Possibly moving to AZ

[NighthawkVTX]

Hey all, looks like I might be moving to AZ in the near future. My ex wife and I divorced back in 2013. About 6 months ago, she moved with my son to take a great job in Tucson. At the time I wasnt in a good position financially or emotionally to move.
So here I am in Florida, with my son in AZ. After discussions with the ex, I've come to the conclussion that I dont want to have my son say he never saw his dad that much when he  was a kid.
With that said I'm updating the resume, and beginning to look to the Tucson area.

Well enough of the background dramma. Now,I'm updating the resume and  looking for any info on the Tucson area, as far as things to do.  Where are the good and bad places to live, and most importantly, hows the riding??
Are there alot of bike activities?
Any and all feedback are welcome

[Michael K (Az.)]

I'm in Phoenix but have ridden down S. often. Like Fl., where I lived for 10 yrs, it's hot in the summer so you just tough it out. To get cool, ride up Mt. Lemmon, N. side of Tucson. Been there in May and 110 at the bottom w/ snow plowed to the sides of the road at the top. Don't know the work or neighborhood situation  but many nifty places to ride. right now is the perfect riding time! 70- 85 degrees for a month or 3. Come on in! The weather's, uh, interesting! 

[RDKLL]

Having been in the state for about 3.5 months I am loving it...riding everyday...
I am in Mesa...and there are folks trying to scare about the heat...not scared LOL

[NautiBrit]

Hi Nighthawk,
Thanks for being a stand up dad for your son and keeping involved in his life. There is lots of riding to be done around the Tucson area and on into SW New Mexico, but because of population,  Phoenix is the center of motorcycling in Arizona. Bike Week is coming up on April 6-9, and although we're not a very active board, if you post a ride, someone is sure to join you. Good luck  in your job hunt and your move to Arizona.

[W0X0F]

Hey Nighthawk - Welcome (potentially) to the desert Southwest!

I've been living here for just over 20 years, having moved from Anchorage, Alaska.  On some days, I feel like I have not moved far enough south.  In a couple of months I will feel like I moved TOO far south.  My personal limit for riding in the heat is 105 so I don't ride much in the summer other than to find cooler clime's.

Actually, my personal goal is to move to Florida 

I, too, live in the Phoenix area so no idea of the job market in Tucson.  The job market in Phoenix is not that great as I know a number of people who have been out of work for some time.  But, most have found other work.  I lost my job a couple of years ago, but, since I am turning 65 in 2 months, I think it's been more an issue of my age than lack of work.

As far as riding, it just doesn't get much better than this.  For me, a solid 9 months of riding, and the 3 months during the "monsoon" season I will get in a couple of rides just to escape the heat and humidity.  And, yes, we do get humidity with dew points on occasion approaching those you are familiar with in Florida, but, add 30 degrees to the air temps.

Lots and lots of great riding in this area, almost too many to mention.  As mentioned - Mt. Lemon and AZ Bike Week.  But, there is so much more.  You have Kitt Peak, home of some 25 optical & radio telescopes, a few which you can even tour just a short ride from Tucson.  A little further up the road is Flagstaff, which is popular to get out of the heat where one may visit the Lowell Observatory. Tucson is surrounded by the Saguaro National Park, which is made up of two parks on either side of the city and is a fun place to ride.  Just on the west side of the park is Old Tucson movie studio and theme park where a lot of the old westerns were shot.  Davis Monthan AFB is located there where the USAF stores its older aircraft out in the desert.  Based on aircraft inventory, Davis Monthan is the second largest AF in the world, of course most are not airworthy.  There is Organ Pipe National Park which is also a nice day ride.  Not only is there the AZ Bike Week, but, we have the Laughlin River Run, which is billed as the largest bike gathering in the West.  Think of a mini Sturgis, if you are into that sort of thing, at the end of April.  There are a number of old mining towns where one can ride and tour.  To the east of Tucson is Kartchner Caverns and Colossal Cave, both an easy ride to allow tours of the caves.  Northeast of Tucson is the Biosphere 2 science research facility which is an amazing place to spend a few hours after an easy ride.

Not to mention hundreds and hundreds of miles of open road out in the desert.

This barely scratches the surface of fun places to ride.

Hope we can share some road some day!
Tim

[The emperor has no clothes]

Hey Nighthawk - Welcome (potentially) to the desert Southwest!

I've been living here for just over 20 years, having moved from Anchorage, Alaska.  On some days, I feel like I have not moved far enough south.  In a couple of months I will feel like I moved TOO far south.  My personal limit for riding in the heat is 105 so I don't ride much in the summer other than to find cooler clime's.

Actually, my personal goal is to move to Florida 

I, too, live in the Phoenix area so no idea of the job market in Tucson.  The job market in Phoenix is not that great as I know a number of people who have been out of work for some time.  But, most have found other work.  I lost my job a couple of years ago, but, since I am turning 65 in 2 months, I think it's been more an issue of my age than lack of work.

As far as riding, it just doesn't get much better than this.  For me, a solid 9 months of riding, and the 3 months during the "monsoon" season I will get in a couple of rides just to escape the heat and humidity.  And, yes, we do get humidity with dew points on occasion approaching those you are familiar with in Florida, but, add 30 degrees to the air temps.

