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But having lived in Maine for a few years now, I know that I have to plan a getaway for February school vacation. It gives me something to live for in the dark days of January.
This year we have returned to the Tanque Verde Ranch in Tucson. It's our third visit here, so that should tell you something. It's a dude ranch, for us dudes who like to play at being cowgirls and cowboys.There's trail riding, mountain biking*, hiking in Saguaro National Park, swimming, tennis and...food. Lots of food.
This morning, I swung up into the saddle on a horse called Jaeger.We took a ride up to the Homestead where a hearty breakfast was being cooked up on a fire-fueled grill by Bob Cote, owner of the Ranch. There was enormous blueberry pancakes, smoky bacon, ranch eggs with chiles and cheese cooked in a huge cast-iron skillet, hash browns, biscuits and coffee. Doesn't breakfast always taste better outside?
Afterward, we walked the horses back to the corral, fat and happy (us, not the horses - they're discouraged from eating on the trail). And guess what? Only 2 hours until lunch!
* True story: Two years ago when we were here, I thought a little mountain biking amongst the cactus would be fun and good exercise. Five minutes into the adventure, I skidded on a sharp left turn and fell smack into a prickly pear cactus. Cut to Bob pulling cactus points out of my derriere (that's French, just like mignardise) for over an hour. Then it took another hour for me to remove the thorns from more delicate areas. I will not be biking amongst the cactus EVER again.
I love the Tucson area as well, only by motorcycle seats and not a saddle! Looking forward to hearing about your trip.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry but the image of the cactus points being pulled out made me LOL. What a sport, sharing that story!
I don't know if breakfast tastes better outside but I do know that breakfast tastes better if it consists of enormous blueberry pancakes, smoky bacon, ranch eggs with chiles and cheese cooked in a huge cast iron skillet with hash browns, biscuits and coffee!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm comin' out just for the breakfast!!! Giddyap!
glad your having a fun getaway, ridem up rawhide!
ReplyDeleteFrom Maine to Tucson ... that quite a change in locale. Sounds wonderful and high recommendation if you've come back twice.
ReplyDeleteI have to admit I chuckled at your description of the cactus adventure. Great story .... I'm sure it was NOT amusing at the time.
Karen you crack me up! i was building up an appetite with that beautiful pancakes cooking, then i read through the cactus caper...i'll remember to never go biking with a cactus around :)
ReplyDeleteMarsha, motorcycling in Arizona sounds great. I'll have to remember that.
ReplyDeleteYes, Ann, you can't go wrong with a breakfast like that. Check out Stone's in No. Yarmouth for something almost as good.
Jain, thanks for checking in. We are having a ball!
No Cynthia, it was not amusing at the time but it's certainly laughable now.
Alisa, biking is a great sport as long as you stay on the road.
This sure sounds like fun. Hope it's nice and sunny and warm for you! Having fallen on a cactus I can pretty well imagine your angst and pain..Yikes. Stay on the path!!!! :-)
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