111 miles, 2200 feet of climbing. Temperature was well into the 90’s. Wind was out of the NNW at 20 -25 mph which pretty much battered us from the side all day. Road for 7 hours 30 minutes and averaged approximately 14.5 mph. The climbing was not steep and stretched out over nearly 70 miles. I had another good day. I am confident that I will continue to get stronger and will meet this challenge!
Entering AZ, 10 miles from Blythe, CA
Shortly into the ride we ran into some construction on Highway 10 and were stopped by the police who decided they were not going to let us thru. We called the SAG vans and shortly thereafter they arrived, loaded our bikes into the van and ferried us thru the area. We ended us “losing” 5 miles but hey we are going to cover 3500. Our ride leaders are great. Very accommodating and dedicated to seeing that we have the trip of a lifetime. They handled this little hiccup very professionally.
The road we were on most of the day was straight and stretched on into the horizon forever. We were in the AZ desert and it was barren!!
Sometimes this sums up how I feel out there on the road. Particularly when I am by myself with no fellow riders in site!
You have a barren desert, we have barren cupboards & fridge. I am trying to handle it professionally too, seeking professional assistance from Mac Donald & Colonel Sanders.
ReplyDeleteLeisa
Wow. You are interested in staying with other riders! Trav will not believe that and he will be so proud you are eating FAST. Have fun
ReplyDeleteway to go.got my bike out the other day .......went 12 miles...........almost asmuch as u :)
ReplyDeleteSo you got "sagged" on day 3? I remember a guy who got sagged up the wall on DalMac quite a few years ago. He went right buy us in the back seat of a Pontiac 6000 looking straight ahead with tunnel vision (to avoid being seen) and then bragged about beating us that day by about 4 hours! :)
ReplyDeleteBe careful about how much you get sagged because some supporters may have to adjust back the donations due to the lack of miles.
Jerry, I don't think you examined the photo closely enough. The bikes are on the sag wagons, the riders all have their front wheels in their hands. They jogged the 5 miles through the construction zone! In the heat! With wind! Now that's dedication.
ReplyDeleteOn another note; what does that sign mean? I could understand if it said your butt is beyond hope (although I think that would be a more appropriate message after about 15 more days of biking 7 hours a day). But your "now" is beyond hope? Perhaps we could buy them some paint to change it to "you're now beyond hope." Just a thought.
ReplyDeleteRuss – Hard for me to buy your theory about them having to run those 5 miles. You see I’ve known him for quite awhile. The smile on his face while standing there with his front tire in his hand tells me they got sagged those 5 miles. In fact the last time I saw a smile quite that big on his face was way back on August 19, 1972.
ReplyDeleteAlso Russ – thanks for pointing out the grammar issue with the sign. I seriously did not even notice that – but then again, I classify corn and potatoes as vegetables! :)