Long, Long Day

Globe to Safford, Arizona was a long ride. It was mostly flat and we did have a lovely gradual downhill where I did not have to pedal for quite some time. There were also some rollers with a little bit of climbing but flat for the last 45 miles or so. Luckily the cue sheet they gave us was a little off so we really went 78 miles instead of the 83 listed.

Today there was a little haze in the distance but we could see mountains ahead of us with snow on top looming in front of us. We did travel pass an Native American reservation at San Carlos. It was so sad to see the homes and poor conditions where the Apache lived. The land they lived in on land had very little water. I couldn't imagine staying there in the hot summer at all. We got a report that there were some mean dogs up ahead that were chasing bike riders. As we approached that area, I was in the lead and saw one mangy black dog barking and chasing after a car up ahead. I waited for Susan and Liz to come up with me, and we decided to walk our bikes past the dog so we could use our bikes as shields and would form a circle , more like a triangle, if he came behind us. The dog disappeared off to the right toward some trailers, just as the SAG vehicle was driving by wondering why we were all off our bikes walking them cautiously down the road. Anyways, the dog never did come back ,our well formed plan abandoned so we saddled up and took off again.

We also traveled through the town of Pima, of cotton fame. At this time of year, they were just planting the fields of cotton, but we would see little fluffs of cotton remnants on the sides of the road. No big lunch stops today as there really weren't many places with services along the route but we did manage to stop at Taylor Freeze in Pima about 13 miles from the end of our trip at about 3 o'clock or so. Some people got a green chili burrito and root beer floats. My tooth was hurting again so I had 1/2 of a grilled cheese sandwich and some water.

Dinner tonight had a Cuban feel, with a chicken stew with lentils and veggies over brown rice, with cantaloupe, and a tossed green salad. A woman who went on the trip last year was in the area, came for supper and brought us dessert. She was back in the area camping and wanted to do the 25 mile climb over the mountain that we did yesterday. The road was closed to bikers when her group came through and she wanted to do the part she missed!

Two more days of riding and I think our name will be changed slightly to the Bag Balm Babes! Someone asked about my bike's name. I named her Gertrude, after my 80 something year old neighbor who died in a car accident in November. She was all excited about my trip and said if her balance was better she'd like to go on the ride. So, in her memory, Gertrude the bike will accompany me across the southern tier of the USA. We cross into New Mexico tomorrow!!!
Love,
Robin