Saturday, March 24th
We rode the trail from Highway 83 SOUTH to Gardner TH on the east side of the Santa Ritas . ( We rode that direction because there was no place to camp at the N end of that segment .) First the trail was through rolling hills with a few live oaks; grass up to our knees when riding .
I had become conserned about Billy getting a hair rub at the back of the saddle and didn’t know what to do about it. As we rode along this segment we came across a discarded Mexican blanket . Ron had a sharp knife, so we cut out a rectangle of blanket for Billy’s back and it has worked fine ever since.
We rode through Kentucky Camp, an historical site for mining that is being restored . In conjunction with the buildings at that site there were old aquaducts and 2’ diameter riveted pipe that the AZT follows through this area .
For a while in camp we had the sound of mother cows bawling for their calves . ( The cowboy had driven them all in to the home range that day. ) The next morning the white faced cows and calves were reunited and heading back out along the trail past our camp .
There was frost on the tents that night .


Sunday March 25
We started at Sahuarita Rd.on Highway 83 and rode north toward I-10 . The trail was gently rolling hills with Hedgehog cactus and Ocotillo leafing and budding out . Under I-10 through a long tunnel . Ron had to take down a 2 strand fence at the N end of the tunnel (and back up)then there was a narrow ledge/edge to get around a big pour-off “pond” from the wash coming through the tunnel . NE to the high rim of Davidson Canyon; followed that to Cienega Creek Three Bridges . We finally learned from asking people stopping at the overlook, where to pick up the trail . Ron took down and put up another fence, and we were on our way . Only to be stopped again in about ¼ mile by another fence that we could not get through . So called my daughter Cris, who lives in Tucson, to please come out and get Dick and tell him where we were . Camped at a place on Pistol Hill Rd.

Monday, March 26
The Pistol Hill camp had great views of the Rincons; morning sun and evening sunset ! We now rode south again to see the section that we had been unable to get to the day before. Went through Colossal Cave Park; cottonwood trees in new spring leaf; huge perfect sahuaros with no blemishes; squatty (sometimes tall ) fish hook barrel cactus ready to bloom . a Disney-like castle on a hill watered the mules at the riding stable – Sara was so fun there ate lunch at a picnic table under huge mesquite trees

Tuesday, March 27
Left Pistol Hill Rd. heading north. Great trail; gently rolling, following the contours of the land, great footing . Prickly Pear cactus with new pads….. the Rincons massing to the north, straight ahead of us . Got to Rincon Creek, cottonwoods, flowing water . Can’t find the trail . Head down stream toward where Dick will be . Get fenced . Head for some houses; find a hole in the fence . Ask directions . Riding the streets of a nice subdivision. A jogger offers to take one of us to Dick . We accept . Ron stays with the mules . Valerie (thejogger) and I go to get Dick . We are reunited .
Trailer to Turkey Creel TH over a prime contender for the Washboard Road of the Year award .
But this campground is really nice and a wonderful place to spend our day off !! (As I’m writing this the turkey vultures are taking off and circling low over the sycamores !)Tomorrow we go over the Rincons to Reddington Pass .

Tuesday, March 27
We are camped, taking a day off, at Turkey Creek TH on the east side of the Rincons . Huge sycamore trees and big Live Oaks, last years grass still 3-4’ tall . Last night about 50-60 vultures were circling looking to perch for the night . Also BIG winds last night, all night . But we were snug in our tents . I loved it !