Random Thoughts

This picture was taken from "A" mountain and shows the church I used to attend. However, I stopped attending after 9-11. Which is ironic, because a lot of people flocked to their local churches after this event.

The events of 9-11 were a turning point for me regarding my views of the church I attended. I knew the pastor and congregation would see this horrible event as a prophetic sign that the end was near. I, on the other hand, saw it as a horrible terrorist attack which had no link to the second coming of Christ. Furthermore, I could no longer hold a blind eye to the primitive fundamentalist views of the church organization that I grew up in. It is as if they had a stone age explanation to the world around them. Plus, I had to realized that I could never change them, just by explaining to them a different way to view the scriptures. So, I never returned.

Back in the Saddle

Two days after suffering my first injury, I woke up this morning determine to reconquer the mountain. How could I not? We actually got rain last night which meant the air would be clean and views of and from the mountain would be fantastic. Plus, it was still raining when I woke up.

As I started out on my trip, I actually felt cold from the rain and had second thoughts about making it to the top. Then I realized how silly it was for me to be complaining about being a little cold after one of the hottest summers I've experienced. So, I pressed on.

There was an unusual amount of foot and bicycle traffic on the mountain this morning. It is amazing that rain and cooler weather actually brings people out in Tucson. I was glad to be out and didn't experience any hip pain as I biked.

I caught this picture on my half-way point. The view of the desert with the dark sky as a backdrop was spectacular and made me feel good about being in Tucson.



When I got to the gazebo, I saw a roadrunner along the path. I always see roadrunners up here. I actually was able to get a picture of it before it ran off, however.



And, then caught this image of the city before making my way down. I'm glad I live in Tucson.

First Bicycle Injury

Yesterday, I had a typical, but wonderful trip up A-mountain. As I was coming down the mountain, I noticed two bicycle cops biking up the mountain. Although I think it is is a waste of tax dollars for them the patrol the mountain for speeding bicyclist, I think it is a good way for them to get some exercise.

Like always, I stop at the gazebo before coming down. While there I noticed a roadrunner and a hawk in some bushes. I'm not sure what they were up to, but the hawk flew away and the roadrunner ran away before I could get a picture of them.

If you click on this picture, you can see the Star Pass Resort in the background.



After I got home from my trip, I cooked breakfast, showered and went to work. However, when I got up to go to lunch, I would barely walk due to pain in my right hip. However, I did manage to managed to walk to my car and go home for lunch. Throughout the rest of the day, the pain came and went. Today, Tuesday, I decided to stay home from work and rest. Unfortunately, the sauna at the YMCA was out of commission.

Evidently, knee and hip injuries are very common for bicyclist. One of the causes for such injuries can be linked to incorrect heights for the saddle. So, when I'm better, I will have to check to make sure my seat is adjusted to the correct position.

Friday, after I biked the mountain, I rode around the courtyard in front of my house and caught this picture of Inertia.

A-mountain (Sentinel Peak) Bike Trips -- Catch up

I've been biking A-mountain every other morning (Monday - Friday) for the last four weeks. Ever since I had my first morning bike ride, I have wanted to capture my thoughts and pictures of my morning trips. So, I have finally gotten around to writing about my adventures and have even bought a camera so that I can capture what I see.

As I start out on my bike trips, I will stop and look at the mountain and think how daunting of a task it will be to get to the top. I guess if I were to focus on the top, I wouldn't make it.

When I first started to bike A-mountain, I would have several places where I would stop and rest. I consider the place in this picture the half-way point.

After resting at the half-way point, I would turn to, again, look at A-mountain. Now, the top seems within reach.  The gazebo is in view, now. The peak of A-mountain is on the left and the gazebo is on the right.