After photos at Larry and Susan Hansen's we were off to an early sunrise start; 6:20 am. The first 20 miles were a SWEET gradual decent to Peridot. After a short break at a convenience store, we were off for a 25 miles ride to Bylas where we took another break. From just east of Globe to near Geronimo we rode through San Carlos Apache Reservation. We took another break at a relatively new convenience store in Bylas. Bob from Illinois was there but that is the last we saw of him as he began a more direct route than the ACA maps. The terrain from Peridot to near Bylas had some large rollers but finally flattened out. We fought a 20 - 25 mph head wind from Peridot until the last hour of riding ~ 50 miles - BRUTAL!! We stopped again for a short break in Fort Thomas. Camp Thomas is where the US government relocated Geronimo and his tribe of Apaches. After the short break we continued on to Pima. There were signs along the road for Taylor Freeze (used to be a Tastee Freeze franchise). We stopped again in Pima - great chocolate shake; really refreshing after 70 miles. Then it was back on the road for the last 10 miles to Safford where we are stayin at Sunrise Village RV Park. We were supposed to camp but instead slept inside the recreation room. Everyone was too tired to go looking for groceries to cook so we ordered Pizza Hut salads and pizza. Headwinds aside, it was a beautiful days ride through some remote and scenic country.
 |
| Larry and Susan Hansen - Our gracious hosts in Globe, AZ |
 |
| Camp Thomas near Giromino, AZ |
October 2 - Sunday; Safford to Three Way, AZ: 36 miles.
The first 10 miles from Safford to US 191 were flat. US191 had a gentle grade to begin but the grade increased after another 10 miles with a nice hard climb up Tollhouse Canyon to an unnamed pass then downhill to Three Way. We arrived by 10:30 am and bought refreshments at the only small local market before proceeding 2.5 miles off route on AZ75 to Ponderosa Campground. No one was there to check in with so we went another 1/2 mile down the road to a Mexican restaurant for lunch. We returned to the campground at 1:00 pm and the host showed us around. After pitching tents we headed for the showers. While I was in the shower the skies opened up with a flat out down pour - with hail. I waited 20 minutes for the rain to stop so I could get back to the tent area but it just kept pouring. Finally I took one of the shower curtains and used it as a poncho to make it back to a porch attached to an abandoned double-wide trailer where we all stayed until the rain finally stopped; about 1.5 hours after it began. The cooks headed for another local marked just up the road to get dinner/breakfast/lunch supplies. They almost made it back before it began to pour again. We ate sandwiches and chips with headlamps then headed for our tents. My Big Agnes Seedhouse II kept me dry through the night. It rained until about 11:00 pm.
 |
| View from US191 looking to the mountain pass we would climb |
 |
| Decent into Three Way |
 |
| At Three Way, AZ |
October 3 - Monday; Three Way, AZ to Buckhorn, NM; 48 miles.
After packing up my wet tent and clothes from yesterday that did not dry overnight we were off to a 6:30 am start. There was a pretty major climb beginning only a few miles out of Three Way to an unnamed pass at 6,300' (from 3,500') then rollers from the pass to about 9 miles from Buckhorn where it was a gently downhill. Climbing the pass was pretty tough. I could see the switchbacks from miles away so knew what was in store. The grade was pretty steep but I took it one turn at a time and eventually made it to the top. Once at the top I stopped for refreshments before heading just down the road to Buckhorn RV Park for the night. The scenery changed drastically after the pass from desert with cactus to pine forest and shortly thereafter we crossed into New Mexico. Again the scenery was spectacular all day. On today's ride we finally met up with Grant and Shirley from Chico, CA who are also riding the ST. Grant had trashed his rear derailleur about 7 miles out of Buckhorn and they caught a ride to Silver City for repairs.
 |
Looking back down at the switchbacks from near the pass.
|
October 4 - Tuesday; Buckhorn to Silver City, NM; 39 miles.
It rained through the night in Buckhorn. Not hard, just a constant light rain. It quit long enough for me to pack my gear, eat breakfast and get down the road a few miles. It was a cool and damp enough that I started wearing all my rain gear but took off the pants about 7 miles down the road. They don't breath very well and I was warmed up by then. There were low clouds and mist and light rain all day except for the last few miles climbing to the Continental Divide where it poured cold rain. The rain stopped just before we reached the divide and after photos (RJ, Adrian and I arrived together) we were on the decent into Silver City. I stopped at a small bike shop just off the route into town that had a great tech that cleaned and adjusted my drive train - all for $10. I then made my way to the Silver City RV Park - very nice. I was hanging my tent to dry when another rainstorm passed through. I decided to quickly assemble the tent. I later had to take it down as Ray (our leader) decided to upgrade us to a cabin for the night. This was a great decision as it continued to rain through the afternoon and evening. We were met by friends of Adrian, Frank and Eileen (sp?) from Denver who had cycled with Adrian in the UK last summer. Frank and Eileen purchased steak, baked potatoes and corn on the cob for us. How extremely gracious and special thanks to Dan from our group who cooked the steaks! Great job Dan. There was also had apple pie and ice cream for desert. Super meal - and it was Gary and my turn to cook (there'll be a payback down the road I'm sure - right RJ?). Frank and Eileen rode the ST in Spring 2008 with ACA.
 |
| At the Continental Divide just west of Silver City, NM. |
We were all able to sleep in this morning. After a shower I did laundry. Ray picked up a van from Enterprise for a trip to the Gila cliff dwellings for anyone who wanted to go. RJ, Gary and I opted out. I wanted to get the blog updated and get my gear dried out. We all went to breakfast at 9:15 am then RJ, Gary and I headed to the library. Most libraries have a 60 minute limit but here they were gracious enough to allow me more time to get caught up.
Tomorrow we go over Emory pass; the highest point on the ST route at 8,228'. I'll need all the rest I can get today to get up the pass. Emory is the end of the mountain passes. It will level for quite a few days and we'll be riding at about 4,000' to El Paso, TX which is the end of the ST Section II. Then we'll be 3 weeks getting across Texas with Hill Country to test our endurance again.
No comments:
Post a Comment