Spring Road Trip: Arizona

As some of you are aware, Conor has taken a real liking to cycling the past 15 months. He loves it. I love that he loves it and the adventures it provided the past year. Not so much him being gone most every weekend on a long ride--but that's part of the territory and training he embarked on for his ultimate goal to ride in Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP). Conor was already commuting to and from work in downtown Houston and decided he wanted to do some longer rides like he had done growing up. He found a local randonneuring group to join and had long-distance rides to complete by the end of 2010 and first half of 2011. Lets just say a short ride to Conor is 40-50 miles. Needless to say, I haven't ever joined him. He feels we have plenty of years to work on that; I like his optimism. To read more about his cycling and getting inside his brain, or behind-the-scenes action, check out his blog. It's quite entertaining and I've actually been able to learn what his rides were really like. Not the, "pretty good" statements I was getting out of him after he had to sleep for hours to recoop.

In order to qualify for the PBP ride, Conor needed to complete a 600km ride. He found one in Arizona this Spring and thought it would be fun to take a trip. We strapped on his bike, loaded up the car and headed off for our adventure, taking a new route along the TX/Mexico border. Exciting and never plan to take that route again. The ride was around Tucson area. We went to Tombstone and played around a bit before, stayed in Sonoita at a charming inn, and wound up back where he started all the fun.

Slush Monkey--how could you pass that up?!

Miles and miles of road. Flat road.

One of my drive-by photos from the car. Could be New Mexico.

Conor in Tombstone, AZ--charming western town, albeit commercialized.

Store owner picked this hat out for me and told me how good I looked. LOL!

Quite excited over his locally brewed sarsparilla.

We had a dishwasher at hotel and it ate my plastic lid. Not to mention the horrid smell!!!

Conor all prepped the night before his big ride.

It was early--yes, I actually woke up and saw him off!

Scenes from Conor's ride along the route.

He slept a few hours at the Sonoita Inn where I stayed. I couldn't believe the amount of salt that sweat out of his body. Had to take some pics of the crusted salt on his helmet straps!!!

This has to be the funniest thing I've ever read. LOVE that he got a pic of it!!!

All finished!!! He made it. Had to show more of the salt on his face--and the sweet hair! : )

This is where we stayed. It was rather charming inside and all rooms were different.

Only place to eat--and the location of the wedding Jubi went to--see below. The wedding party stayed at the Inn.
I even met the bride and groom over breakfast. Now we're Facebook friends. Don't you love life?!

Across the street from Inn. All the businesses in town were housed there.

This sign cracks me up. Good thing we already had their number.

From my room. Watching for Conor--but I must have missed him!

My friend I met at the Inn, Jubi. She's from Luxembourg and flew out for a wedding.
I taught her how to eat an English muffin at breakfast and we bonded. : )