Mount Lemmon bicycling/birding July 16 2012

If you read my last post you know I had planned to bike up Mount Lemmon on my Birthday (30 miles each way from 2500' to 8200').  So let me start by answering some preliminary questions you may have. 

Did you wake up early enough?                                                  No.
Did you make the attempt anyway?                                            Yes.
Did you take pictures?                                                                  No.
Did you bring the camera?                                                           Yes.
Did you bring the memory card?                                                 No.
What did you bring to document?                                               Video camera.
Did you get good video?                                                              No (automatic focus doesn't work well)
Are you going to torture us with video on the blog anyway.   Yes..no..yes...wait..no..ok no.
Did you make it all the way up to Ski Valley?                            Read on.

I began my ride just after 6:30 AM, later than I usually catch the bus for work.  It was already getting hot, the sun being out for the past hour.  I probably should have rushed straight to the mountain but the birds were singing this time of morning, and this ride was also about observing and appreciating the nature along the way.   Of the 22 species heard and seen on the five mile ride to the base the beautiful male Purple Martin on the telephone wires above me stands out the most. 

The sun's endless heated stare bore down on me for the first five miles to Molino Basin.  I was almost finished with my first liter of water and the trip wasn't half over by far.  The road turned