Start time was 5:04am ( not 6:04 that RWGPS is stating and they know is an issue). Finished 1:36am. This pre-ride, if successful marks the completion of an SR series ( 200, 3, 4, and 600 brevet) in a year. Of course this is the biggest challenge yet as it will involve a 2 day, solo pre-ride, with wind in the face and near 100 F temps. Mike the RBA as always has done a ton of work to put on these events and my part is to offer to do a pre-ride to check the route and to volunteer on ride day. I drove to Tucson to stay at Tristin apt since he was gone. Then up early to get to El Con Plaza for a 5 am start. The ride through UofA area was enhanced with the fragrance of citrus and sweet acacia! Wonderful time of year. Then for the first climb of the ride, Gates Pass. It was cloudy but the city lights were still on as I reached Gates Pass summit and stopped to snap a pic. Nice place, low traffic. I was concerned about what traffic would be like on a Wed. Then the run out to Arivaca and a sausage egg biscuit! I do like those. Then up to the saddle for the turn to Kitt Peak and the 12 mile climb itself. Not any flowers along the saddle area, as I expected, guess not enough rain. Then a little bit after making the turn to Kitt Peak, I saw about a mile ahead what appeared to be an adult coyote and then 3 smaller coyotes, slowly crossing the road. Cool. This road is always low traffic, and that continued today. Around mile 2.5 of the climb, there was a newly hit rattlesnake in the road, of which I was not sure if it was alive as it looked fully intact! I thought of taking a pic, but decided to take one on the way down. About this time in the climb I was needing to stop and do a nature call, which I ended up doing a couple more times! I guess all that water I drank before starting, got me. At about mile 7 there was a herd of 5-6 deer along the outer bank of the climb, of which I passed about 20 feet away, as they scrambled down over the edge. At the top, it was nice. Not too windy, nice temp. I put on the orange jacket for the descent. Oh, up until that point I just wore the usual kit of jersey. Nice temp to start the ride, Then on the descent near the site of the rattlesnake, I saw 2 large ravens trying to pick up the snake carcass and they indeed were successful at carrying it away! Dang it. See what happens when you don't take the photo! Then at the saddle, removed the jacket and on to Sells. Hot, into the wind. Had a nice cup of mac n cheese with a number of chicken strips. Then for the return from Sells, I had a nice tailwind for about 2 miles. Then the wind stopped and all of a sudden large gusts of wind hit me in the face! Cans , leaves were swirling in the air! I was in a little dust devil but could not actually see it. This lasted for about a 0.5 miles! Then calm, then wind at my back! How cool. Back in 3 points for water fill. As I pulled in a helpful man suggested I not leave the bike outside as there was a stranger lurking, so he said it was ok to take the bike inside the shop and he explained to the staff why I was doing such, and he was they were ok with it,. Seems like he was a regular there. I forget what I had to eat there, but I did drink 1 chocolate milk or maybe 2. It was around 4 pm at 3points, so knew I would not make Arivaca by 7, but wanted to get to the Arivaca Rd turn by dark, which I did. Got water at the Cantina in Arivaca. They had a lot of people and had added tables to the front part, that was empty in the past. I wonder if they had new ownership? Then set off to Helmet Peak. Stopped for water at the Activity Center by the tennis court, yet there was no food available. The Helmet climb was nice! At the top I put on the orange jacket, for a great descent. WHen getting to the town , I encountered 7 different dog encounters of a single dog each time. 1 of them was at the turn on Los Reales and another at the next turn onto Westover, The last one was along Valencia road but it stayed on the opposite side of the drainage ditch. This was very unusual as I do not recall every having dogs before. Then the river trail and campus and done! Pack into car and drive to 15 minutes to Tristin, but stopped at c-store for some gatorade, a couple for tonight, and 2 for the morning. Once at Tristin, got a shower and then about 4.5 hours sleep.