February 19th - Picture Perfect

How do you spend the perfect day in Tucson?

11 hours
Cycling
Swimming
Hot sun, warm wind
A good book
BBQ
Olympics (Free on TV)

11 hours - The amount of sleep Barry got last night! This after a long day on the golf course watching the Accenture World Championship. btw: Dana was up at her usual 6:30......

Cycling - Dana and I spent about 1 1/2 on our bikes this morning. A nice easy spin after a week of no running for Barry. btw: Dana would have other words to describe the ride this morning. She did great but described the ride as "an all out workout" and hard work, but very satisfying. She hit 50 kph down the big hill. Her fastest yet!

Swimming - We had a good swim after we returned home from our ride. Very refreshing.

Hot sun, warm wind - While Dana hit the fabric store Barry kicked back and enjoyed the desert sun. Today the wind came up in the afternoon. Although the wind was brisk, it was warm.

A good book - Barry is reading "Reservation Blues" by Sherman Alexie. A very entertaining read.

BBQ - It's friday! Bbq'd turkey burgers coming up. Yummy! And of course, wine. Double yummy!

Olympics on TV - No CBC, Global or CTV here in Tucson. NBC is the official network in the USA. I must say, Bob Costas and the entire NBC crew are doing a very good job bringing the events and action to the US TV market. The reporting is balanced, respectful and informative. Big surprise, but a pleasant one none the less.

Hard to beat a day like today. We must be on vacation!

Golf and Old Planes in Tucson, February 15th to 18th

Without a doubt, the weather this week has been the best since we arrived in the desert. Mid to high 70's all week! Even the evenings have been warmish.....

While we rested on Monday: Late breakfast, tanning by the pool, swim after lunch, some grocery shopping, early to bed; Tuesday would see the beginning of 3 full days of fun activity. Tuesday morning we headed out to meet Mike and Darlene at the full practice day for golfers entered in the Accenture World Golf Championship. We met up with Mike and Darlene at the driving range at Dove Mountain Resort. This golf course is amazing. It is carved out of the desert. The fairways and greens are lush but the rough is really, really rough. Hit a ball in the rough and you can say goodbye ball.

The Tuesday practice day permitted spectators to take pictures of the golfers and obtain autographs from any of the 64 golfers playing in the Match Play Tournament. (http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/r470/) I have included 2 photos from Tuesday's event.

Sticking with golf, on Thursday we attended the 2nd round of the tournament. The first round was played on Wednesday. We followed Mike Weir for 4 holes. Unfortunately it wasn't a good day for Mike Weir as he lost his match to Paul Casey and was therefore eliminated from the tournament. We saw some amazing golf. These guys really are good!

Going back a day, on Wednesday we began the day with a hike into Sabino Canyon. Dana, Mike, Darlene and I hiked up the canyon for a mile or so and enjoyed the early morning air and cooler temperature. In the afternoon Dana and Darlene took in some retail therapy, shopping for fabric, while Mike and I took a tour of the Pima County Air Museum. I have included a couple of photos of the over 300 planes on display at the museum. Unfortunately we did not get to take the tour of the "Bone Yard" which is where the U.S.forces store over 4,500 aircraft in the open desert. We did however get to see some of the planes from the highway as we approached the museum. The "Bone Yard" is quite a sight. From the road you can see C130 Hercules aircraft for as far as the eye can see. You can also see F16, F18, A10, F117 Stealth fighters, bombers, you name it. I believe they have been moth-balled. Like I said, there are over 4,500 aircraft in the Bone Yard.

Unfortunately although Dana and Darlene found some fab fabric, photos are unavailable. Uncle Bob, you'll just have to wait and see!

It is now Thursday evening. We got home around 5:30. Mike and Darlene headed back to Mesa after our day of golf at the Accenture. We may have gotten a bit too much vitamin D today so it is time for showers and bed. Tomorrow we plan to rise early and get the bikes out for an early spin. That will be a game time decision........



Accenture World Golf championship, Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain Resort, Tucson, Arizona
Photo of Geoff Ogilvy, 2009 Champion


Photo of Canadian Mike Weir


Pima County Air Museum, inside Hangar dedicated to B29 Bombers


Pima County Air Museum

Trip to Mesa

I want to go back a couple of days and write a bit about our trip to Mesa to visit with Mike and Darlene at their vacation home in the Mesa Regal RV Resort. Friday, February 12th we loaded up the 4Runner for the 100 mile run up highways 77, 79 and 60 to Mesa. The trip up was uneventful. We saw many red tail hawks soaring and sitting on power transmission poles.

