The longest day

This was the longest day, miles wise.  Jerry and I made short work of it, worked together and got in early today.  157 miles and 3600 feet of climbing.  I think our average speed was close to 18 mph.   We were on the road for about 9 hours.  

New Mexico is fantastic so far.  I will try to upload some more pictures later.  But here is one of me sitting on a large piece of petrified wood.  That stuff is so cool.  

Trying to rest on Route 66

Today's ride was 120 miles, with much of it along the famous Route 66.  The temperatures were very comfortable in the 70's and low 80's.   My group of 4 (Jerry, Steve, Mike and I)pretty much brought up the rear to the pack today.  Steve and I had determined to make this an easier day on our bodies, as much as you can make a 120 mile day easier.  We were determined to give our legs  a break  from the stress of high exertion.  Turns out everybody in our group need that today.  We enjoyed stops along Route 66:  the Wigwam Hotel, and Petrified Forest Park.  

Wigwam Motel: Mike, Jerry, Mike G, and Steve.

I chased my first lizard today.  It was a nice one.  I think it was a big (6 inch) blue bellied lizard.  I'm not as fast as I was when I was 10 years old.  So it got away.  Jerry was happy.  He thought I was going to hurt it.  I just wanted to get a closer look and a picture.  

The forests of Arizona turned to sage desert.  Route 66 is an old  road, and was very very rough in places.  We felt like we were shaking apart at times.  

Arizona Mountains

The day started much cooler than previous ones, and as we climbed the gradual 1-2 % grades up in to the Arizona mountains, the temperatures stayed in the 70's and low 80's for the morning.  The first mountain had an elevation gain of about 3000, and we had already climbed about 2000 feet just getting the 20 or so miles from the hotel to the mountain.  

We had fun with the climb, stopping to take pictures of each other, and the scenery.  The highlight for me was the tarantula crossing the road just infront of my tire.  I swerved to miss the nearly 6 inch long hairy beast.  I stopped my bike and got close 

enough to touch the spider and take this picture.  The white strip that the spider is on, is nearly 12 inches wide.    Later in the day, another one crossed the road in front of me.  In addition, a giant centipede sped out across the road, and I ran right over it.  I thought my tires would cut it in half, but it just wiggled alittle and scurried back to the ditch.  This centipede was 6 inches long and as wide as my thumb with armor on its back.  Wild creatures.

The second mountain was much more difficult for me.  The 1-2% grade for 10 miles leading up to it felt like I was riding on a bike with 2 flat tires.  You just feel like you should make better progress because the grades are 

so long, that they look flat.  We climbed about 2000 more feet with in the mountain up to 7400 feet in elevation, for a total of about 8500 feet for the day.

My body is beginning to feel the pain.  Hydration was the key the first few days.  Now the key is pain management.  Parts of me ache that have not ached in a long time.  I am h

oping for an easy day to let my legs rest a bit, but I don't expect to get one tomorrow with more AZ mountains on our way to Winslow.

Feeling It

After the first 40 miles today, I began to feel the pain of 3 long days in a row.  I'm told that if we make it through the 4th day of consecutive 100 + mile days, that your body adapts, and it should bet easier from there on.  I will let you know!  

We crossed into Arizona today, and enjoyed the site of Saguro cactus, and the AZ desert.  Jerry and Steve and I talked about the Biblical story of John the Baptist as we entered the town of Solema.  

I spotted my first lizard today, and brought back childhood memories.

See jerryporter.blogspot.com for more detail.  I am out of time tonight.  

Imperial Dunes

Steve, Jerry and I role out with the rest of the group at 6:30 leaving El Centro for Blythe, CA.

The highlights of this segment was the live fire  missile range used by Air Force F 16's, and the Imperial Sand Dunes, along with only 106 miles being covered.

As we road right through the middle of the Air Force practice area we were able to view F 16's just off the ground, going like their hair was on fire.  They went right over us.  Fortunately, they were not dropping bombs and stuff.  We were on a state highway, so it had to be safe.

With temperatures rising to 118 F on our bicycle computers,  we visited the Dunes, and much of the Imperial Valley agriculture.   It was amazing to see the effect of irrigation water on the desert.  We could see the difference in wildlife, and even the effect on temperature as we passed by.   I saw more ducks and geese down in this desert, then I have seen in MN and WI for a long time !  I'm not sure what to make of that.

It was alittle more difficult for me today.  I didn't drink enough water early, and ended up getting behind in my hydration.  I was able to stave off the first signs of heat problems (a headache), but I am sure I affected my performance.  Fortunately, Steve and Jerry, and everybody else of that matter were not much better off, or I would have had a hard time keeping up.

Tomorrow we raise the mileage back up to 116, and  head into Arizona.  

My pictures won't send off of my I Phone, so I will load them tomorrow, I hope.

Over the Mts into the desert

Our ride started at 6:30 AM PST with temps in the low 70's.  As we rose 7000 feet through the Sierra Nevada Mts, the temps rose to the high 90's.   After about 70 miles, we dropped into the Imperial Valley Desert, and the temperatures climbed to 125 F.  When we ended the 126 mile ride at 5:30 PM it was still over 100 degrees.  

Hydration was obviously the key.  Our support was fantastic, and we had fluids about every 25 miles.  

Jerry, Steve and I decided to take it pretty easy the first day, so we were in the back of the group most of the day.  All of us finished though, and we took good care of each other.  

Tomorrow will be more of the same desert, and high heat, but less climbing, so we should be able to finish  earlier in the day, if we stay hydrated.