Our South Valley

SOUTH VALLEY--MaryAnn and I rode the south valley loop this morning. As anybody who has ridden it will tell you it is probably the most beautiful and interesting of all the bike trails in town. It is sometimes called the "Tour de Junkyards" and it is true that it does pass some outstanding collections of vintage car husks, including what is probably the largest gathering of scavanged VW buses in the state. But there is a lot more to the route than junkyards. For instance:

• It passes by the Hispanic Cultural Center.
• And the Bueno Foods chile processing plant.
• In season there are cranes and geese in the fields and 20 feet overhead.
• There are always ducks, roadrunners, horses, and turtles.
• About 3 miles of the route is shaded (and next to water).
• There is a nice little hill going up Rio Bravo.
• Graffiti abounds at the southern end of the route.
• A one mile sidetrip down Shirk Rd. takes you to the Confederate campsite used by Gen. Sibley both heading north and south.
• Pumpkins, corn, and chile.
• Another side trip takes you down to the river in as close to a wilderness setting as you will find in town.

Try is once. You'll do it again. The only caveat, watch for goatheads on Rio Bravo and up by the arroyo. Stay in the center of the trail in those locations.