SAUER: Sonoran Ultra Endurance Ride - Day 5 - Ironwood Forest and Saguaro National Park
I set my alarm the night before for 5:30 am with the goal of rolling out by 6 under star-studded spring skies to complete a nearly 90 mile day and finish. Camp was quiet when I pedaled onto the state highway shoulder. No cars carried by. The air was crisp but didn't dip below freezing. I watched the stars blink out into the coming blue of day just as the road ended right at Ironwood Forest National Monument. I was particularly excited about today's riding having never explored this National Monument that's been on my radar for years. The SAUER's path looked to take a bisecting direction across the entire Park, and I planned to enjoy every inch of it. I parked my bike in front of the Monument's entrance sign just as the sulfur orange glow of sunrise dramatically began searing the horizon. It was absolutely beautiful…
