Week 2, Days 8-10, July 1-3

Sorry I haven't posted for a few days. Finding time and Internet access is sometimes a challenge. Here is a little bit on the first three days of riding this week. I'm posting this from Zuni Christian School where we arrived about 90 minutes ago. I hope to write more later.

Day 8, Monday. Payson, AZ

This was our last day in Payson before resuming our scheduled route. Most of us hadn’t ridden since Thursday. They planned a 25-mile day-ride out to a picnic spot along a river. The ride took us on a two-lane mountain road with a 30 mph speed limit. They chose this spot and route because it any cars on the road would be going slow. The ride out there was challenging with steep grades. We went down, only to go back up again. I have to confess, I broke the speed limit a time or two. About half-way there, I wondered how in the world I was going to get myself back to Payson, but I kept going anyway. The river and picnic spot was lovely. It felt so good to dangle my feet in the cool mountain river. Rudy went swimming and got a little sunburned. After a picnic lunch we saddled up for the return trip. I wasn’t looking forward to the ride back to town, but I took one hill at a time and before I knew it we were back on the main drag through town. I almost wanted to ride back and do it again. Almost.

Day 9, Tuesday. Heber, AZ

Today’s ride was a short 52 miles. But don’t be misled by the distance! It was basically 30 miles uphill and then mostly level or a little downhill. The climb took us from the valley up to a plateau. The views were beautiful, but let me tell you, those climbs were difficult. Thankfully, the road had a good shoulder to ride on. My speedometer hovered between 4.4 and 4.8 mph most of the time. At one point I was down to 3.8 mph. This is the slowest I've ridden my bike without tipping over. 

This bear was feasting on a dead elk not far from the road.

Each person on the tour is assigned to a Sweep Team. When the riders finish riding for the day, the Sweep Team people unload all the gear bags from the aisle of the gear trailer and lay them out on the ground for people to claim. A couple hours later they help set up, serve and clean up dinner. The next morning they set out the breakfast items and the food for people to pack their lunches for the day. They also load everyone’s gear bag into the semi, pack up breakfast, and are the last people to hit the road. It was our turn to sweep today.

As everyone lined up for dinner, the ominous clouds stood guard behind the nearby mountains. The menu was leftovers and several of us on the Sweep Team hurriedly dished food on to plates, urging the people to move quickly through the serving line. Let’s just say that half the people got their food in fine form, while the other half got mac and cheese plus rain, fried chicken plus rain, peas and carrots plus rain, etc. The large drops were refreshing at first, but soon they had us reaching for our sweatshirts. Btw, the food has been excellent on the tour and I seriously doubt if I’ve lost any weight yet. 

Day 10, Wednesday. St. John, AZ

Wow, it’s hard to believe we’re ten days into the tour already.  Since we were on the Sweep Team this morning, we did not leave camp until 6:45 a.m. That’s over an hour later than “usual”. Our route today took us through 77 miles of beautiful, high dessert scenery. It was a great ride. The flowers were beautiful. The vistas were never-ending. The temperature was over 100 degrees by the time we finished the ride. Given our late start and the climbing today, we were the last riders into camp. Our recumbent bikes are definitely slower than the upright bikes when going up the hills. However, I wouldn’t want to trade them for some of the aches, pains, and chafing that some riders are already experiencing. 

The locals call it monsoon season, and a strong wind came through camp in the late afternoon, but with no rain. Some people’s tent poles broke and they are improvising as best they can. We, however, had no problem with our tent in the wind because we hadn’t set up the tent yet! This is one bright spot of getting into camp last. 

We’re camping in the city park tonight and to kick off their 4^th of July celebration, they are showing “American Tale” on the side of a building just a hundred yards from our tent. It’s quite loud. Kids are playing on the playground equipment and having a great time. We’re always very thankful for the communities which host us, because not every town or organization is open to, or able to have a travelling band of bicycle riders camping in their town. 

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