Our route took us through the city of Florence which is noteworthy for being the "Prison Capital" of Arizona. It is home to the Immigration Detention Centre (albeit not a prison, it looks like one to me), Arizona Detention Centre and the Arizona State Prison, which has the highest and baddest looking fences you ever want to see. I have included a picture of the ASP. Before we reached Mesa we had a look at the beautiful Superstition Mountains. The picture does not do them justice but does give one a sense of their beauty.

Mesa is a city, but it is like Burnaby is to Vancouver, kind of a suburb. Funny thing, Mesa is a "sister city" of Burnaby. Apparently there is an organization of sister cities, which we found out on Friday night when we attended a party hosted by the city of Mesa to celebrate the opening of the 2010 Olympic Games. The party was put on so that Canadians wintering in Mesa could get together and celebrate the occasion. There were taped messages, one from the Mayor of Burnaby, flags, national anthems sung, (retired) RCMP members is full red surge (they probably got something "free" for attending) and a ceremonial Olympic flame lighting by another retired mountie who was wearing his Olympic gear he got when he carried the Olympic flame on a leg of the torch relay journey across Canada. I have included a couple of pictures of the event which was held a Hohokum Park, the home of the Chicago Cubs during Spring Training and Cactus League play.

On Saturday we got the full tour of the Mesa Regal RV Resort. Now if you've never been to one these RV resorts, I got to tell you they are amazing. This one has "everything"! I mean everything, except maybe a running club although some guy did post a notice that he was looking to put together a trail running club. Okay, so they'll need to work on that. The following is a list of some of the amenities and activities offered:

2 swimming pool complexes
10, or so tennis courts, and lessons
Pickle ball courts
24 shuffle board courts
2 batting cages
Bocce Ball
Rolle Bolle courts
Woodworking shop, with all the equipment
Quilting and sewing
Library and Internet
Dances and parties
Live entertainment (concerts)

I have included a couple of pictures of some of the many wonderful facilities.

Saturday night we ventured out of Mesa Regal to attend the "Arizona Opry", not to be confused with the Arizona Opera. This was a dinner and "country music" show. There were about 500 people at the show. Very entertaining. We had a blast!

Sunday was the Lost Dutchman 1/2 Marathon. The story for that is already posted.

We'll be heading back to Mesa Regal on February 28th to spend a couple of days before we head north to find some snow so we can get some skiing in. We can't wait to visit with Mike and Darlene and enjoy their hospitality along with sampling some of the activities at Mesa Regal.



"uneventful" desert highway.


Arizona State Prison, Florence, Az.


Superstition Mountains





Hohokum Park (Cubs Spring Training Ballpark)

Dana, Retired Mounties, Darlene and Mike

Lost Dutchman 1/2 Marathon

Happy Valentine's Day!

Today I ran the Lost Dutchman 1/2 Marathon in Apache Junction, Arizona. Apache Jct. is essentially a suburb of Phoenix. It is located to the east of Phoenix in the shadow of the beautiful Superstition Mountains.

Race day began at 0545. Dana and I were staying with Mike and Darlene at their vacation home at Mesa Regal RV Resort in Mesa, Az. Similar to Apache Junction, Mesa is an incorporated city, but also considered to be a suburb of Phoenix. We drove up to Mesa from Tucson on Friday. More on that later.

After a quick bowl of oatmeal Dana and I headed for the race start area in Apache Jct, a short 25 minute drive. Soon I was in the starting area along with the other 1,100 athletes. At 0730, after the playing of the "Star Spangled Banner," the gun went off and the race was on. Racing in dry, sunny and warm condition seemed so odd given my past several races. The only thing I had to contend with was running into the sun. The 21 kilometre race is an "out and back" course. On the way out I was happy that it was slightly downhill. Of course that meant that the return leg would be slightly uphill, a thought I tried to keep out of my mind as long as possible.

I went out in 54 minutes. I was feeling okay. I made the turn only to discover that in addition to the uphill return, the wind had picked up and I would have to run into that for most of the return. One of the hills began at the 13 km mark and went on for about 4 kms. I have to admit that by the time I got to the top I was running low on gas. Another gel and I was feeling better. I ran the last 3 kms at sub 5 minute kms so I felt pretty good about that. I admit that when I saw the finish area I thought, "Thank God!", and also I was hoping not to puke at the finish area....

