Cathy's dumb Solo ride

[yzfcathy]

Ok, so today I took a little ride.

Tucson AZ, Reddington Road, Chiva, Solo (not too smart), a 60 mile ride.

First I went to Chiva, the falls, then the big rock garden. I had to turn around. But it wasn't the rock garden that got me (although it still might have) it was the water crossing just after all the rocks and right before that last horrific climb out.

I was so close. I was so tired too from picking up my bike and trying to lift and throw it over big rocks.

If I had brought tennis shoes, I would have put them on, left all that crap...bike, helmet, boots, etc...and walked out.

I always wondered if going back up out of Chiva was do-able. I guess so. I definitely wasn't getting across that water without sinking the bike. I had no choice but to turn around.

Did you know that when you get to that point also you are so close to Reddington Road, and home and beer and rest etc...you could practically throw a rock and hit the road from where I had to turn around.

pix to come...


The Map
I came in from Tucson on the left side of the map.



It started out peaceful enough. Cute little deer crossed in front of me and ran away. I guess she was afraid of ORANGE.



Nice morning.



The Falls, hello from Chiva



Good ride so far, early and cool temps still.






See the water, in the desert, in the summer.






The other little waterfall. One of my dead end tracks on the map above.



More water.




4426A to the tank




The tank.



Pretty flowers, nice pond, orange foreground. Life is good.



4426, here's where I should have turned around and regrouped on Reddington Road. But no, I had to press on, into "lower Chiva".



Off I go.



There's Tucson in the background.



I squinted at this map for a long while. I wanted to find another way out besides lower Chiva. I don't like the boulder field at the bottom, just before the final big gnarly climb out of there.
I couldn't find enough detail on this map to decide which way to turn, so I took a guess and went left. I thought right was into lower Chiva, I was wrong.


To be continued...

[GB]

Pretty gnarly and going solo? wow!

[Liberia]

You sure piced a great place to ride. The scenery is beautiful and the photos are very clear and crisp. Thanks for sharing it with us.

[HoosierTrailmaster]

Originally Posted by Gadget Boy

Pretty gnarly and going solo? wow!

Don't let the name "Cathy" fool you...she is one of the better riders in Tucson...period.

[yzfcathy]

...continued


Dropping down in. I figued now it would be better to press on instead of try to go back up what I was going down. Even the boulder field coming up seemed like a better option than going back out the way I came.



Argh, this looks like work. Not necessarily a smart solo ride route.
Never again.



Some of it is pretty though.



It only took me a half hour or so to go 20 feet.



Nw I am in as far as I'm going to go today. No more. The bike is standing up on it's own, buried in the sand.



This big sand hill wasn't here last time we rode in.



Neither was all this water. If I could have built a raft to get the bike over I would have, anything to avoid riding back out the way I came in.



As soon as I get this bike turned around...
....yeah, as soon as I get this bike turned around, I'm going to find shade again to rest up for going back through the boulders and the first big climb outta here.



Doesn't look like much of a water crossing. It got my attention though.
If I don't make the crossing and I get swamped in the middle of it, that will mean walking out (without tennis shoes).




I called "Uncle" and turned tail for home. Too much water for me today.



On the way back out, every climb felt like the hill formerly known as Manhood Mountain (Hello Kitty Hill). I had no energy and opted to hit each climb in the highest gear I could. I didn't want to have to pick up the bike any more and I didn't want to get stuck halfway up any hills. Way too much work after my long morning.

I didn't stop for any pix on the way out either. Time to get out, get more water and take a break. 60 miles and I'm toast.

[yzfcathy]

Disclaimer

This was really stupid. Kids, don't try this at home. Riding solo ain't too bright. Riding solo and not sticking to your original route plan, is really, really stupid.

[seabee1]

kinda depends on your competency level. looks like you were able to handle everything fine, and even knew your limitations. that's the hard part.
thanks for the report and pics.

[midengineracer]

Originally Posted by seabee1

kinda depends on your competency level. looks like you were able to handle everything fine, and even knew your limitations. that's the hard part.
thanks for the report and pics.

She was getting at how close to the edge she was. That's my take anyway!

Looking forward to seeing this stuff Sunday, are you coming out to do it again Cathy?

The rock garden has changed quite a bit, the path to the side might (probably) not be there anymore...
For that matter, I don't recognize several of the pics.

You crossed my arch-nemesis ledge twice. The one that isn't as hard as I make it in my head (near impossible). Good job, I always wondered if I would make it up that ledge if I ever ran the loop in reverse.

[yzfcathy]

Having the proper motivation (thirst, fear, beer at the end of the tunnel etc) does wonders when it comes to crawling back out of something nasty.

There is not a way around the boulders. If the water level drops by Sunday you may be able to get through. The sand is deep and soft, so hit it hard. There is no way to lift the front wheel though. That was the main problem I saw with trying to make that little crossing.

Even with a group of riders, if you sawmp your bike, you're still leaving the bike to retrieve later.

....and no I won't be riding with y'all this weekend, I am working like a dawg again.
Have fun, bring your water wings girls!

[yzfcathy]

Originally Posted by seabee1

kinda depends on your competency level. looks like you were able to handle everything fine, and even knew your limitations. that's the hard part.
thanks for the report and pics.

Today my legs still feel like rubber. Kind of like after you get to a cool ski resort and ski 3 days straight, then it dumps a foot of fresh and you go out again the next morning, even though you can hardly stand up 'cause your quads are burning so much.

...and I thought it would be my arms, since they weren't working worth a darn coming out.

Glad you enjoy the post. Thanks for stopping in and commenting.

[ekms377]

Cathy....I see you are finally riding orange....cool !

Good report.....I will be in AZ this Nov. for vacation.

Going to try and ride Sycamore and Payson.....maybe one more.

[yzfcathy]

Originally Posted by ekms377

Cathy....I see you are finally riding orange....cool !

Good report.....I will be in AZ this Nov. for vacation.

Going to try and ride Sycamore and Payson.....maybe one more.

Look here, all my homies coming out of the woodwork. Come stay with us Eric. Only one orange bike, but we got others you can ride too. I miss my 125.....ringgggg, ringgggg, ringggg, ringgggg, ringgggg

[Vinbowie]

Fun ride.
You are so cool !

[Jafo28]

Nice RR! Way to keep your head about you and turn around when you knew it was time!

[Colemanfu]

Good report and important to know your limitations but....... what's the deal with the water fear? Did not look deep was it a soft bike eating bottom? Those orange bikes are real swimmers. A few runs in Floriduh and ya learn your bikes water limitations quick.

LC4e aqua edition in action on a dry FL trail.