Hiking Sabino Canyon

What a small world: Virginia, our hiking guide yesterday, had lived in Augsburg, our home town for nine years, working at the rec center of one of our military posts in town. We lived closeby at the time and always listened/watched AFN network. We went to the PX to get „Sports Illustrated“, comics and chewing gum, had our pulls to get into „Gym # 1“ for basketball games and were there on July 4th for BBQ and fireworks. Good memories...

Yesterday's ranch dinner consisted of a „Cowboy BBQ“, open-air with entertainment, steaks, burgers, chicken etc. and all the sides. At this occasion we met again with this very handsome, talented country music singer, Joe Barr, who we got to know last year at Apache Spirit Ranch closeby Tombstone. Then he was playing in front of 4 guests, two of them being us, now in front of more than 100. Also, we met with a couple from Tucson (the BBQ was open to the public) and had good conversation at the table. Actually it’s been the only people we talked to at the ranch. Pretty "special" guests there, rather snobbish and not very talkative. Happens rarely with Americans otherwise.

This morning - at just about 70 deg. F (20 C) and clouds - we were undecided about a „breakfast ride“ but after we had seen the large groups (up to 15) and the modus operandi we skipped the thought. It would just have meant to sit on a horse on "autopilot", riding in line, „butt-to-nose“. Instead, we had a hearty breakfast from the buffet at the ranch restaurant and departed afterwards. We stopped by at the Saguaro National Park East’s Visitor Center, but didn't spend much time there. Decided instead to go for a hike in Sabino Canyon, just about 15 min. away.


Sabino Canyon is kind of a "playground" for the Tucson city dwellers, and very crowded on weekends. After we'd found parking, we took the tourist tram up the Canyon and hiked the 5,5 mi. (9 km) back, pretty narrow, steep and rocky trails, which offered great views. Since it was not hot at all, it was a piece of cake for us. Not too many people around up on the trails - most either took the tram back or just walked on the paved road. It took us a little over two hours, but it was a beautiful hike through the canyon, where still a couple of water pools were left despite of the drought the whole state is currently suffering from. There were reports about a mountain lion having been seen recently in the canyon, but we just saw gorgeously blooming cacti.



At 3:30 pm we checked in our hotel in Tucson, a „historic" hotel, meaning: rooms as big as our dining room (tiny), no TV, just a shower, and, strategic planning was necessary in regard to the storing of our luggage. Departed a little later again to return our rental car at Tucson Airport. Got a 50-min. „neighborhood tour“ for $ 1,50 by public bus through the (mostly mexican) southern Tucson neighborhoods (the wealthier people seem to live to the north).
For a beer and a bite to eat afterwards we went to „World of Beer“, just across our hotel, the Congress Hotel. Did you ever have to form to sign at a hotel, saying that it’s prohibited to bring alcohol into your room? Pretended reason: there is a bar and a club on premises. Hmmmm, what were we supposed to do with our provisions for the train…???
Somehow I have hurt my right ankle on the hike, didn't even notice, but it's swollen now and needed an ice bag. Glad to get some rest on the train from tomorrow morning (monday) till wednesday ... though there is no internet on the train... How the heck will we survive the train trip?

Tomorrow morning at around 7 am we plan to bring our large luggage to the AMTRAK station across the street to check it in, then back to the hotel to grab our „hand“ luggage which we will take with us on the train. Inbetween, we will have a cup of coffee, hoping that the train will be on time: 8:15 am - departure for Chicago.