CDO its all you need.

I finally have come to the conclusion that the CDO trail hates me. After two 11+ hr outings on it finding our way, doing trail work, and being lost the Forest Service finally opened it up for us. I thought finally now is my chance to ride this amazing trail the right way with out having to lug tools, carry my bike over dead trees, and find my way thru a maze of locust trees. I was wrong. The CDO hates me. The ride started out spectacular ride thru some of the burned upper parts of Lemmon offers some of the best views in Tucson. The first few miles of this trail I just can't get enough of and if it wasn't so steep I would just ride out n backs on it when I want shorter rides. Everyone should be able to enjoy this part of the trail only problem is to get to you have to commit to a pretty serious day. Guess thats just one of the perks.

A little love note left by our rabbit out in front. you can't not smile when you are about to do this trail.

Just can't seem to take enough pics in this first section. I love it.

Its still there. When is this landmark gonna fall. All the others have.

After the first few miles of shared Sammie/CDO trail they split and you make a quick drop down into the CDO drainage. Right away we can see the FS had done some great work benching in the old trail. Just a year ago there really wasn't much there to make your way on. After you make the quick dip into the drainage your greated to miles of wooded trail slightly overgrown but followable the entire way. I think Duncan and I only had to pause once to see where the trail went and even then it only took about 2 seconds to find.

It was not stop riding in the beautiful backwoods of Lemmon.

I remember riding thru this section never wanting to end. The leaves crushing beneath the tires, the trees overhead, and the flowers everywhere. I don't think the word AWESOME was used enough on this ride and it was by far the most used word. 

And then CDO told me again how much she hates me. She tore my heart right off my bike and smashed it on the cool forest floor.

But we had one of the finest trained airplane mechanics and a roll of duct tape so I was not gonna let her win this one.

The bike was beaten and running like warm garbage but I had plenty or sweet sweet trail to ride and so I was not gonnna give up. That and we were in the middle on nowhere so it was not like I could call Kimmeh to come get me. On we pressed me lagging behind a little and having to stop and adjust my new rear derailleur a few times but still making pretty damn good time. I knew there was gonna be a pretty long climb that I was gonna have to hike but I did not care this trail is to good to care about the pain ahead.

There were flowers and creek crossing everywhere. There is not another trail in Tucson that has this much to offer.

Rode thru so many feilds of flowers Duncan had them stuffed into his shoes.

They seemed endless and the only souls we seen were butterflies and lizards. They didn't mind sharing this gem one bit with us.

The amount of wild flowers was just scary good!

After all that great riding we were finally done with the CDO trail but it had one more little departed gift for us. Right before the big climb back out we got to have a nice cool down in the running water of the CDO. It was very refreshing to dip your jersey in the water and slap it on while it was still wet and cold as you make your way to "the climb". I knew this was gonna suck extra bad for me since my bike was in no condition to be peddled under any strain and the SS gearing we had got it into was not anywhere near conducive for climbing.  Push Push Push was my objective for the next 45 minutes. Best thing though is I had no ipod but memories of that trail to get me mentally up the hill.

Even the views on the jeep road are great.

After 45 minutes of pushing I had finally made it up to the guys who were still not ready to kill me for slowing them down so much and we were off. I knew it was almost all downhill back to the cars with very little climbing to have to walk and I knew there were cold beers and a chair waiting for me. I put the camera away and just hammered as hard as my broken pony would to reach our destination.

No matter what that trail does to me or how much it shows me it hates me I still think it is the best trail in Tucson and I can't wait to get back there as soon as I can.



Final Profile