I tell myself, the importance of mountain biking various trails is to determine what level I can safely ride, what level I can enjoy while riding, and what trail I might possibly return to ride again. And so it goes, out onto the S. Camino Loma Alta trailhead and Arizona Trail! The first third was okay with nice double track and some cardio moments to climb a hill, but overall okay. Next third was with a couple of water/stream crossings. What did I discover about myself? I am not good when trying to pedal through rocks, water, sand and to muscle to the other shore! My first attempt, in my life I will have you know, I tried and soon had my front wheel wedged between 2 large rocks and thus had to step with one foot into the cold water, and then came the second foot! (Good time to only have 2 feet.) Am I having fun yet? Not quite! I continue on the ride and the next time I see a stream I am already off the bike, a friend carries my bike across and I walk across the stream at a point I feel comfortable…but really hate having wet feet. The toes will take a few hours to warm up, if I am lucky. Then came the third-third of this out direction. It was technical-level for me. I was riding single track over very, very rocky areas. When did I give up? Well I took a left turn okay, but the second left turn had me soon kissing the ground and the left side of my body slammed against some rocks! Okay, the good news is I did not land in any cacti! Yeah! But this last portion of the trail was over my head, so I walked, and I watched some whipper snapper guys ride some amazing areas that I had a difficult time walking myself and bike over! Oh to be 20 again, or maybe not!
Our group reached an area by Colossal Cave and I thought it would be good and easy from this point to our return. We biked over dirt road and a couple of washes where water ran across the road….great… feet were almost dry and they were now wet again…then on the paved road and riding fast with a windchill on those wet toes of mine! So glad to see the parking lot come into view and know this ride was soon to be over! Many thanks to the others who were on the ride; their support; their humor….believe me, that’s important to have when one is discovering how much crazy one needs to mountain bike in certain areas! (I will return on the first two-thirds and then turn around and come back. If I am smart I will do it when the washes/streams have less water and before the heat index is to high.) Did I tell you I do love mountain biking! It is true!
