Another awesome day cycling in southern AZ! All the usual actors were present: wind, little puffy clouds, shadows on the mountains, great views, big climb, and little rollers. Some added bit-players made appearance as there was snow and frost on the tops of the Santa Catalina and Santa Rita Mtns, Mt Wrightson, overlooking Madera canyon looked splendid like a frocked Christmas tree. It was a bit chilly at the start and it stayed that way much of the day as they breeze was cool. There were 7 of us riding with 1 doing the 200 k. 4 fast-boys went out and I tried to stay with them, but had to let them go at mile 15 as I had to get my jacket off. I started with the jersey, vest, jacket, black arm warmers, and light gloves. Once got down to Amado where Mike was waiting with water and bananas and a granola bar, I got rid of the vest. Because the headwind we faced getting to Amado was going to be 10 miles of delightful tailwind heading back north. Also the route we took to Amado was a welcome change as Mike found a round to west of the the usual free-way frontage. and my oh my. I wanted to stop several times for pictures and just to gaze at the mtn views. Nice route. Time for the lead actor to arise! Madera Canyon and 13 miles of climbing with each getting steeper. 14% sections in the last 3 miles that were actually in the rec area. Mike was at the top with rollups and chips & his usual treat for me - V8. Thank you Mike. I got there at 1:11. I know last time I did this on day 2 of a 600k I struggled at the top. This time I was better, no need to go postal and zig zag. I should have ridden a bit harder on the climb. My nature is always to leave something for the rest of the ride. On the descent from Madera, near the rec area entrance where I was about to let go of the brake death grip, in front of me walked 2 turkeys with 2 more in the bush. They were as tall as my wheel! Luckily I was going slow enough to easily get around them. I had left Madera about 10 minutes after Bob and the last 300k rider. Lantern rouge for me! Then the rollers to Mission and back into Tucson Mtn Park and SNP west. I made it to the saguaros right around 5 so had the great shadows in the hour before sunset. Oh and the road surface in Tucson Mtn Park still sucks but SNP is perfect! So it was a fast ride from there out. Sunset around mile 48 left to go and darkness at 40 miles. Had to put the gloves & vest on at 40 miles left. Stopped at Marana Jack-in-box for water refill, had a couple nature stops along the way but never really stopped all the way from Madera to home. Then back in Tucson on the I-10 frontage was nice riding. Finally to the bike trails. nice surface, helpful directions from Mike and on and on it seemed. I was playing the game of not looking at the mileage and just looked at map. Very dark on the trail and only 5 cyclists and 3 walkers. It would have nice to see what I was passing. Then as I was telling myself this trail has to be ending, it did. Finally a few miles of through town to get back to El Con. Great route, great views, chilly and another 300k in the books.