Lunch at Tohono Chul

Yesterday I had lunch with Toni who writes Sailing Down the Road. We went to the tea room at Tohono Chul.  It was just delightful.  Toni travels with her cat, Sigh Me, in a Roadtrek.  It's a great vehicle.  She can park it anywhere.  The interior is like a little boat.  Lunch was good, the conversation was better.
Tohono Chul is a botanical garden in Tucson.  These are tiny little stone crops that have bloomed.  I did not know they did that.  They are happy succulents.

A horse statue surrounded by cactus.

After walking through the park for awhile, we sat on a bench and watched butterflies landing on some flowering bushes.  It was a perfect day in the gardens.  Thank you Toni!

Hiking and Riding and the New Appliance

"Winter" is still good here.  We just can not believe what the rest of the country is enduring climate wise.  It's interesting that right after the weather heads said there would be no polar vortex this year, there was. 
There has been hiking.  The local trails are chewed up some from the two tropical storms that went through at the end of August.  A lot of rubble was washed down onto the trails, it's like walking on ball bearings downhill.

The saguaros are looking happy.

Today we rode our bikes out Mission Road to the bridge.  It's a pleasant ride now that the road is paved.  It used to be full of giant pot holes.  Going out is a consistent grade up, and going back is a great descent.  In the picture we have Dave, Jim and Don.  Dave and Don are from Manitoba.

Here we have the view from the bridge.  Those are mine tailings out in the distance.  They go for miles.

This is the cactus in front of Dave's park model.  It's an enormous thing.  Several times frost has made the paddles fall off, but it comes back with vigor.

The over the range microwave/convection oven arrived today.  Jim and I were able to get it in the bus with some difficulty.  I can't believe how heavy that thing is.  We're having it installed at Premier.  They're not our favorite shop, but they installed the last one without dropping it on the cook top, so that's a pretty good record.  As I recall, two very large guys were required to put it up there.
Five pairs of hiking shoes arrived from Zappos.  Four of them are going back for sure.  I hate my feet, truly I do.
In other news, the south end of the Santa Cruz trail is being repaved, which is good.  It was getting pretty rough.  Progress on the new section between Ajo and Silverbell appears to have stalled.  If they ever finish that, we'll be able to get on the trail without having to ride on the road.  That will improve life.
That's it maties, this is all I have to report.

A Fabulous Sunset

 Clouds rolled in today, giving us a fantastic sunset. 

The Second Death of the Microwave/Convection Oven

Aaaargh.  As you no doubt recall, our over the range microwave/convection oven started tripping the circuit breaker last December.  After an extensive search for a different (better) model, we realized that any model other than what we had would require cabinet work.  In order for the door to swing open, the box would have to be moved forward.  We ordered a new one, had it delivered, and lo and behold, it fixed itself; until last night.  If we so much as plug the wretched thing in, it trips the breaker.  It is so aggravating.  So, we've ordered a new one, and we're having it installed even if it miraculously heals itself again.  We're not happy about the timing.  We considered buying a Brevelle counter top oven for use until we can get to Oregon and cabinet work, but we really have no space for it.  Timing is everything.
The weather continues to be good.  The winds are just flukey.  It goes from calm to really windy and then back.  It has quit howling at night which it did the first week, so that's good.  I think so far it's been a better November than last year.

Halcyon Days in Tucson

Today was just a spectacular day.  It would have been a perfect day if there had been less wind, but it was still pretty amazing.  We rode up the trail to Mountain and back through the University of Arizona with Don and Jamie.  It was in the low 80's when we got to the campus.  Most of the college kids were in shorts and T shirts.  I loved going to school there.
We stopped at the Main Gate for a nosh.  Like the rest of Tucson, the courtyard is really green.  Their grass is looking good.

After riding we went to Camping World and Costco.  I ordered a bunch of disposable contact lenses.  My eyes are not liking the monthly contact lenses these days.   Costco was out of naan which was kind of a bummer.  We've been liking that for breakfast a lot more than toast.  Other than gorgeous weather, we have nothing to report.

As Seen in Tucson

We saw this in traffic yesterday.  Notice that he has his snake grabber across the back window.  Not a vehicle one should tail gate.

We hiked yesterday, and biked today on the Loop trail.  The desert is amazingly green. All that rain from those two tropical storms really perked up the vegetation.

We have not been on the road bikes for awhile.  I don't remember the bike saddle being so hard!   Other than that maties, we have zippity doo-dah all to report.