Bison Eggs Benny

Whomever invented Bison Eggs Benny made the world a better place.

Eclectic Tucson

We did a couple days diet of burritos, hit the shootout, and people watched in and around Tucson.

Last time I was on the shootout, probably 3 years ago, taught me where the pace picks up. Same deal now, and many of the same faces. Funny actually - the more things change, the more they stay the same. Which brings me to people watching in Tucson... the land time forgot, and where anything goes.

We parked near two lesbians having a "cosmic" yardsale, with assorted junk, including a cello and a kitchen sink as items large enough to spot from a distance. They were sitting in the front yard and were chatty, telling us how the sale was raging (nobody was around, or even on the block besides us). Next door was a house with Christmas lights, and a really surprising number of one foot tall plastic skeletons hanging from everything. I guess that's one interpretation of 'tis the season.

We went for lunch at Epic Cafe. Guy who ran the counter seemed to be a proprietor. Told me his brother invented a new kind of chili in the 80's. His knuckle tattoos said "no wife" on the right (no centered higher on the middle two fingers) and "no kids" on the left. His ears were stretched with big earrings, and prior to me he made a tall whip mocha with an extra swirl of chocolate sauce on top for a 300lb skin head biker who's hands looked so thick that it was hard to imagine them closing. We got our food and sat by a guy with an eye patch and his dog, and by a man and woman, both gay, discussing world politics, their partners, and mediterranean cruises. A brand new Porsche stops at the corner for a homeless dude to cross with his shopping card. Another biker leaves, pulling his stiff leg, presumably from last wipeout, in laboured fashion over his hog and roars away, helmetless of course.

We walk down the street past a mural of a monkey in Jesus robes praying and then two girls with massive breasts, no bras, and cleavage tattoos hanging out near a vintage clothing boutique. A skinny guy with white hair and a long white beard rolls by on his bike, white chest hair and brown leathery skin with his denim shirt flapping in the wind restrained only by the strap of his guitar case. I bet wherever he plays, he'll rock out.

Cindy liked the Mexican dude who cruised by in his VW Karman Ghia with all the beaded religious things hanging all over. I liked the kids in a dune buggy wearing their goggles. They looked 14 years old. Lots of original Beetles here, and old trucks. In fact, any vehicle built in the last 50 years seems to have a somewhat equal chance of being spotted here. And any personal style or facial hair. Lots looks like it hasn't changed since when people showed up. Mega afros, santa beards, Willie Nelson braids, all that. It feels like a place time forgot, functioning at a pace that guarantees it won't be part of the rest of the world.

Our hotel, the Arizona Inn, is historic and beauty. I'd highly recommend it. Lots of interesting people hanging around too, nice grounds, nice rooms.

We had some great dining experiences - one classic mexican and one newer (in the ground floor of a parking garage done up all modern). Cafe Poca Cosa served the best Margarita I've had outside of Mexico - nothing but limes, oranges, tequila and salt. None of that sugar mix crap. Cindy really likes anything with mole sauce (chocolate stuff), it's like dinner and dessert in one.

Strangely enough, when walking through the warehouse district at 9pm on a Saturday night, Acme Rubber Stamp Co. was open. But nobody buys office style stamps at that time of night - and the Steve Buscemi looking guy working there kind of gave the look that it was a front operation for something else...

On the way back, Cindy took the wheel of the C Max and really enjoyed its sportiness. Out back of Gates pass we passed what must have been the Gray Wolf's buddy. Old guy, white hair and beard, on a Specialized S-works from a decade ago - but he did have carbon wheels. But nothing more than jean shorts - no shirt, no helmet, no water bottles, and just sandals. He was just hammering it out solo. Power to him.

I really like Tucson. All American eclectic. Vacations are a break in several ways: weather, office vs. personal time, and mental space. Tucson is completely a different mental space. I could bail out tomorrow, buy a running '74 Beetle and an 800 sq. foot hacienda and pack it all in any day... but I don't.

Ford C Max SEL Hybrid review - terrific vehicle!

Ok, I've been swept off my feet. This is part of the future of cars. It's not available yet in Canada (correction, there is now one at the nearest Ford dealer to me in Calgary!), but when I saw one available at the Phoenix airport, I asked for it right away.

It's a spacious tall hatchback. Bigger than a Matrix, bigger than a Prius, but smaller than a Prius V. But it drives more "euro" than a Prius. It's not mushy. It doesn't drive "hybrid" - it just drives well. It's basically an invisible technology application - just works, and you only see it through a few visual cues, and only feel it by paying attention. Driving down all the tight mountain turns on Mt. Lemmon it carves surprisingly well with no real body roll. It has less hybrid gimmicky buttons, more just feedback displays. I was getting 40mpg on the highway booting along at 125km/h.

