Today we took a bike ride on the road to San Javier and then veered to three mountain bike trails. Manny, the owner of the bicycle shop, brought about ten young people with him in his truck. All of us grabbed some tools and started walking on the trails. We divided up into groups of four. Our trail (the lower of three-- closer to the ocean) was about two-and-a-half kilometers long. We cleared rocks, brush, anything that had fallen on the trail. On the way we saw a bobcat or small fox that had been recently killed, a jack rabbit, and many shrubs and cacti that were just beginning to bloom. Even though it is still January, the desert has a different rhythm-- now is the time of spring blossoms. One shrub, a matacoro, had a beautiful red blossom on it. All of the small leaves signaled spring. One of the shrubs had a citrus scent. Our two youth guides, Gama and Enrique, worked hard with the broken rake and tired bamboo rake. It was the day everyone got a lot of exercise. All of us were real hungry when we returned. Debby made a baked vegetable salad and Jake made a killer potato casserole and I threw some chicken and ribs on the barby. It was one of the best days we have had (we've only been here since Thursday). P.S. It was an especially nice day for me because I was able to paint. I did a montage of the backyard, with bicycles coasting through the patio beneath the beauganvilla. A lovely day. On the way home, Chuey stopped in his car and gave us hot churros. Wonderful cinnamon flavors. We're tired now and going to sleep well. STG