BACK IN FLAG

We moved back to Flagstaff on Saturday August 18, getting into the Lake Mary Road area at almost dark and finding no spots since it was Saturday night and everybody is out camping this weekend, even in the rain.  We didn’t ride on Thursday or Friday or Saturday or Sunday (it was spent looking for a campsite after the weekenders left) so we have to really make it up the rest of the days.  But it sure is beautiful here….

We are camped this time about 20 miles south of Flagstaff across the south end of upper Lake Mary on forest road 82E.  We have a beautiful spot again and it’s not very crowded up here.  The access road is about 1&1/2 miles and “washboard” so we drive down to the main road with the tandem in the bike rack.  NOTE:  This past week it has rained A LOT!  I thought the monsoon season would be winding down, but it’s not.  Our beautiful campsite is filling up with mud and water.  We hope we can get out of here!!

We rode into town Monday to get supplies for the trip, about 40 miles round trip.  Then Tuesday, we finally tested “B.O.B.” and it was a good test.  I have been so apprehensive about doing this tour self-supported and pulling all our stuff, but the trailer is steady and it didn’t bother me a bit.  Of course we only rode about 16 miles today, and only 40 yesterday, so I’m really fresh, but I didn’t feel that the extra weight/load really made a lot of difference to me (as long as Rick stays in a good gear, which he always does). 

Rick has ordered a new chain ring which will provide us a few more lower gears for the trip.  We also picked up a B.O.B. bag; a very nice waterproof bag that fits perfectly in the trailer, complete with handles so it looks like a large duffle bag.   NOTE:  Now we’ve decided we need one more BOB bag.   And we got a handlebar bag (Ortlieb), waterproof, and a waterproof GPS case that fits on the top of the bag.  Thanks to Citibank Thank You rewards program, we also have picked up a Garmin Nuvi 2555 and supposedly, the Adventure Cycling southern tier waypoints (which I’ve downloaded) can be loaded into it and “voila” – we have our route on the GPS!  Sounds too easy….we’ll see how that all pans out.  NOTE:  It doesn’t work quite as expected.  The waypoints show up but the Garmin only knows road routes to connect them, not bike trails.  Oh well!!

So, this past week we haven’t gotten as much training in as expected due to RAIN, RAIN, RAIN, almost everyday by noon or 1 pm.  Today we were really looking forward to a nice long ride but the rain kicked in before noon and cut us short.  We’re going to try to get up earlier and ride earlier.  Gee, just like the people in Phoenix have to do because of the heat!

Less than 3 weeks to go before we start!

Sore Ass and Santa Fe

Better training week this week.  We did 70 miles from Albuquerque (ABQ) to San Ysidro, then a 95 two days later from ABQ out to Moriarty Field where Rick used to do his soaring (flying in a glider).  The very next day we did 43 on the bike trail around town, just to see how it was riding the next day after an almost century ride.  It wasn’t too hard in a way; legs held up, but my butt gave me grief which it usually doesn’t.  Must be the combination of heat and sweat….

The B.O.B. trailer is front and center in our living room this past week.  We’ve been weighing all the camping gear and seeing how it might fit in the trailer.  Just trailer and camping gear comes in about 50 pounds.  Still need to weigh clothes, personal items, bike tools and supplies….AND we still need to get out and pull that trailer to see how it, and we, manage.  We picked up more camping gear this week including a “luggable loo” – a 5 gallon bucket with a toilet seat that fits on top.  We decided on this form of camping porta potty because the bucket will be versatile – turn in upside down and we have a seat, or a table.  And we can fit other camping gear inside of it.  I figure we’ll hang the toilet seat off the back of the trailer with a sign, “ST. AUGUSTINE OR BUST” on it!

We took Thursday off to go to Santa Fe and have lunch with Dennis Cooper and dede Collins, also tandem riding friends of Rick’s.  We had a great lunch at La Choza  with them, then Rick and I took in the old town plaza area of Santa Fe which was quite charming, topping the afternoon off sitting on the balcony of the Marble Brewery taproom overlooking the plaza park.  On the way back to ABQ, we stopped in Bernalillo and ate at the famous Range Café, also wonderful.  The fried green chile strips are to die for!

