Today we went on a long bike ride. It was great to be out and about. The path we found was pretty nice with some nice scenery, a close view of the airport, and a water-filled river for half the path.
The bike path is called the Rio Salado Pathway, and it runs along the Salt River. The path is partly on one bank of the river and partly on the other, with a cool bike/pedestrian bridge connecting them. At the bridge, there is a dam and beyond it the river is a dry rocky bed. It is a pretty flat trail, although it sloped slightly down on our way out and up on our way back, which we discovered as we were riding.
We started on the path on the side with the shorter path (parking at lot at E. Curry and N. Miller Rd.). The view was the beautiful river and upscale apartment buildings.
The bike path is called the Rio Salado Pathway, and it runs along the Salt River. The path is partly on one bank of the river and partly on the other, with a cool bike/pedestrian bridge connecting them. At the bridge, there is a dam and beyond it the river is a dry rocky bed. It is a pretty flat trail, although it sloped slightly down on our way out and up on our way back, which we discovered as we were riding.
We started on the path on the side with the shorter path (parking at lot at E. Curry and N. Miller Rd.). The view was the beautiful river and upscale apartment buildings.
Start of the path.
Then we crossed the bridge. On the other side of the river, the trail is longer. Half goes to the right, half goes to the left. We decided to go right toward the airport and then see how we felt when we got back to the bridge about going farther.
Once we crossed the bridge, the view was flat, brown, and commercial/industrial. Up aways we got to the airport, which was cool. We rode a ways past that with pretty much the same view. Scott noticed that there was a garbage dump across from the airport (the airport was across the river bed and the dump was next to the path). He noticed a smell, but I didn't.
Past the airport we saw mounds of rocks with tubing poking out. There was a small sign next to one and Scott found out that they were habitats for burrowing owls!
We didn't see any owls, but here's what they look like.
By © Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=113869278
When we turned around and the grade started to rise, I was feeling pretty tired. My foot was doing fine, it was my legs and the stupid bike seat. I don't get why they can't make comfortable seats. At one point, the grade was too steep and I had to walk the bike. Scott took both bikes for me.
All in all a nice ride. We rode for 2.5 hours.
When we came back, I made dinner. We were starved. Then Scott went to the pool, but wound up in the hot tub.
When we came back, I made dinner. We were starved. Then Scott went to the pool, but wound up in the hot tub.
When he came back, he made a fire, and joined a conference call while I practiced. I came out later and sat by the fire.
Then we played Spectrangle, which he won by a lot because you have to think strategically. I'm not sure I want to play again! Then we played cards. I watched some of the Australian Open.
Finally, we went to bed and watched some tennis and an episode of Tracker. Scott wasn't awake for much of it.
Finally, we went to bed and watched some tennis and an episode of Tracker. Scott wasn't awake for much of it.