I’m sad to see Siri depart this morning – she’s been a fantastic travel companion.
But it’s time for her to get back to her own journey. All up the trip from Slab City to Tuscon (around 350 miles) has saved her about a week, opened her eyes to the wonders of hot springs and given her weary knees a rest. I’m glad our paths crossed as they did.
After watching her cycle off into the distance, I consider my own options. Its Dec 23, probably the last day I have of exploring before everything shuts down for Xmas. However I have one duty I’ve been neglecting – updating these pages, so I decide to head into Tuscon, find a Starbucks and peck away at the keys.
My sister asked for some update as her Xmas present even if no-one else was too fussed.
8 hours at the laptop later, I’ve reached my Joshua Tree post (which was Dec 16 and 17) so I’m now only a week behind real life.
Knackered, I deserve a proper meal and a quiet beer – after all it’s my first full day of “work” in a while.
Research takes me to Tuscon’s Tap and Bottle – a recently opened craft beer house locals are raving about.
There’s a perfect car spot around the corner, so I’m free of worrying about driving afterwards.
I’m greeted by Xmas carollers, who are cheerfully harmonising the classics. The place is full and buzzing as I find a seat at the back by the bar.
Everyone’s full of Xmas cheer so plenty of chats with locals eventuate, much beer is drunk, before the carollers are replaced by a live band.
Now this isn’t any normal live band – its an eclectic group of muso’s doing a Xmas special – there’s a violin, an accordion, a sousaphone and a bassoon! The sound quality isn’t great in the vid below but they rocked the place!
Now the Tap and bottle doesn’t serve food but you can byo – and the locals tell me tht the pizza guy outside is the best pizza in town. I pop out only to find a guy who has set up his own wood fired pizza oven on a trailer he tugs behind his car. Brilliant! And the pizza is really really good – thhin crust wood fire baked. Absolute genius!
The last guy that ends up at the bar next to me is Jason – a local lad. He ends up being a bit of a beer nerd too, so we swap stories, before he recommends another couple of places in Tuscon. Given I’m not going to want to be on the road on Xmas eve there’s a fair chance I’ll take him up on the advice.
As the band ends and the bar starts to wind down, I notice a framed text on the wall
Never have truer words been written. I silently give a word of thanks to all as I trudge the few steps back to Charlotte for a well earned rest.
