Saguaro National Park

In the latest series of day trips around Southern Arizona; me, my housemates and a couple of Swiss friends went on an challenging bike ride to a local National Park, strewn with cacti (Saguaro's mainly). Situated some 17 miles from home, at the foot of the Rincon mountains, the national park is a haven for scrambling up rocks, wildlife, cacti and awesome vista's over the Tucson basin below. The ride there wasnt too bad despite most of it being uphill. We stopped once or twice, most convieniently outside a huge guitar shop on Broadway Boulevard where much time was spent in shear awe at the guitars, amps, effects pedals and other accessories. I could have spent thousands in that shop if it wasnt for the issue of carrying it back on the aeroplane. I will be going back at some point for a guitar strap and maybe an effects pedal before i leave.

Once there, we cycled around the park's tourist road for abit before locking up and walking up a trail towards Tanque Verde Ridge. The views from the ridge were extraodinary. Mountains rose all around the Tucson basin, some of which must have been close to the border with Mexico. On descending from our view point back to the trail, we suffered from the "attack of the cacti" with 4 out of the 5 of us getting pricked in someway. I got a giant ball of spines wedged into my left calf muscle, Abi got the same into her hand, Hannes into his ankle and Russ into his leg. Only Julien (one of our Swiss friends) survived the assault but the day wasnt out before he had his fair share of pain.

Coming back home should have been easy, it was nearly all downhill but the wind had something to say about that. Instead of rolling nicely downhill, picking up speed like in some 1940's film, we were actually slowing down! It was insanely hard and absolutely knackering. I now really don't like biking in the wind! And the incident with Julien - a crappy woman driver took out the front wheel on his bike as he was waiting to cross at a road junction. No-one injured and the bike wasnt really damaged (i dont know or care about the car) but i gather she was quite shocked by the incident.

Once home, i changed and jumped in the pool which was a mistake. Somewhat ironically, the pool is insanely cold (i swear someone puts ice into it!) so despite being hot and sweaty all day, i rushed to have a hot shower at the end of it. So that was my interesting day this week, today (Sunday) ive got homework to do and just relaxing abit.

PHOTOS are up on the blog at long long last (thanks to Tim for his help - timnutt.blogspot.com). Go to the top right of the screen and select a folder. There was a photo from yesterday of me hugging a cactus, fortunately ive not put it on here but i understand it can be found on facebook if so desired along with one of me entitled 'American Idiot'. Check them out.

Laters