Along the Beeline Highway South of Fountain Hills with Red Mountain in the background
It is FINALLY starting to feel like Fall in Phoenix... After months and months of the horrid heat, we're creeping into that time of year when it's really pleasant to live here. I decided to celebrate the recent change in climate AND my first weekend in Phoenix in a few weeks with a 75 mile tour of the Northeast valley.
Normally, when I ride to Fountain Hills I start in Tempe. This time I decided to ride from my apartment in Phoenix instead. It was a nice change of pace although the stretch from Phoenix to Tempe along Washington/Jefferson Streets can leave much to be desired. There's not much to look at down there. I powered through it until I hit Mill Avenue, just to put it behind me.
As I crossed over Mill Avenue Bridge, I observed that Tour de Fat was going on down at Tempe Beach Park. I was momentarily upset, but I got over it. I went last year and it was alright, but wasn't quite as exciting as I had hoped... I think it was the MASSIVE line for beer (albeit wonderful Fat Tire beer) that I can get in any local bar or supermarket without a wait. Anyway, I rode by as quickly as I could so as to limit my interaction with drunk, inexperienced cyclists on bikes made more to be stupid than functional.
Once past the crazies, I took a lap on Tempe Town Lake, which is now SLOWLY refilling after replacement of three of the four rubber dams. It's nice to see water in the lake again, although it still has a long way to go until all million or so gallons are back in place.
A Mountain and Tempe Town Lake from the dry side of the dam
I took my usual route along the Greenbelt, which was quite surprisingly nearly vacant. There were a few frizbee golfers in Scottsdale and a handful of leisure cyclists, but not nearly as many walkers and joggers as there normally are. Of course, that meant no complaints from me as I pushed ahead to Shea Boulevard.
Ice cream at Sweet Republic
At the end of the line, I decided to stop for a break at Sweet Republic - one of the Top Ten Ice Cream Shops in the United States according to Bon Appetit magazine. It's usually closed when I ride by, so I thought it would be a nice treat. The woman working - I think she was the owner - was very nice and shoveled tiny spoon after tiny spoon of all-natural, amazingly flavored ice cream for me to sample. I probably tried eight kinds before I settled on Sweet Corn (there was actual corn in it... funny I didn't get any in Iowa a week earlier) and Real Mint Chip (with the mellow flavor of REAL pressed mint leaves). It was well worth the stop. One of these weekends, I'm going to have to take the team on a training ride up there and back.
I didn't waste much time before I was back on the bike and hitting the long climb up Shea Boulevard into the aptly named Fountain Hills - which true to its name has both an awesome fountain and PLENTY of hills. I really don't love that climb, but it's worth it if you get to see the fountain on the other side.
A view to the Southeast from Saddleback Mountain on the climb into Fountain Hills
At the top of the long steady climb into Fountain Hills
It had warmed up quite a bit up in Fountain Hills and I had timed my ride well to arrive with enough time to fill up water bottles and find a good spot to watch the fountain. I watched all 15 minutes of it, too... I have to admit that one of my favorite parts of watching the fountain is watching it shut off - as it slowly creeps downward and then WHOOSH, there's a roar as the last spray of water falls onto the base of the fountain.
The world famous fountain that gives Fountain Hills half of its name
Within minutes of the end of the spectacular show, I was back on the bike and heading across town to the Beeline Highway - a long stretch of relatively secluded highway that would take me back to Scottsdale through the Salt River Reservation. (See first photo, above).
By the time I was back in Scottsdale I was feeling a little hungry... I got back on the Greenbelt and headed for Tempe and In N Out Burger for a little dinner before starting the ride back home.
Dinner - Double Double and Fries
I don't know how these people get away with calling this In N Out Burger though... The wait for my plain Double Double and fries was sort of unreasonably long for the dinner hour. I know they make everything to order, but if you know it's going to be busy (it always is), have some burger patties cooking. Just my rant. :) It was still delicious and sufficiently bloated, I got back on my bike to make it home before it was too dark.
I did make one short stop on the ride back to photograph Tovrea Castle, a Phoenix landmark and just about the only interesting thing to see along the Washington/Jefferson corridor between Phoenix and Tempe. It was just aglow in sunlight and was begging to be photographed. Beautiful sight.
So here are the stats for the ride.
Mileage: 75 miles
Total Training Mileage for ALC 10: 927 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,595 feet
Total Stops: Three, two of which were DELICIOUS!
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