The details differ dramatically. And there is no question who you’d prefer rapping to the laidback beat. But I can’t help but sing along in agreement when Ice Cube concludes in one of his biggest songs, “It was a good day.” That 1990s hit summarizes simply and perfectly an epic 24 hours recently for this little old owner of a Phoenix hiking tours and Phoenix mountain bike tours guiding company.

From Goodfellas to the Godfather trilogy, I love all mob movies and TV shows. The most famous scene from them all is so legendary it has been aped for comedic relief in a number of programs from a wide variety of genres – including in the TV mob classic The Soprano’s. Surely you have seen Al Pacino, as a mentally tortured Michael Corleone in Godfather III, complaining about his failed attempts to leave the mob life. “Just when I thought I was out,” the countless Pacino impressionists have said with a rising level of anger, “they pull me back in!” I hate to admit I felt that same sort of anxiety initially while needing to help a friend with a Phoenix adventures tour last spring. However, the experience reminded me what’s great about both our relationship and a certain iconic challenge in our industry.

Everywhere I went this summer during vacation in Colorado, I kept hearing the name and seeing the brochures of Irwin Guides -- the rags-to-riches adventure tour company that turned into a billion-dollar international business. Since I am the type of person who believes in signs, I finally stopped wrestling with the decision and went ahead to follow my fate by booking a mountain bike tour with Irwin. I am SOOO glad I did!!! By becoming a guest again instead of a guide allowed me to take a long hard look at myself and my own Phoenix hiking tours and Phoenix mountain bike tours outfit.