Here’s wishing everybody a very Happy Easter and spring break (if you plan to take one). I’m recently back after cruising the beautiful scenery of southern Arizona, which was terrific! My husband and I explored all around Tucson and also enjoyed a week bicycling southeast of there and staying in the small towns of Patagonia, Tombstone, Bisbee, and Sierra Vista. We biked in a 50 person group with the organization Adventure Cycling Association, which is an excellent nonprofit that promotes bicycling and offers tours in the States. You might know of it, if not I heartily recommend its “adventures.”
We camped a bit on the trip, which was pretty bold for me as I’m not usually a camper (what was I trying to prove?) — and the mornings in the desert were quite brisk. It felt like frost one morning and I recall tepidly putting my feet into what seemed like frozen shoes. Ouch. But luckily every day warmed up very quickly and by midday we were cycling our 40 or 50 daily miles, slathered with sunscreen and worried about too much heat. The sun there is very intense, especially for pale Canadians! Now I have weird tan marks all over and feel like a zebra when wearing shorts.
Some of the sites we saw and would recommend are: hiking in the Sonoran Desert amid all the spectacular cactus including the tall Saguaro cacti; visiting the Kartchner Caverns with its remarkable mineral deposits and formations; touring the Desert Museum outside Tucson, which is an immersive outdoor experience and is considered one of top museums in the country; taking a tour at the Titan Missile Museum, which offers a daunting look at a nuclear weapon system and underground facility the U.S. had on standby during the Cold War; and lastly, taking a mine or museum tour in the town of Bisbee, which lies amid the Mule Mountains and is world renowned for its diverse minerals and wealth of copper.
Who knew so much was there? I suspect this is only a tip of the iceberg in southern Arizona. We’ll have to go back sometime for more.
Meanwhile my reading didn’t fare as well as my sightseeing, but I’m midway through Canadian author Elizabeth Hay’s novel “Late Nights on Air” which won the Giller Prize in 2007 and takes place at a radio station in the far northern Canadian town of Yellowknife in 1975. I’m liking it so far, though not a lot has happened. I’m also almost done with the audiobook of Ben Fountain’s 2012 award-winning novel “Billy Lynne’s Long Halftime Walk,” which I almost put down at first but now is gaining ground with me. I should be finished soon so tune in next week for reviews of these two books.
The one book I did finish this past week was a short-ish one by a friend of mine whom I met at the dog park. We walk our dogs together there at times and that’s where I first learned of her funny sense of humor. After a couple years of going to the park, she told me of the book she was writing for women about coping after they’ve been dumped in relationships with men, and I agreed to read it. (She writes under the pseudonym Jade Edgal, how cool is that?)
Her self-published book “Dumped: Mockery, Blame, Revenge & Other Coping Strategies for Women” is quite a funny lambasting of the male species — as we know it — and a guide on how women can avoid becoming jilted fools and how to prevent relationship train wrecks in the future. I laughed while reading it. Quirky, sarcastic, absurd, and rather wicked, “Dumped” is not only a humor book but is also a helpful, truthful guide to moving on with one’s life after a terrible breakup. If you’re in such a mess, or if dating isn’t going well for you, you might find it helpful to pick up this book that’s filled with considerable levity and insight. It includes examples from the author’s personal experiences and from life in general. If you’ve ever been dumped, then you might find yourself laughing — as I did — instead of weeping into your bowl of soup.
Meanwhile this coming week I have a lot of catching up to do, and I hope to visit all of your blog postings, which I missed while I was away. So I’ll be in touch!
What about you — have you been to southern Arizona or do you plan to take a trip somwhere this spring? Or have you read Ben Fountain’s or Elizabeth Hay’s books? And if so, what did you think?
PS. Who is this slow person to the left? And would she mind staying to the far right of the bike path! While I’m back home now in Canada, I can’t help but bring on some more Arizona dreaming.
Happy Easter! What a marvelous trip. I have been to Arizona but we drove and hiked. It was gorgeous with quite surprising swings in temperature. I’m impressed you did this all on bike. I love the cover of your friend’s book, Dumped. I’m sure it will help many women during difficult times. I haven’t read Fountain’s or Hay’s books.
Thanks Sarah. Yeah I laughed at the book cover of Dumped. The solitary pink toothbrush is pretty good. Arizona does have big temperature swings — the desert being both cold & hot at different times during the day. Glad you stopped by.
I’ve only been to a little bit of Arizona (Grand Canyon) but I’d love to visit again. Thanks for sharing your highlights!
Thanks Deb. It’s tough to beat the Grand Canyon, wowsa. I went there long ago when I was in junior high! I’d like to go back to northern Arizona too.
Happy Easter, Susan! Sounds like a wonderful trip! I briefly visited Arizona when I visited the Hoover Dam 30 years ago! Very briefly as I drove and parked the car to look at the dam while visiting Las Vegas. The bike trip sounds great!
Dumped sounds like a fun read. (At least fun if you don’t need it at the moment) Thanks for sharing and have a great week!
Thanks Suzanne. I think my husband (engineer nerd) would love to visit the Hoover Dam. I wouldn’t mind either. Yeah the book Dumped is probably easier to read if the dumping has occurred in the distant past, otherwise it might not be as fun!