I am pretty pleased with my results. I finished with a time of 1 hour 51 minutes. I finished 7th out of 44 in my age group, and overall 169th out of 1,100 athletes.

One of the neat things about this event is that there were 5 events, all with start times that brought finishers together. I was finishing with some 8k cross country racers and 10k road racers. A few minutes after I finished the announcer told the crowd that the first marathoner was entering the finish area.

I have included a few pictures from race day. The pics were taken by my agent, publicist, trainer, coach, chauffeur, nutritionist, massage therapist and Valentine Sweetheart, Dana, who is always there to get me to the start line and pick me up at the finish line. Thank you, thank you, thank you, sweetie Dana!!!!!!



Pre-race "tech" check".


Strong finish!! (Oh, god, don't puke now!!! And, smile for the camera. Yikes!)

February 11th

The sunshine did indeed return to the desert today. We were up at 0700 this morning for a nice 8k run in Sabino Canyon Park. This was Barry's last run before the 1/2 marathon on Sunday up in Apache Junction. After breakfast and showers we were ready for lunch. Okay, so it was a slow morning, all part of the training program. Really!

Afternoon brought warmer temperatures. This could mean only one thing. Pool time! Dana swam, Barry read a book and enjoyed the rays. Returned home in time for dinner. Real tough day. Actually, this is all part of Barry's training program for the run on Sunday. Really!

Tomorrow morning we load up and head north 100 miles to Mesa where Mike and Darlene are residing at Mesa Regal Resort & Country Club. Our plan is to head to Hohokum Park, where the Cubs play spring baseball, and take in a Snowbird sponsored 2010 Olympic opening ceremony event. Should be a blast! This also part of the training program. Really!

Looking back at our tour of Tucson on February 9th, there were a couple of pictures that I wanted to share. In the first one the sign is a bit faded. It is probably from the 1940's. The sign says "Swimming Pool - Refrigerated - Pueblo Hotel and Apartments". I wonder what is refrigerated. The pool? With temperatures reaching 105 degrees F in the summer, maybe it is?

The second one just struck me as interesting. Really, you don't find many "Temples of Music and Art".

February 10th

As expected today was a "weather event" in the desert. I think because the State is relatively flat with few mountain ranges, weather can be predicted with some certainty. So, when the weather forecast includes notices such as "Severe Storm Warning", one can be fairly certain that bad weather is moving in. So, today was just that kind of day. No pool, no tanning, no riding. We did what everyone does on days such as today - we shopped! Actually that turned out to be a bit of a bust due to the heavy rain. No matter, the good weather returns tomorrow and we can once again enjoy the sun.

I got a surprise email from a former colleague today passing along good news about goings on in my old "company". It caused me to do some reflecting and thinking about my friends up in Canada. As a result I want to dedicate todays blog entry to all those men and women who serve in the enforcement community in British Columbia who will be spending the next 3 or 4 weeks ensuring that the participants and those attending the 2010 Olympic Games are safe. All best to all of you.

Go Canada Go! Go Canada Go!!!

February 9th

Oatmeal for breakfast and out the door at 0930 for a bike ride around the Sabino Canyon area. We headed up Sunrise Street, then north on Kolb for a 1 1/2 mile hill climb. As soon as we left Sunrise we entered "where the rich and famous live" part of town. Ventana Canyon boasts one or two golf courses, condos and houses perched high on the Catalina Mountains. The road angles west then heads south, downhill for 3 miles to River Road, near where we run at the wash. Circling back east, then north up Sabino Canyon Road back to our townhouse at Ventana de Sabino. The loop was about 22 kms. While Dana made a pay phone call home I added a couple of kms to the ride by doing a bit more hill climb training on the hills around our neighbourhood. One of the hills, with a sign indicating an 18% grade, was particularly challenging even on the descent. All in all, an excellent ride and a great workout.

While we were anticipating a cloudy afternoon we were pleasantly surprised that the sun shone warmly through high clouds. We enjoyed several hours at poolside and even swam a few laps in the warm pool (Dana swam several more than did Barry, but nothing new here.).

Today I've included 3 pictures taken on the ride this morning. Not to be pretentious, but what I have included is actually a good representation of both the architecture of the houses in the area and an indication of the apparent wealth of the residents. There is definitely money in Sabino Canyon! (click on the pictures for a better view)



Gated hilltop residential community overlooking Tucson to the southwest and Catalina mountains to the north.


Adobe style condos at a golf resort in Ventana Canyon. Note the large houses perched on the side of the mountain.