Boldly Go Solo

Due to high waters in the nearby canyons, we do loops around the hotel instead of going out to do a breakfast hike. We end up eating near a waterfall.
Since this whole trip is about healthy eating, breakfast "on the trail" consists of fruit, peanut butter, cottage cheese, fruit, whole grain tortillas, nuts, fruit and more fruit. Good eatin' in a beautiful setting. Though Tucson winter mornings are a tad chilly.

We scurry to get a final hike in. And are rewarded with another great sunny day among the saguaro cactus in Sabino Canyon.

Last night at dinner in an Italian restaurant, we received silly awards. Things like the roadrunner award for fastest hiker; the "pushing your personal limits" award for someone who'd never done this kind of hiking; and the most dedicated "spa-er" for someone who dropped out of one hike for a mani/pedi at the hotel spa. She had also come alone on this trip, leaving behind her husband and 14-year-old daughter.

Continued…

But the biggest laugh came from the woman who described
her first time relieving herself in the woods. That very day. From taking her pants
completely off (wrong). To putting her hand down in an unfortunate spot afterwards
(very wrong). To her description of calling her twin sister from the room later that day, and practicing the proper squat while her sister
talked her through it. The play by play continued in the van on the way back from the restaurant. Our stomachs and faces hurt from laughing.

When the fun and games finally were over on the last day, we all hugged good-bye. The down side of going alone is not being able to relive aspects of the trip this morning with my new friends. The upside is, I was able to join people from all over the country, by myself, and have that much fun. 

Photos: Ellen Perlman

1. Breakfast at hotel waterfall.

2. Hiking Sabino Canyon, Tucson