Day 6 Winslow to Gallup (134 miles)

Slightly later start than usual this morning,
got on the road at 7:15. Headed out of Winslow on Route 66. Passed the 'famous' Winslow corner. If you're a fan of the Eagles, 'standing on the corner in Winslow' will mean something to you, but it passed me by.

Soon joined up with the Interstate. We couldn't have hoped for better weather, still hot and sunny, but the main thing, blasting 20-30 mph winds behind us all day. It's the furthest I've ever ridden in a day and also the fastest, overall we averaged just over 20 mph (134 miles in just under 6.5 hours bike time) although we did have fairly long breaks at the SAGs.

This was the only photo I took all day. It's at our lunch SAG, there was a 6 lane highway just behind me. It was really desolate, there was literally tumble weed blowing along the highway. Later in the day did see some colourful rock formations, but that's about it.

Only problem today was the debris everywhere, mainly parts of truck tyres, but also bits of wood, bottles of piss, you name it. Several rides had flats. I was really really lucky, have managed to avoid that so far, but do have a chunk out of my front tyre.

Linda was pretty much recoverd from her fall and rode all day. Everyone else has various ailments, the most common seems to be numb fingers, makes typing difficult.

134 miles is one hell of a long way, even with good winds, it's tiring just trying to avoid all the lumps and bumps. Had a severe pain in my knee at about 40 miles, but it soon passed and didn't return. Have very sun burnt lips, but apart from that all OK. Tomorrow we do pretty much exactly the same thing all over again.

Day 5 (continued)

Climbed steadily up Oak Creek Canyon, then a sharp climb at the end with several hairpins. It's a really beautiful wooded valley. I was feeling tired, sleepy all the time, just wanted to have a nap, but continued on. Also for the first time on this trip got very hungry just before lunch. Stopped in Flagstaff for the lunch SAG and loaded up with calories. Heading out of Flagstaff saw the Motel 6 where I'd stayed 15 years ago on my first trip to the US. Also saw a lot of prairie dogs, which are like big chipmunks.

Connected with Route 66 and followed that for a few miles through woods to the Interstate. First thing we saw was a sign saying Albuquerque 318 miles. It's quite freightening to think that we'll be there the day after tomorrow. The Interstate was excellent, for the first time on this trip we had blasting tail winds which meant we could hammer along at 20 - 30 miles an hour.

Stopped briefly at Two Arrows, which is a disused petrol station and two large arrows. Met an English couple there who are driving Route 66 from Chicago to LA. Like most people they couldn't believe we're only on day 5 and have come all this way. Just up the road we passed Two Guns, guess we know who won that battle.

Got in at 4:30 without really having to push for time today, but still very tired. Get a little bit of a lie in tomorrow, start with breakfast at 6:00. We're being split into two groups because the difference between fastest and slowest means we get very spread out on the road. I'm in the fast group, just, so a bit later start but then we need to push hard most of the day.

Tomorrow we're on the Interstate for over 100 miles and we're all hoping for favourable winds. If it's like it was today, we'll be fine, if it's in our faces it could be touch and go whether we make it. We also lose an hour as we cross into New Mexico.

Day 5 Cottonwood to Winslow (107 miles)

Left Cottonwood this morning and headed out along a highway. After 15 miles we reached the picteresque town of Sedona, which is where the photo is of. There was an unofficial SAG stop at a friends of Mike and Barabara's who runs a church. Excellent cake there. Didn't bring good omens though because a few miles later we had our first crash. Linda, the only female on the tour and one of only three who have ridden every inch so far hit a rock about the size of a cigarette packet. The guy in front heard the pops as both her tyres burst and look round to see her skidding sideways. She hit the back of her head and got taken to hospital by ambulance. She's fine though and should ride tomorrow. Her helmet was badly damaged. We've been taught to wear a helmet every second we're on the bikes at it shows why. I was fortunately up the road at this point so missed it all.

Day 4 Wickenburg to Cottonwood (103 miles)

103 miles horizontally and 1.5 miles vertically today. Rode 3 big climbs, the last one finishing at 7023 feet. Really good day today, rode strongly at the front of the group all day.

Luggage load was at 5:20 and we left breakfast at 6:20. First hour or so was a little cold for the first time, but soon warmed to the high 70's once the sun got up. 'Lunch' was at 42 miles and over one big hill and halfway up the next. We were expected there between 10 and 11, but several of us got there at 9:45. Knowing that we were well ahead of schedule it meant the rest of the day we could take it fairly steadily. The photo is near the top of the second climb. That was the typical terrain, winding roads made for fairly fast, fairly technical descents. Didn't push too hard, would be mad to crash.

From the final climb we descended to 5000 feet and the town of Jerome. There's The Haunted Burger Bar here. Don't know what's haunted about it, but they make the best burgers I've tasted. It's a tradition that the ride always stops there. Also fantastic view over the desert plains and mountains for about 50 miles. Full of burger and chips we descended another 3000 feet to the town of Cottonwood. Got to a top speed of 36 mph. Would have been quicker, but the winds were getting up by then.

There's not been one day so far where everyone has made it in. One guy was in the van all day with a knackered knee and I think a few others didn't make it over the final climb in time.

Had a slight twinge in my knee today. Hopefully pain killers will take care of it. Other than that a perfect day. Another set of climbs tomorrow, but they don't hold any fear, it's the winds I can't stand.