Lots and lots of great riding in this area, almost too many to mention.  As mentioned - Mt. Lemon and AZ Bike Week.  But, there is so much more.  You have Kitt Peak, home of some 25 optical & radio telescopes, a few which you can even tour just a short ride from Tucson.  A little further up the road is Flagstaff, which is popular to get out of the heat where one may visit the Lowell Observatory. Tucson is surrounded by the Saguaro National Park, which is made up of two parks on either side of the city and is a fun place to ride.  Just on the west side of the park is Old Tucson movie studio and theme park where a lot of the old westerns were shot.  Davis Monthan AFB is located there where the USAF stores its older aircraft out in the desert.  Based on aircraft inventory, Davis Monthan is the second largest AF in the world, of course most are not airworthy.  There is Organ Pipe National Park which is also a nice day ride.  Not only is there the AZ Bike Week, but, we have the Laughlin River Run, which is billed as the largest bike gathering in the West.  Think of a mini Sturgis, if you are into that sort of thing, at the end of April.  There are a number of old mining towns where one can ride and tour.  To the east of Tucson is Kartchner Caverns and Colossal Cave, both an easy ride to allow tours of the caves.  Northeast of Tucson is the Biosphere 2 science research facility which is an amazing place to spend a few hours after an easy ride.

Not to mention hundreds and hundreds of miles of open road out in the desert.

This barely scratches the surface of fun places to ride.

Hope we can share some road some day!
Tim

Not to hijack the thread, BUT I grew up in Anchorage and graduated from Service High . Did you grow up there or were you up there working ?

[W0X0F]

Small world, say what?

Nah, the short story is I moved up to Anchorage in 1982 when I was 31.  Moved up just in time to qualify for the first Permanent Fund Dividend payment.  I brought my 1978 Goldwing up with me and in 1982 I am pretty sure it was the only Goldwing in the state.  I then moved down to Phoenix in 1994.

The long story is I had transferred from active duty in the USAF as a weather forecaster over to the Reserves, but my wife at the time remained on active duty.  She was toying with the idea of making the USAF a career and needed an "over seas" tour to fill a square on her fitness report.  I had just graduated from Southern Illinois Univ and we thought it might be a tad bit difficult for me getting a job in my degree field by moving to someplace like Germany or Italy.  At the time, Hawaii and Alaska were considered over seas assignments so we thought with all the oil companies located in Anchorage, Elmendorf AFB would be the perfect assignment for the both of us.

Initially I worked for RCA as a weather observer/briefer out at the remote USAF radar sites at Cape Newenham, Tin City, Indian Mountain and Tatalina.  In the Reserves I worked as a forecaster/briefer for the Alaskan Air Command, briefing commanders on weather conditions for Soviet bomber intercepts by F15s out of King Salmon and Galena. As my degree was in Computer Science and the RCA job was part time, I got a contract job with Shell Oil to support their first batch of IBM PCs in their Kenai office, and out on off shore platforms in the Cook Inlet and in the Arctic Ocean.  I also helped set up the first PC network for the Alaskan Air Command's Regional Operation Control Center.  I finally got on as a software developer with ARCO Alaska working in Anchorage, Kuparuk and Prudhoe Bay.

In 1994 ARCO Alaska was purchased by Conoco Phillips and the IT department was to be down sized by 70-80%.  Since I had grown tired of 9 months of winter, I volunteered to be let go and moved here to Phoenix that October.  I believe summer was on a Wednesday in 1994 

Because of my various jobs, I got to see quite a bit of the state.  I got weathered in at Bethel and Nome at various times.  I even helped a bush pilot hand prop his C206 at Cape Whales when the aircraft developed electrical issues while flying me to Tin City.  Both of my daughters were born up there and they each have a personalized brick in the sidewalk in front of the Anchorage performing arts center.

the story of my life....

[The emperor has no clothes]

Very cool ! It's seldom I get to talk to people familiar with AK. We originally went there because of the Air Force also. My Dad got stationed at Elmendorf in '60. One of my brothers was born there. Then he was transferred to Montgomery AL. in '63 . We moved back in 1970. To me it is  still home and probably always will be. But after 35 years of the winters we tired of it also. My In-Laws retired here in LHC and we decided to move here. Most of my family is still there. Interesting that you got there for the first dividend. I was in the Navy '78-'82 and came back then in time for it also. Went to work for Carr's Grocery and transferred to Kenai in '88. That's where I met my wife who is from Kenai. My Brother in law worked for Arco when they were bought by ConocoPhillips and is still with them.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Hey all, looks like I might be moving to AZ in the near future. My ex wife and I divorced back in 2013. About 6 months ago, she moved with my son to take a great job in Tucson. At the time I wasnt in a good position financially or emotionally to move.
So here I am in Florida, with my son in AZ. After discussions with the ex, I've come to the conclussion that I dont want to have my son say he never saw his dad that much when he  was a kid.
With that said I'm updating the resume, and beginning to look to the Tucson area.

Well enough of the background dramma. Now,I'm updating the resume and  looking for any info on the Tucson area, as far as things to do.  Where are the good and bad places to live, and most importantly, hows the riding??
Are there alot of bike activities?
Any and all feedback are welcome

Sorry about hijacking your post.  To your question about moving to Tucson, there is plenty of good biking you won't be disappointed. And there is also good riding in nearby states also. But really that's secondary to the real decision which is being near your son. You know in your heart it's what you want to do. Now it's just about figuring a way to make it happen. Looking forward to seeing you on some rides here. 

[pipecvr@comcast.net]

I'm in Tucson and everyone nailed it on the head.  Plenty of riding here.  In the winter you can still ride, rarely snows and once in 11 years (that's how long I have lived here) we had ice on the ground.  One thing not mentioned is Kitt peak just South of Tucson.  Largest observatory in the world and does some pretty amazing tours at night.  Three months of hot weather and nine months of perfect weather.  Today's high is 88!