Keeper of the Statistics

 

Week 2:

Kim’s Birthday is today October 9, 2015.  Her birthday wish was a day off, so we end week 2 with a day of leisure.  In six days of cycling this week, we cycled 345 miles with 13,998 feet of climbing.  This is the same distance as last week with one day less of riding and 1,000 more feet of climbing.          

That means 22.2% of the time for the trip has passed.  We have ridden 22.5% of the total miles of the trip.  We have completed 32% of the vertical climbing on the trip. 

Day 8 was 73 miles from WIckenberg to Tempe.

Day 9 was 55 miles from Tempe to Superior with 1654 feet of climbing and a 15 MPH headwind for 35 miles.

Day 10 was 32 miles with 2000 feet of climbing in an Arizona rainstorm.  Superior/Apache Gold Casino.

Day 11 was 70 miles from the casino to Safford AZ.

Day 12 was 54 miles with two mountain passes and 4900 feet of climbing.  We boon docked on the side of the road.

And, day 13 was 61 miles over the continental divide and into Silver City NM.

Tomorrow we ride about 30 miles and then climb the 8300 foot Emory Pass.  The highest point on our journey.  From the top of the pass at around 40 miles, it is about 100 miles downhill and flat to Las Cruces and El Paso.

Keeper of the Statistics - Week One

Week 1 is history with seven days of riding.  No one has gone crazy --yet. (Or if they have, they haven’t acted on it.)  No one has beaten the other members of the group to death with a bicycle pump--yet.  No one has stuck the business end of the pump in his or her mouth and (quite literally) blown themselves up--yet.  I call that success.  If not for the sag support getting us to and from our start/finish points each day, this trip would have already ended.

We have learned that we really enjoy the cool serenity of riding in the predawn hours.  We have learned that tailwinds are the three eyed unicorns of cycling the Southern Tier. 

We did not get as far as we hoped, but we are still on track.  The tale of the tape for the first week: Miles 348, Vertical feet climbed 12,900.  We have added about 3 miles to the trip with a few wrong turns.

To put this in context, 11.1% of the time for the trip has passed.  We have ridden 11.3% of the total miles of the trip.  We have completed 15.3% of the vertical climbing on the trip.  We are stronger and feeling better (except for some sore bums).

 

Day 5

Reverse Travel Day

We've decided to try a new approach. Here's how it works:
First day: head east as far as we can go. Karen picks us up in the RV and we head to a town about 50+ miles from where we stopped.
Second day: head west from the hotel covering on bike the distance we covered yesterday in an RV. Karen picks us up and we return to the last night's hotel.
Third day: we head east from the hotel as far as we can go. Karen picks us up in the RV and we head to the next town 50 miles away.

This approach allows us to spend two nights in the same hotel saving time because we don't have to load and unload the RV. It also solves the problem caused by the lack of services between many towns out here. It's hard to believe you can go over 100 miles in the west and hit nothing but dust.

We had a beautiful sunrise at our back as we rode west. Also saw the cutest group of wild donkeys milling about on the sand. There were two females and their babies. They looked very healthy.

I saw a lone cactus in full bloom on the west side of the road. It's flowers were the most beautiful shade of magenta I've ever seen.

After 52+ miles of rolling hills, flat farm land and bumpy roads, we called it quits just outside of the Mesquite Gold Mine. It was a good day of riding. We all felt strong and healthy. Things are starting to look up!

Maps 5, 6, 7

Day 4

We awoke at 3:00 am this morning while it was still nice and cool (mid 80's) and dark (except for the full moon). Riding a bit off-route, we headed out of El Centro on Old Highway 111 North. Then we turned east on 78 towards the amazing Glamis sand dunes.

Breathing deeply, we enjoyed the scent of cow manure filling the morning air.  It was a joy to be riding in "cool" temperatures followed by the gentle moon. We made great time hitting the flats east of town with mostly smooth roads and decent shoulders.

Finding a place to commune with Mother Nature while in the desert is a real challenge. The boys had it easy (as usual when it comes to these things). But I was a little more challenged to find a spot that would allow me a small bit of privacy for a potty break.

Riding along we noticed a patch of old, untrimmed palms next to a home. The trees erupted with white cranes as we passed. It was beautiful. The yard was full of domesticated rabbits content to run to and fro in the dusty earth. There were also chickens and some very noisy roosters.

Another potty break found us in the Orleander bushes next to a corral holding a bull. The irrigation ditches also provided relief for those with outside plumbing.

We ended the day about 7 miles past Glamis. Hot, sweaty, but not as miserable. We'd found a solution to the brutal heat!

                           

Glamis Sand Dunes

Map 3

Day 3 route map.

Map 4

Day 3 route map.

Day 3

So happy we had the opportunity to see the Blood Moon last night. It was especially memorable when viewed from the parking lot of the crappy hotel where we'd all checked for bed bugs before jumping in the sack. Carl's Jr. was next door (classy) and provided the epicurean delight that was our dinner.

We awoke earlier Monday morning in hopes of getting cooler temperatures. By 7:00 am we were at the top of the hill near Jacumba Springs where we'd given up, uh, stopped yesterday. Cheered by the cooler temperature at the top of the pass (70), we headed down to the Imperial Valley looking forward to making up time and distance. After a 3,000 foot descent, we were greeted by 95 degree temperatures at Ocotillo.