It's the wild west out here, they really do wear cowboy hats.

Day 3 Blythe to Wickenburg (115 miles)

Up at 5 am this morning and went to breakfast whilst is was still dark. Left Blythe (can't say I'll be in a hurry to go back there) at 6:20. After about 5 miles crossed the border into Arizona. The interstate highway climbed steadily for the first hour, but the road surface was good, the wind was favourable and there were six of us working a paceline. This soon got cut to 4 and then after about 25 miles to 3. Turned off the interstate and the road got really bumpy. They're resurfacing it at the moment and there was a lot of construction. One point had a escort (not a ford escort) taking groups of vehicles through. We were really lucky with this and it only held us up for a couple of minutes, but others behind got stuck for 15 mins.

Passed through the small town of Hope with this interesting sign on the way out. I grabbed this off the net. Couldn't take any photos today because the battery in the camera had run flat. Not too bothered as tour leader Mike (TLM) (as opposed to English Mike, that's me, or Bamuda Mike) takes literally 5000 photos each trip and sends us the best.

It's a desert out there, cactus, dead things, the works. Lunch was after 60 miles and from there to Wickenburg it was one long totally straight road, no bend for 40 miles or more. Saw some 'dirt devils' they're like mini tornados. Came close to one just before the end. They're hazardous, will knock you off the bike, so had to stop. Our group of 3 were the first in at 4pm. It makes such a difference having a few extra hours to get yourself clean, have a good meal, do whatever you feel.

Top temperature today was about 102 on the road. Drank another 12+ litres of fluid. That's all the day consists of, drinking and rubbing in some sort of cream, whether it's sun screen, lip balm, stuff to stop saddle sores, stuff to cure saddle sores, muscle pain gel, it's like painting the Forth Bridge. Obviously much better day today, got some pins and needles in my fingers from all the bumps, but apart from that OK. A lot of climbing tomorrow, but only 103 miles.

Day 2 Palm Springs, halfway to Blythe (70 miles)

Well drop like flies we did. I think several like me were still suffering from the day before when we assembled for breakfast. Tour leader Mike really laid it on the line (to paraphrase) "today is all about being sensible, we're going through some very tough terrain in excessive temperatures. It's a freeway running through a desert, so if you get in trouble it could take us some time to come and get you. There'll be some points where you can stop, but outside of those things could get rough. We want to avoid a serious situation turning into an emergency situation, because if you have to go to hospital we won't be able to support those still out there. It's not a case of seeing if you can make it" Suitably chasened, we headed off, on quiet flat, smooth roads. It was 7 in the morning, but already in the 70's.

Rode very well for the first 50 miles. Some nice firemen gave us some water. We were working a sensible paceline with everyone taking their turn at the front. The first SAG was excellent, food, water, ice cube neck wraps, we were perfectly prepared when we left it. Then we started heading up hill through a canyon and the temperature shot up. Immediately several of the group were in trouble. I managed to ride to the top, it was beautiful scenery and I was feeling fine. It was an amazing 'box' canyon. Several times the road seemed to end in a wall of rock, but you'd go round a corner and it would continue on up. Out the top of the canyon the road continued to rise and so did the temperature, I was suffering. Turned on to the freeway to ride the 4 miles to the lunch stop. Then the headwinds started. That was the final straw, I was pushing hard, but would have had to keep at that level to ride the last 65 miles in under 5 hours. Got to the halfway distant and lunch and then called it a day.

The top temperature today was 104 in the shade, not that there was any shade.

Spent the afternoon packed in the van with all the others who had dropped out, staying close to the few riders still out there. In the end only 3 made it in. Well done to the support of Mike, Barbara and Karen. They couldn't have done more to help us on our way and avoided any emergency situations, which was the main goal of today - we all get to ride again.

Got in late, so precious little time to prepare for tomorrow - let's hope for better things.

Costa Mesa to Palm Springs (112 miles)

In what I hope won't become a recurring theme, today could be described as a tough tough day. Started out OK, as you can see, me and my limey white legs took a dip in the Pacific Ocean. From there we followed a great cycle track which followed the Santa Anna river. Santa Anna isn't really a river, it's a storm ditch like you would see in Grease or Terminator 2, but it got us out of LA without mixing with the traffic.


First SAG stop (support and gear) was at 31 miles. Here Barbara gave us bananas, biscuits, energy bars, sun screen, anything we needed for a day on the road. Things were going fine until about 40 miles when the winds and the temperature got up. We were cycling into a 30? miles an hour head wind in about 100 degree heat. Even that was reasonably OK until we got to the hills. 1100 feet of climbing later and I was done in. Started feeling sick, but they rescued me with lots of fluids and salt crackers. Fortunately wind changed direction and the last 20 miles we did in about an hour. Got in at 5, totally totally exhausted. Thanks to the guys who did the leading today and let me sit in their slipstream. However fared better than some, who got in after 6 or arrived in the van.

On the plus side, saw some spectacular scenery and lots of wind farms, can't think why they build them around here.

Tomorrow it's 130 miles but apparently not so hilly and hopefully the wind will be better. I'm going to take their advice and not do anything stupid, will ride in the van if necessary. Must have drunk over 10 litres of fluid today. Problem with getting in so late is that there's precious little time for recovery. Anyway, we'll see.