After multiple shuttles back and forth from the Tucson Airport, stops for supplies, packing and repacking, and bike building, we set off on a Friday morning for the quaint town of Patagonia an hour and a half south of Tucson.

It would be a slow start to the trip as we enjoyed a late breakfast at Barista Del Barrio and took our time loading bikes once parked at our start. Within the first 15 miles it was clear it would be a long day as the beautiful landscape of the San Rafael Valley warranted a dozen stops for photos and admiration. (We also searched for some lost Bedrock sandals that were dropped within the first 10 miles—let us know if you find them.) Eventually, the fast gravel of graded ranch roads ended and we started into more adventurous jeep trail that meandered through juniper forest into the late afternoon.

Flat tire; flat tire; crash; flat tire.

By the time we found smooth roads again, the sun was dipping over beautiful Mount Wrightson to the west and we rolled into the junction town of Sonoita just before sunset. There we loaded up on whiskey and ice cream at the local store, then donned jackets and lights. Thankfully, we turned off the highway just at dusk and pedalled the next 10 miles in the dark until we found a suitable camp. Dinner was devoured over discussion of human migration and a roaming jaguar. Then our several hours on the bikes caught up with us and we slept soundly til sunrise, letting the jaguar pass in the night.