I'd forgotten how long the drive is into Tucson from the refuge. We made a leisurely start for the 70 mile drive. The first 30+ miles is on the Sasabe Road (Route 286) up to the main highway into Tucson, State Route 86. We passed through the Border Patrol checkpoint on 286 without incident, but shortly after pulling out on 86, a fairly major road with a 65mph speed limit, I sped up too soon.
I had forgotten that the speed limit drops to 45 at the intersection of 286 and continues for a couple of miles past some small businesses. When we were here two years ago, we noticed that the sheriff's car was almost always parked along the road in this area and we always stayed under the limit.
This time, he was coming the other way as I was speeding up about a mile down the road (It takes awhile for Speedy to accelerate and I'd missed the 45 MPH sign). When he made the abrupt U-turn as he passed us, it all came back. This was reinforced by the flashing red and blue lights.
We pulled over. The very pleasant officer Ortiz came up and asked us obviously bewildered old, out-of-state RVers, if we knew that the limit was 45. I said we had just come out of the Sasabe Road and assumed it was higher. He took my license and told me that as long as I wasn't wanted for murder, we were okay, just be careful whenever there are buildings along the road because the limit always drops from 65 to 45. Since I wasn't a wanted man, he returned my license and we were on our way.
Thirty-odd miles later we were at the Tucson Whole Foods for the first of a familiar routine of shopping stops. After the Whole Foods, it was on to Fry's for the rest of the groceries. A quick stop was also made at the Trader Joe's across the street from Fry's as Ellen got her hair cut.
With a fuel stop, as it is always prudent to fill up whenever we make the 140 mile round-trip journey, we were off to lunch at St. Mary's Mexican Food, an unassuming Mexican take-out and eat-in place that serves Sonoran food and was supposed to be one of the best real places in Tucson. It was pretty busy when we got there and even busier by the time we left. We passed on the Menudo, the spicy tripe soup, and settled for the Carne Asada burros. They were quite good.
It was then back to the refuge...being careful to stay under the limit. It was a quiet but windy afternoon with no one else around.
Tomorrow it is back to the quail facility for feeding and watering.
Another cool night is predicted.
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