Town square park, Santa Fe, New Mexico

Tomorrow we will head back to Flagstaff for our final “rest” before the trip.    Also to take a test overnight camping trip with “B.O.B.”.

Total miles this week:  208.8

Time in the saddle:  12.8 hours

Average speed:  16.31 mph

ALBUQUERQUE!

We arrived Monday night the 6th just 10 miles outside of Albuquerque, New Mexico and overnighted at the Route 66 Casino.  (Nothing to rave about there, just another Indian Casino).  Next day we moved up to the Sandia Casino & Resort parking lot in northwest section of town.  Great views of Sandia Peak from there!  Did a 47 mile ride on the Rio Grande Bosque Trail (multi-purpose trail along the Rio Grande River) and up to the Sandia Peak tram (nice climb).  Took it easy on Wednesday getting rested up for the ride with the Chile Peddlers on Thursday.  Best thing about Albuquerque so far – the Green Chile Cheese Fries at Stone Face Tavern!!  Had them three days this week!

View of Sandia Peak

The Thursday ride with the Albuquerque Chile Peddlars (Rick’s old riding group) was great.  We did a brisk 38 miles up and around Cedar Crest.  Dean and Lee Marvin were there on their tandem, Joe and Janet Vertrees on singles, and Tom Mayer.  It was a beautiful day, great company, and the main climb was first, and then the “rollers” which were very, very fun.  Afterwards we had lunch at the Greenhouse Café in Cedar Crest.  Later Rick and I had dinner at El Pinto with Dean and Lee; great food  and again, great company.

We’ll be staying in Albuquerque for another week  and then head back to Flagstaff to cooler weather and to do some riding on good old Lake Mary Road with the B.O.B. trailer on.  Funny thing, I just learned what B.O.B. stands for – “Beast of Burden”!  (Glad it’s the trailer and not me!!)  We are currently looking at starting our ride across America around September 15, maybe a few days before that.  Very exciting, just about a month away!

Albuquerque Sunset

Our stats this past week were very low; I’m not even going to publish them.   This was a “rest week” which has probably been sorely needed.  After all, we need to heed Dennis Morris’ advice not to peak too soon….

THE WINDS OF CHANGE

Well,  this past week our plans were shifted when our partners decided to opt out of the ride.  That means no motor home assistance.   Needless to say, this major change of plan has knocked us for a loop this week.  The day we heard “the news” we did a pretty brisk 60 miles,  but the next day after a very restless night’s sleep, we opted to do just 25 miles (our shortest ride in months.) and return back to camp to weigh the options, such as not going, trying to get someone else to drive our truck/5^th wheel,  and doing the ride “self supported” (i.e., pulling a trailer behind the tandem with all our camping gear, clothing, etc).

By late last night (Saturday), we had decided to forget the whole thing.  Too much unknown, too much expense….  So today (Sunday), we moped around most of the day.  I’ve never seen Rick depressed before and now I’ve seen it (nice to know I’m not the only one).  The thought of not even attempting to do this ride just devastated both of us and by mid afternoon, we knew we have to try no matter what.

So,  we have settled on doing the bike trailer/camping thing.  This is not to say we won’t stay in a motel from time to time, but that we will be minimizing what we take with us and doing a bit of camping along the way.   There are many details to work out, such as what all we need to take with us, how to get to San Diego, how to get back from Florida, etc., etc., etc.  But our spirits are lifted again just knowing we will go ahead and START!

We are now headed out with our entire “caravan” to Albuquerque, New Mexico for a few weeks to train in some different terrain, enjoy some company of Rick’s acquaintances from when he lived there,  and eat some New Mexican cuisine which I have heard  many rave reviews of.  After this, we plan to drive to Quartzsite and store the “mothership” and boat, and head out to San Diego to start this most excellent insane adventure.

End of Month (EOM) Report - July

We have just finished up the training month of JULY.  Total mileage for the month:  1150, total hours of riding time:  67 hours (just like a part-time job!).

At this rate, we could accomplish the Southern Tour (3052 miles) in 2.65 months, or that is 2 months and 20 days, which would put us getting into St. Augustine about December 12.  But we still think we’ll actually end up doing more mileage per month than this, so we could end up the ride before the end of November.

We’ll see….8 weeks to go and the last week will be mostly a recovery/rest/logistics week.