Day 9

Rest day!  We're staying in Catalina State Park, in Oro Valley near Tucson, AZ. It's a beautiful desert park, which means rattlesnake country.  And I saw one about 100 yards from our tent. 

Several of the riders are raising money for  charities: ALZ in the UK, St Louis Humane Society, Holocaust Survivors, camp for children with cancer, a school in Tanzania. 

There's a nice shopping area a few miles from here and we walked there to pick up a few things.  Some of the group went for a hike, a few went to the movies.  We're in the shade reading and chatting with other riders.  

We are getting to know the group.  There's Colleen and Randy riding a tandem.  She is the Captain and he is the Stoker.  Randy has a degenerative eye disease and is almost blind.  They look like they are in their 60's and are always smiling.  Just a beautiful couple.  

It's all good. 

~frances