First Hike in Arizona

I joined Meetup.  It's a great, FREE way to connect with people that share your hobbies all over the world.  There are hosts of groups- yoga, learning Chinese, hula hooping in the park, etc.,  The group I joined is the Tucson Hiking Group.  I joined way back in Seattle and get updates on all their hikes.  I miss hiking and have been craving it something fierce, so I decided to ask if there was anyone close by that I could bum a ride with to the location of the hike.  I got a response.  Someone named Tony responded and gave me his phone number.  It was great.  He picked me up and I learned about his life- a military family (every member of his family), Colorado/AZ kid, and his interesting flight with killer bees.  He is intense into fitness.  I thought he was nice. 

Once we got to Sabino Canyon, I jumped out and caught up with the group.  Mr. Tony would be flying up the mountain on a run of some sort and said he'd find me later.  Okay, sure! So I tried to catch up with the group, and after catching my breath, I turned and said hello to the lady beside me.  Well, that hello extended to a walking partner, a little therapy session for both of us, and phone numbers/emails exchanged.

I confess I was not that excited about the hike at first.  I knew it was going to be HOT and that I might be in PAIN.  I haven't hiked in awhile.  I also thought that it was going to be 15 miles, but it was just 7.5.  It was not a strenuous hike by any measure, and it was beautiful.  I was soaked by the end of my hike.  My shirt, clothes, and hat were wet, but it felt so good to be out under the expanse of the heavens, being still, in the wide openness of sky, cactus, land.  We heard frogs croaking, saw bats flying, and were soothed by the water flowing.  I loved looking up at the brightness of the moon, the cactus at the top of the mountains.  I liked studying the shapes of the various cactus- some were bowing, dancing, happy, resting.  It was such a wonderful experience, a great first hike in Arizona.