Adventuring to New River in Peoria, Arizona
A man from Phoenix is visiting a friend back east and he is asked what he thinks of the local river. He says that never got a good look at it, as it was always filled up with water!
If you got a giggle out of that, or are smiling politely for me, and are not confused by it, you know the Phoenix area. Yes, there are rivers marked on maps, and with the name "river", and even with squiggly blue lines, but really there are no rivers, only washes. That is, a place where water comes rushing through, and then dries up, and often stays muddy. Technically they're riparian areas, where there's enough water, at least right underground, to support more life than is usual in the Sonoran Desert.
Ride along with me. Today we're going to New River in Peoria. No, not the town of New River, the river of New River. Well, if you can call it a river. And it's isn't really new. I suppose it was when the pioneers in the Phoenix area first named it, but I guess there's no reason to go back and rename it after a while, maybe to Old River, or Middle-Aged River. They never did that to New York, you know!
We'll be taking the Mighty Trike, as usual, and going to roads, and places, less visited. Don't worry, I'll pedal. No, we aren't really going to stop anywhere, just doing pit stops as necessary, and we can have some coffee before we do the turnaround. I just ate a nice big breakfast, and have packed an energy bar and an apple. I don't carry water, we aren't going to be that far away from watering holes, trust me!
We will be going west into Peoria, which is a suburb of Phoenix. On 67th Avenue you cross from Glendale to Peoria once you pass the middle of the street. I live in Glendale, and I've seen Peoria cops turn west there, and Glendale cops turn east. Although they do cooperate in the event of an emergency!
We're gonna stop to use the bathrooms, and stretch a bit, at Rio Vista Park. It's a very nice park, with all the amenities, and everyone there looks very happy. There are young people, old people, all kinds of people. Looks like it's been there since 2009, at least according the nice people at Bunny's Inc., who did the concrete. Bunny's?
Once you cross New River, on the pedestrian/bicycle bridge at Rio Vista Park, you need to head north, the same way that you would go if you were going to the Greenway Trail. But we're going to cross another bridge, when we come to it. That will keep us going straight north, on the New River Trail.
We're really not all that far from the madding crowd, and for me that's what makes this type of trip even more fun. It's quiet here, and other than a few people jogging by, or going by on bicycles, the only traffic I've seen are rabbits, and a roadrunner. I've had this attitude since I was a kid, and have always sought out places that really aren't that far from the usual day-to-day crush of life. I guess I never grew up, as I know the right thing to do is to get in a vehicle, look at traffic lights, park somewhere, load and unload people and boxes of stuff, and repeat. This is what most people do all of their lives, and their conversations seem to be about what errands they're doing, will do, and have done. I really can't get excited about a great parking spot, or a particular gas station that's selling gas for less than a competitor, so I usually keep quiet, and try to wander off. If you're wondering where I am, it's here, along a place like New River. I'm glad you're with me!
I stopped at Jacksons, which is on Bell Road just off the trail. There are rarely any bicycle racks where I stop, but I try to be courteous, and park away from where people might need to walk. Although we won't be out of sight of the Mighty Trike, I still put a lock on it. It does get attention, but mostly just curiosity. I've, ahem, "donated" a couple of bikes in a long life in Phoenix, and would really rather not do it again. There's a nice lock on it, and besides most people wouldn't even know how to ride it if they did break the lock. Oh yeah, and I'm a full-grown man who is, as they say, about number one size, and I have a wonky left eye which I'm told looks slightly angry. I'm keeping an eye on things!
I got the Hawaiian Hazelnut coffee, and there's a table, so let's sit and enjoy the weather. It's March 3rd, so it's not hot, but it will be this summer, and I won't be doing this! But today is glorious! I would guess it's in the low to mid-sixties. It's Chamber of Commerce weather!
Time to head back. Thank you for riding with me!
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