Plus, it fits two bikes in the back with easily folding rear seats! (Lying on their sides). Big back cargo area.

Drives nice - good handling - not M Coupe like, but good, responsive, tight enough handling. Doesn't float. Effortless at highway speed, more acceleration than you'd think, quiet, smooth. Like, honestly I'm not even feeling short changed on highway cruising vs. a big Benz. Hybrid in this form enhances performance as much as it saves fuel. Silent torque and power added instantaneously irrespective of engine RPM adds luxury and performance beyond what one would think by stats. There's no "step on it and wait for transmission to shift down to start accelerating" - it just starts accelerating. It's deceptively quick because it doesn't really signal acceleration via noise. No engine buzz at all on highway; little bit of sound when you put pedal to the floor so the engine RPM's max out, but still no buzz feel.

Mt. Lemmon 30 miles uphill? Easy. Doesn't feel like it's working. Pass a 70's era VW microbus? Surges uphill without much effort. Faster than I thought.

$30k in the US for the leather edition with other fancy stuff. Heated seats. Touchscreen interface. Push button on steering wheel for voice control. Awesome windshield wipers. Nice fit and finish. Nice dash layout and colors. Can turn on and off a bunch of the hybrid display stuff. Keyless entry - with the added bonus that when you get in, the car knows, and already has air conditioning or heated seats and stuff on. Good stereo with smart technological presets that are so simple but good (ie. Single passenger, dual, or back seats too). Dual zone climate control too, with maintenance at preset levels. Just have to push a button on the wheel to "ok" that the car can move and go from there since there isn't sound to let you know its on. Button on side of shifter for holding speed downhill is simple and works well.

This car is completely awesome. Good for Ford - I'm super impressed. Good for the future of motoring. So much utility, without any detriment, and in fact just great drivability - it's just win-win. When they come to Canada, do yourself a favour and try one. Never thought I'd say this, but I really, really like it. If they can age gracefully, this is a slam dunk. It's "as new" performance is a magnificent package.

Tucson December 1

We lucked out this weekend with some of Cindy's sister's Westjet buddy passes. Flew into Phoenix, rented a car, got ourselves to Tucson and rented bikes from Fairwheel. Nice hotel the Joss's's's recommended. All good.

This morning Cindy and I left our room at 7:15 to hit the Shootout. Beautiful ride over, mildy brisk as the sun was coming up, but we were just wearing light clothes. Got there 2 mins before roll out.
After the commute out of town with others joining, the group hits the gas as we cross Valencia. At that point, I can't think much about leaving the Canadian winter behind, or burritos, or my friends on a snow ride. I think about pedalling full circles, breathing, and staying in a draft. Half hour later, we're at the top and furthest from town. I made it in a decent group to the top. Let's just say that group only had one aluminum rental bike 105 gruppo 1850g 32 spoke wheelset and... way more carbon. Bike worked fine of course, moreso it just wasn't that kind of crowd by the end. One guy simply rode off the front, two chased, and rest of group of twenty stuck together before exploding in say last mile. I u-turn to find Cindy.

She's plugging along just fine with a new friend. We ride together to the top, then u turn and go back that way instead of the loop around on Old Nogales Highway.

Let's recap a bit: If there are stress induced problems in life that I can't rectify with amazing carne seca burritos, the Shootout, and coffee in the university drive courtyard in the warm sun while watching puppies play and hummingbirds on the flowers - well, I don't want to ever have them.

Calgary December 1

Shawn gets photo credit on this - setting the stage for a contrasting way to start December. When I checked wx.ca last night it said -14C.

Saturday Ride

Kate, Craig, Thomas and I went for a great ride. Singletrack by Bowness and under Stoney bridge was in prime shape. Found a new shortcut. Felt good all the way to Cochrane - Kate lit it up on the hills. Enjoyed the roasted red pepper soup at Java Jamboree so much I had two. Trails out to Big Hill Springs park were great, only issue was some cows thought we were chasing them - instead they could have stood in one spot, expending no energy, and let us pass. Nice ride back into town.

I'm putting on my fenders for tomorrow - they should have been on my now, but better late than never.

Canadian Cyclocross National Championships

Mical Dyck – congrats!  You knew you could do it for so many years, now it’s finally yours!