How lovely your photos are. Wishing you a Happy Easter.
Thanks Diane! Happy Easter to you too. It was difficult to pick just a few photos from a vast array!
I have enjoyed some trips to Arizona…usually my favorite place is Sedona, but the whole desert feels like a wonderful change from daily life. Great photos! Thanks for sharing.
Dumped sounds like a good one.
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Hi Laurel, I would love to visit Sedona sometime. I’ve heard such wonderful things about it. Maybe next time more of northern Arizona! Thanks for stopping by. I’ll tune in to your site soon!
Glad to have you back, Susan. The pictures are lovely, and it sure looks like you had a great time. I hope to cycle like you one day. 🙂 Inspiring.
I am definitely going to read ‘Dumped’. Thank you for introducing me to a new author. 🙂
Thanks Deepika. I’m trying to get into cycling shape for the summer months. I guess it’s an activity I really like. I warn you Dumped is a bit out there comical but I’d be interested to hear what you think.
Happy Easter, Susan! What a great trip you took, and sounds like you had a blast.
How cool is to know an author up close! Dumped sounds like a good and satisfying read.
Thanks Carmen. Happy Easter to you too! The trip was good and now I feel a bit renewed from the everyday. Dumped is a bit of a hoot — maybe too because I know her. Cheers.
Your bike trip sounded like so much fun. I am so out of shape I could never do it without becoming crippled after the first day! Ha! Maybe it should be a goal.
Here is my Sunday Salon: http://headfullofbooks.blogspot.com/2016/03/sunday-salonhappy-easter.html
Yeah Anne it was my first bicycling of the year so my rear hurt quite a bit from the seat, ouch! But I finally adapted. If you take exercise little by little, it’s a better way to get to one’s goal. I should’ve done that. Thx and Happy Easter. Will visit your site soon.
Cycling 50 miles a day AND camping?! I am in awe.
Sounds like you made the most of a great vacation experience.
Thanks Molly. Yeah I think I should get an award for the camping part. Cycling is fun but I’d rather have the luxury of a hotel afterwards! All in all though, we did do a lot of neat things on our trip, which was cool!
I have read, and enjoyed, Billy Lynne’s Long Half Time Walk. Here is my review: http://keepthewisdom.blogspot.com/2013/04/billy-lynns-long-halftime-walk.html for when you finish it. I have been to Sedona where we took an amazing walk in the woods and found Narnia. (My imagination worked quite well there.) Also I recommend Mary
Doria Russell’s Doc, wonderful fiction about Doc Holiday, a book about the people behind the OK Corral. http://keepthewisdom.blogspot.com/2011/07/doc.html. I just learned she has a sequel coming out. I have never been a cycler since I was a kid but I admire your 40 to 50 mile days. OMG!
Thanks Judy. I’d like to visit Sedona sometime. The Doc Holiday book sounds good! and I look forward to comparing notes after I finish the Billy Lynne novel. It’s bitingly funny in places, wow who is this Ben Fountain?! He’s a bit of a hoot.
My family and I did a 10-day bicycling tour through France once, and I remember the pain in the behind. (Poor attempt at a pun here.) I did hike in Arizona, too, many years ago, and I know I’ll go back once the kids are old enough to appreciate such a trip. I also really enjoyed Billy Lynne, so I’m happy to hear that the book grew on you.
Yes TJ, much pain in the behind from biking, ha. Now I think I’m finally good to sit down. And yeah I’m almost done with the Billy Lynne book so I’ll compare notes with you once I finish. You beat to that one.
This makes me itch to get on my bike (except for the weather). It looks like you had a lot of fun!
The last two summers, we’ve taken our kids on a bike camping trip at the beginning of the summer, and have made it an annual event. We weren’t sure how it would go over, but they love it. We just go to nearby places, but it feels so good to get to one place from another under your own steam. I try really hard not to let that other voice of worry pop into my head. So far, I’ve done a pretty good job of it.
That’s wonderful Naomi. You’re teaching your kids great things by going on bike and camping. If they love it, that’s even better! Keep us posted when you take them again on your annual event.
Wow, what an adventure!! Can’t imagine cycling 40 or 50 miles and then camping. Either of those two would be a stretch for me… especially with my ‘beach cruiser’ 😉
Thanks JoAnn. It was a bit of a stretch to do this early in the season but we persevered. Mostly my rear hurt from the seat! But we still enjoyed it. I’m glad you like bicycling around when you’re in Florida; good fun!
What a great trip–love the photos. I’ve not been south of Flagstaff in AZ, but would love to explore the Tucson area, though perhaps not by bike. Kudos to you for doing so.
Late Nights on Air sounds like something I would like–will have to look for it.
Thanks Jane. I’ve been around Flagstaff long ago but I’d like to go back and do a northern tour of Arizona. There’s a lot of sites there to see.
I’m so sorry for your loss. What a sad time for you.
Thanks Kathy, all the words & sympathies have meant a lot to me. It’s quite a stunning & awful thing, even now a month later. It’s hard to believe.
I am very happy to have discovered your gorgeous blog. Your travel story is superb. Am curious to find out more.
Thanks R.T.! I had found your site through your comments on Judy’s site. So it’s nice to meet to a blogger living in Geneva. I can travel through your blog vicariously there!