed to settle down soon.


The ocatillo buds have not yet popped. When they do, it looks like a field of lipstick because they are so vivid.

Other than this, I have nothing to report.