Sierra Vista, AZ

**This post is really long...sorry!**

My uncle, Marshal, is a pretty avid bike rider. He's been riding for lots of years and has done lots of races. This weekend, he started a race at the AZ/Mexico border that finishes up at the AZ/UT border. It's like 750 miles of singletrack racing (meaning no paved roads) with a rim to rim hike of the Grand Canyon (bike on his back) before one last full day of riding to finish the race off. I think he's slightly insane. However, I also think it is SO cool!! We went down to Sierra Vista to drop him at the race start and bring his van back up to Phoenix for the duration of his race.

This is the group at the first starting point. There was a second starting point 13 miles up the trail, I believe for those racers just doing the first 300 miles. Marshal has already done that route a couple of times.

Marshal waiting to get started

The original plan was for us to drive his van up to the end of the trail next weekend so it could be there waiting for him. And, it allowed us to sneak in a little weekend camping trip too. However, Marshal called us last night soon after we got home from Sierra Vista saying that he had been battling heat stroke all afternoon and was pulling out of the race. David is on his way right now to pick Marshal up; they should be here later this afternoon/early this evening. We are so bummed for Marshal - we were really looking forward watching his progress, BUT we're also glad he's playing it safe and that he is feeling much better this morning.

After seeing Marshal off, we played tourist for the rest of the day. Our first stop was Tombstone, AZ. The old trains were obviously a huge hit.

The boys practicing their riding skills

After Tombstone, we headed up to Tucson. I am really impressed with Tucson...they have SO many fun things to do there! We will definitely have to take another weekend trip down that way to check more things out.

Here are the boys outside the International Wildlife Museum. Brychan wasn't too sure about getting too close to that lion at first, but he finally braved up!

Snake skeleton

Birds of Paradise

Kehlton checking out the black bear

And the boys walking under the giraffe

My very ferocious lion!!

It was a really fun weekend - a perfect little family getaway. Can't wait for the next one!!