# Sweetwater Preserve - Link: https://mywalkabout.net/sweetwater-preserve/ - Published: 2019-08-14T11:10:17-07:00 - Author: My Walkabout **April the thirteenth**, two thousand and nineteen. It is a rarity that I recall the exact date of something, but having just gotten my first National Park passport stampbook earlier this year makes that easier. ![](https://i0.wp.com/mywalkabout.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/IMG_0882.jpg?fit =940%2C940&ssl=1) **The [Sweetwater Preserve](http://webcms.pima.gov/cms/one.aspx?portalId=169&pageId=1531) in the Tucson mountain district **is where the locals go to get their mountain biking done. I follow the recommendations and ready my new fat tire bike and my body for the trails ahead of me. The temperatures are still sublime for mid-april. ![](https://i0.wp.com/mywalkabout.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/IMG_0872.jpg?fit =940%2C705&ssl=1) **I surprise myself **with the agility and control I still have, conquering mile after mile of racing past Saguaro cacti and lightning quick lizards. ![](https://i1.wp.com/mywalkabout.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/IMG_0869.jpg?fit =940%2C705&ssl=1) **Then reality smacks me** in the face. I take a corner too quickly and my tires slide on the gravelly rocks, sending me over the handlebars and into the dirt. I jump up quickly, hoping that no one saw the wipe out. Why I care I do not know….. No worse for wear other than losing a little skin on the palms of my hands, I make it back to the truck and call it a day. No need to risk serious injury. ![](https://i2.wp.com/mywalkabout.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/IMG_0885.jpg?fit =940%2C940&ssl=1) I find a nice little picnic spot in the Saguaro National Park, crack open a PBR, and relish in the memories of my morning. ### Share this: * [ Email ](https://mywalkabout.net/sweetwater-preserve/?subject=%5BShared%20Post%5D%20Sweetwater%20Preserve&body=https%3A%2F%2Fmywalkabout.net%2Fsweetwater-preserve%2F&share=email) * [Post](https://x.com/share) * [Share on Tumblr](https://www.tumblr.com/share) * [ WhatsApp ](https://mywalkabout.net/sweetwater-preserve/?share=jetpack-whatsapp) * [ Nextdoor ](https://mywalkabout.net/sweetwater-preserve/?share=nextdoor) * [ Threads ](https://mywalkabout.net/sweetwater-preserve/?share=threads) * [[ * [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) * [ Reddit ](https://mywalkabout.net/sweetwater-preserve/?share=reddit) ### Like this: Like Loading…