Wednesday, March 13…Old Friends (Simon and Garfunkel)


   Got back to the campground around 3:30 to sunny skies and dried up mud puddles.  And the very real possibility that Kim would be able to image tonight.  👍

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   Spent the morning with Bryan and Linda visiting the artisan shops in Tubac.  Then we headed back to Green Valley for a luncheon date with Jerry and Denise Cole, who are both former co-workers of Kim’s. They’re been  retired now for 4 or 5 years…spend the winters in Green Valley and the rest of the year back in Munising, MI.  Kim hasn’t see them since his own retirement in 2004.  Kim knew that they winter down here and both of us are glad that we made the time to see them.  While this was my first time meeting them, it was like we were all old friends.  I like it when that happens. 😊  

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   Green Valley is about 25 miles from Tucson on I-19, which is the only highway in America which uses the metric system to designate distances.  While the speed limit signs indicate the speed in miles per hour (65 mph), all the distance/exit signs use kilometers.  When I-19 was under construction there was a push toward using the metric system even though I-19 was ready for it…businesses had also incorporated the metric exit numbers in advertising their location.  The decision was eventually made to replace the metric unit signs with standard mileage signs.  To avoid the cost crunch of total replacement, signs would be replaced as future construction projects were completed.  For instance, new signs using the standard American unit of measurement miles) were put into place between Exit 99 and Exit 101 after the completion of the new I-10 and I-19 interchange.  However, that idea was put on hold due to local opposition, particularly from those businesses that would have to change their advertising.   
   So I-19 is quirky and holds a unique position in the United States highway system…it should be designated as  the Highway of Confusion.
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   As we approached Tucson in the process of heading back to camp, Kim asked if Stellar Astronomy was very far out of our way.  I knew this would happen…that Kim wouldn’t be able to resist stopping at least once during our time here to see Frank.  It was maybe 6 miles off our route so I had Rapunzel direct us in…Kim just wanted to stop and say Hi!  He went in and I stayed in the truck to bask in the warmth of the sun.  I don’t know how long he was in there but he came out with a new telescope accessory in his hand…I knew that would happen, too. 😏
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   Two bicyclists pulled into the tent area early evening; we stopped to chat with them. They are Ronnie and Jim, a retired couple from the state of Washington on a cross country bike trip.  They had their bikes shipped down to San Diego which was their starting point and their end goal is Florida.  No support van…just the two of them having an adventure.  They have cycling maps and their planned route will generally keep them away from the highway, although apparently there are portions where they could ride the shoulder….they prefer not to.  It takes longer but the road less traveled is safer. I totally agree with that sentiment.  Although they rode 60 miles today, the plan is to get about 50 miles a day; completion time is estimated to be about 8 weeks. They’ll ship the bikes and hop a plane for home whenever the adventure is complete.  This isn’t Jim’s first cross country ride…he rode from Washington to Washington, D.C. several years ago and has taken many other long distance rides. However, this is Ronnie’s first big trip…and her last or so she says.   
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   We encountered a border patrol checkpoint between Tubac and Green Valley today.  I don’t know who provided the traffic cones at the checkpoint but it was not Bob’s Barricades…I checked.
    Encountered more traffic cones/signs west of Marana and these weren’t from Bob’s Barricades either.  These had Trafficade imprinted on the side of each cone.  Ahhh…there’s a local competitor for Bob’s Barricades. Did a google search and the website trafficade.com popped up. 
   Founded in 1990, Trafficade Service was the dream and vision of Jeff Johnson. As a high-school senior, Jeff began his enterprise with a handful of homemade barricades, the help of his father, and his father’s pick-up truck. His parents’ garage and backyard was his starting facility. He printed flyers and began calling on small excavating and paving contractors. With hard work, determination, and dedication to a higher level of customer service, the company began to grow by referrals alone for the next ten years.
  Today, Trafficade is one of the largest privately owned traffic safety companies in the nation, owned by the Johnson family. With a staff of over 270 people, and over 200 vehicles, most municipalities, utilities, and contractors rely on Trafficade’s 24-hour prompt, dependable, and professional service. With growth also came diversification, and today, our 4 divisions assist our customers with their complete work zone needs, including traffic control, steel road plates, pavement milling, asphalt sawing, trench shoring equipment, and asphalt trench and repair paving. Our well-experienced customer service representatives assist customers with coordinating the various services we offer, until we truly become a partner in the work zone, saving our customers time and money.
   I like this because it gave the history of the company’s origins.  The website for Bob’s Barricades wasn’t very satisfying in that regard. 
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   I doubt I’m going to get my 10,000 steps today…sitting a little over 7,500 right now and I’m not motivated enough to walk around the camp in the dark.  Today walking took a backseat to visiting and driving.  I did get a short walk in when we got back, just not the usual 3 miles. 
   Monday when we rode to Coolidge, I realized about ½ mile down the road I still had my Fitbit on.  I knew I was taking a chance when I took it off and stuffed it in my jacket pocket instead of bringing it back to camp.  It wasn’t on my wrist absorbing the vibration of the bike so I was hopeful the step count wouldn’t artificially inflate.  I was very pleased to see that my step count didn’t increase while riding…however it still counted the steps that I earned walking into the store. I may have inadvertently discovered how to have my cake and eat it, too or put another way…ride and count only the actual steps taken. 
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No bike miles today

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