Sabino Canyon

Hi all,
 Well we're on the move again. We left Tuesday morning heading for Gila Bend, AZ. It was a short 135 miles and once we got out of Tucson wasn't to bad.
 We are at a nothing fancy campground behind a gas station. Wendy had read some good reviews as a good cheap place to stay for a couple days. While here we plan to drive to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.
 Our plans after that are up in the air, we have just been to busy to make em.)
 Monday Wendy and I headed off to do a nearby hike in Sabino Canyon.  Dorlen and Darlene had other plans so we were by ourselves.

Sabino Canyon was only 8 miles from our home. This is one of the most scenic places in Tucson. It once was a popular swimming hole for pony soldiers in the 1800's. In the 1930's the CCC built a 3.8 mile road and into the Santa Catalina Mountains.

      Very different to us they operate a shuttle tram daily. It cost $8.00 and there are 9 stops along the road.

 We opted to take the tram up to the end of the road and then hike back on the Phoneline Trail.
 I was thinking piece of cake, riding up and hike the descending trail back. Wrong-- first you needed to hike about 1/2 mile up then it followed a long mountainside trail that went up and down and finally hit the switchbacks down at the end. Once down you were still left about a good mile to get back. Total distance was 5-1/2 miles.

Tucson

 We were taken back as this place was really busy. They had four double trams going pretty constant. When we unloaded there were 2 trams letting people off. Well it didn't turn out to bad as some people were hiking further up the canyon and some were walking down the road. Once out on the trail we had chose it thinned out pretty good.

 Monday night we treated Dorlen and Darlene to dinner to thank them for their gracious hospitality. We had a great time in Tucson.
 Oh and getting the RV out was as figured tricky. Dorlen had talked to his neighbor who had what looked to be a large turnabout to use. Well going in the entrance didn't work as there was a tree branch in the way. We routed to the exit and still brushed the branch more than I would have liked. Oh well, I'll just have to rub a little wax on her she should be ok.