He was right. As I turned west off exit , it was as if the city had unleashed some of its signature iconic images. The only thing missing was a spaghetti Western being filmed along the way. The slopes and saddles of the landscape surrounding the JW Starr Pass offer some of the best views of downtown Tucson, even though your closest neighbors are saguaro cacti. Jim DiDomenico from Southwest Trekking, a company with a desk inside the resort, took me out on the Bowen trail for a crash course in all things prickly.
As I navigated through rocks and the dirt trail, I felt like I had entered a saguaro military base, with cacti standing at attention waiting for permission to speak.
Some had arms outstretched as if to greet me with a hug. Others looked like they were just hoping for a high-five. Many were waiting for their arms to grow, something that usually happens when a saguaro is 50 or 60 years old. The resort offers complimentary guided hikes every morning at , as well as world-class mountain biking. In fact, your chances of bumping into a biker dressed like a yellow spandex glow stick, cleats and all, are just as good as passing a conference attendee in the lobby.
Back on the trail, I learned the Sonoran desert can also be the source of a marital dispute. We were stopped by a couple from California. Actually, he might want to try the tequila instead. Basically two guys got into a drinking contest over a girl. The good news is this tale ended with a group tequila toast. More Pozole Please? I immediately eyed the red pork pozole and ordered that along with the chipotle chicken salad.
The pozole was so good, I asked about the recipe. Seriously, it was that good! Curry met her boyfriend on the job. Curry is five years into her relationship.