Still, we were optimistic because we were now riding the flats. The cracked and potholed road surface provided an experience that must have been like what our pioneering forefathers endured. Despite the jarring and a rear flat, we made good time through Plaster City (the real name of the place) to Seeley (20 miles). By now the temps had reached 99+. Jeff was having low blood pressure issues. I was sizzling. And Bill and Karen's RV had a flat.

Seeing as it was turning out to be another balmy day in paradise, we decided to head for a motel 9 miles down the road and hang it up for the day. Wanting nothing more than cold showers, we checked into a Clarion Motel in picturesque El Centro. This hotel was staffed by wonderful folks who did everything they could to make our stay comfortable. They even brought us bananas, yogurt and apples for tomorrow. If you're ever in El Centro, check 'em out!

Did you know you can't find a cold shower in a hot desert? Sounds obvious, but it was something I'd never considered. So, after very warm showers Jeff and I laid down to fight cramps while Bill and Karen took the RV to have the tire replaced.

El Centro

City in California

El Centro is a city in and county seat of Imperial County, the largest city in the Imperial Valley, east anchor of the Southern California Border Region, and the core urban area and principal city of ... 

Area: 11.1 mi²

Weather: 108°F (42°C), Wind N at 7 mph (11 km/h), 13% Humidity

Forecast

The forecast for tomorrow.

Dark

In an effort to out run the sun, we started out at 5:00 am on day 3. The super moon gracing the desert sky to the west. An orange sunrise to the east. It's about 80 out here already.

Map 2

Here's the route map for day 2.

Jeff: Day 2

Jeff here:

An Inauspicious start.  Okay.  Two days in the bag and we are already beat up and tired, tired, tired.  Here is the tale of the tape.

Day One: 42 miles, 3200 feet of climbing.  Temperatures hovering around 100.  Two wrong turns. One crash- my brother.  One trip to the ER-ditto.  Five stitches in the face-ditto.  20 or so cramps -all of us.

Day 2- 45 miles, 4500 feet of climbing, temps again climbing to 100, 30 or so cramps.

We are done with the hard climbing for a few days, but we are trading the hills for temperatures above 105.  That is 15 degrees above normal for this time of year. I guess we didn’t factor global warming into our planning.

For those betting on outcomes, we are behind schedule to finish on time by about 20 miles and the weather is not cooperating.  I still love my wife.  Her feelings for me are being tested.  No major fights, yet so the over/under for first fight is up for grabs. (Kim here: I don't know what he's talking about!)

Bill wins the trooper award.  Kim wins the indulging her husband award.  Karen wins the SAG of the year award.  And me, I have been unanimously awarded the stupidity award for thinking up this lame idea. (Kim here, again: Not true. It's not a lame idea. It's just hotter than anyone can imagine!)

Maybe when we have a few days where we make up some miles, I might be able to write more.

Day 2

Four uphill miles on interstate 8 greets us as we set out on day 2. Another hot one is promised. Rode 45 miles, 4500 feet of climbing. Temperatures in the hundreds.

Map 1

This is the map of our first day of riding.

The Start

Standing on the sand in San Diego. Ready to start the ride.

Talismans

One more piece of Australia! Ankle bracelet from Jules!

Aussie

Jules, a piece of you is on the bike with us! Love you!

AM Departure

Preparing the bikes to hit the trail in San Diego. 6:30 departure.

Pie!

Enjoying fresh apple pie at the Julian Pie Company. Yum!

Julian

The Julian Inn. Pretty. Historic.

Pacific Crest Trail

On our way to Julian on the Sunrise Highway.

Bentley's 2

Outside this popular locals' hangout.

Bentley's

What a wonderful spot for lunch. Great staff, best cinnamon rolls in the universe (made by Anthony), fascinating clientele.

Prepare time

Bill studies the first of a series of 7 Adventure Cycling Southern Tier maps. The scowl is for the temperatures we expect to encounter in the first week of desert riding. 100+

Tucson

Not Quite the Beginning

BUT. . .

It's an auspicious start!

Met up with Bill, Karen, Trip and Tate in Tucson after delivering two huge paintings for my friend, Joyce. Our drive from Denver was one of unexpected beauty punctuated by painted skies, magnificent mesas and dinosaur-sized boulders. Tucson greeted us with torrential rain showers slowing our journey to a crawl. Once out of the rain we enjoyed the beauty of Tucson: flaming red, orange and yellow flowers. Towering cacti. Hummingbirds! The American southwest is truly a Kodachrome tapestry accompanied by a fragrant sage-infused backdrop.

The plan is to head out tomorrow morning towards San Diego. After a dump (uh, for the RV black water tanks) and return of the rental car we'll be on our way.

Itinerary

Here's our itinerary from Adventure Cycling Association's Southern Tier Route

Down to the Wire

Getting prepared for a ride of this distance is a daunting venture for those of us who are new to long distance riding. That includes everything from physical training to packing and planning.

Physical Training: Ouch. I repeat. Ouch. How did I get so damn old? It didn't use to hurt this bad to ride several hours every day. Can I go to sleep now?

Packing: We're fortunate to have a brother and sister-in-law coming with us in their 30 foot class C RV. So, packing is probably the easiest of our tasks.

Planning: This has been downright fun. We've purchased maps from Adventure Cycling of the Southern Tier Route. I've ordered information and maps from state tourist agencies. We've studied weather and read others' cross country blogs.

So, we're ready. RIGHT?

T-Minus 6

Wait a minute! I have a life to take care of here! What about the dogs, the plants, the yard, the house? My favorite Marine isn't here to house sit any more. What would we do without Tristan & Jason and our amazing neighbors?