This morning I woke up and decided I wanted to take a ride to somewhere I hadn't been to since I was a kid.
I started out with a short trip to a nearby coffee shop to have a bagel and coffee with my wife, then she went to go watch our granddaughter play soccer and I headed for the hills...literally.
Today I will be riding to and up South Mountain, it is an ancient ridge of mountains pushed up by tectonic plates crashing into each other millennia ago. South Mountain regional park is the largest regional park in the United States and all the surrounding land is a preserve, made so by President Calvin Coolidge.
I turn South from my house and ride through flat farmland ,dairy farms and I cut across the corner of the Gila River Indian reservation, headed for the loosely knit community of Laveen, settled in the 1800's , originally a farming community, now home to big homes on acreages and horse lots. The South Mountains start to loom up.
That's when I run into the Del Monte Market.
This market has been here and in continuous operation for 110 years! Earning it the honor of being the oldest continuously operated store in Arizona and a place on the historic register. They have a hitching post on the side of the building that still gets used by horseback riders.
I soon reach the turn in to South Mountain Park. This really is a beloved destination for Phoenix equestrians, bicycle riders, and hikers, with over 150 miles of horse trails and hiking trails of every level of challenge.
Almost immediately the road starts to head up. In just about seven miles it will go from sea level to nearly 3000 feet.
Photos do not do this road justice. It is way beyond twisty, it's one blind corner after another, it's one hairpin turn after another and the road is very narrow, very steep and has precipitous drop offs with no guard rail in many locations. It is simply impossible to photograph the really treacherous areas because there is no where to pull off the road.
Getting close to the top , I see where I want to end up, the broadcast TV and radio towers at the summit.
Here I am at a scenic overlook prior to the last leg up to the summit. That's downtown Phoenix over my left shoulder, about 15 miles out and 2500 feet down.
Back on the road, still some altitude to gain, a bunch more twisties and the towers are in reach.
Up the road a ways there is one final look out. A circular lot with 360 degree views in all directions, really impressive. Check out the hawk doing a fly by straight up above my front fender.
Nothing left to do but turn around now, but before I left I stopped at the beautiful, modern visitors center near the entrance, that tells all about the history, the wildlife and geology of the area.
I learned that there was an ancient Indian people, the Hohokams that lived here as far back as 300 AD and you can still see their petroglyphs on some of the hiking trails.
It's also home to the nations largest population of Chuckwalla lizards, including this unique fella, the carrot tailed Chuckwalla, who can only be found in these mountains.
Well, this was fun, all in around 60 miles , it was an easy ride, but interesting. Dan Akroyd was right, two wheeled therapy is the best!
Until next time,
Bob