Category: Pedal Wheels

Prescott, AZ to Wickenburg, AZ
Date: 01/09/2013
Distance traveled: 68.02 miles (433.15 miles total)
GPS tracks: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/260277151

After spending a lazy morning at Ruth & Ben’s place waiting for the temperature to get above freezing, I finally got all of my gear on and headed out the door around 10:30am. Right off the bat there was a good climb out of Prescott on Iron Springs road that had me shedding a top layer and the thick gloves, but that didn’t last long… soon I was up over 6,000ft and I started my fun day of coasting down massive hills. Winter gloves and windbreaker required!

Scenic day – overlooking what I believe is the Prescott National Forest

My route today followed Iron Springs road through Skull Valley, on to Kirkland, and then onto highway 89 almost all the way to Wickenburg. Most of the roads were good to bike on, despite 70% of the route having zero shoulder. The only place where that is really a problem is on 89 which is pretty well traveled, particularly the last 10-15 miles between Congress and where it joins up with 91. In short, I wouldn’t recommend this ride except for HOW AWESOME THE DOWNHILL WAS!

At the highest point I was at 6,100ft – I ended the day at 2,300ft! You can imagine what some of those downhill sections were like! The best part was that all of the good downhill was also on really good road, so it felt good to fly. My top speed today was 41MPH. It was a blast.

 

Flying down the from Yarnell on Highway 89.

 

Despite this massive elevation drop I still managed to ascend over 3,000ft today. Not a bad for an off-route bonus mileage day.

Tonight I stayed at the Aztec RV park. It was probably the worst night of sleep I’ve had yet – the RV park is right along a major road, and there was an active railway that had trains coming through about every 2 hours or so. Lots of trucks in & out of the park early in the morning as folks went to work. And a garbage truck at 6am. I would have been better off at a hotel. At least I saved $60. :)

My campsite for the night. You can see the McDonalds across the road in the distance.

Some other pictures from the day:

A 2 mile stretch of Iron Springs road is under construction. It was a bit muddy.

Last major downhill of the day coming out of Yarnell.

Looking down the hill toward Wickenburg.

Hope, AZ to Wickenburg, AZ
Date: 01/08/2013
Distance traveled: 59.83 + 2 miles not recorded by the GPS (365.13 miles total)
GPS tracks: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/260028948

I woke up on Tuesday morning snug as a bug in a rug in my tent. The Ramblin’ Roads RV park was an excellent choice for a good night of rest. I was concerned that the lights would keep me up, but that was not a problem at all. I only woke up once because I was cold (I think it got down into the mid-30’s at night), but all I had to do was throw on another layer and I was fast asleep.

My campsite at the RV park.

Biking, however, was really really boring. Highway 60 may be my favorite road as far as conditions go, but there is also a whole lot of nothing out there. Most roads at east turn, dip, climb, do something… anything… for a change. This road was like that old Atari video game where you are forever flying toward the tower but never get there. It was straight and slightly uphill for the majority of the ride. Only the last 10 miles were downhill, which made for a nice change. The only eventful thing that happened was that someone thought it would be cute to swerve into the shoulder at me … I’ll never understand people and why they think endangering someone’s life is funny.

Whole lot of nothing… at least the shoulders were nice.

The thing that kept me going was the thought of seeing Ruth and Ben (my sister & brother-in-law-to-be)! They live up in Prescott, AZ and were going to meet me in Wickenburg to take me back to their place for the night. It was so great to spend an evening with family… it made me a bit homesick, but also made me super happy to see them and their super cute house.

Ruth and Ben on their way out of the house this morning.

This morning I got up and had breakfast with Ben (homemade McMuffins – awesome!) and am now just hang’n out with Fred (the dog) waiting for it to warm up more. It’s 77 miles back to Wickenburg, and Prescott is pretty high up so it’s damn cold outside – I’m waiting for the temp to get up higher. It was in the 20’s when I got up! It should be in the mid 30’s by the time I leave.

Until then, I’m gonna keep hang’n with Fred.

Me & Fred.

Blythe, CA to Hope, AZ
Date: 01/07/2013
Distance traveled: 57.51 miles (303.3 miles total)
GPS tracks: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/259512504

It was good to get back on the bike. Today’s ride was very nice, despite spending a good chunk of it on Interstate 10. But it wasn’t too bad – interstates are nice if for nothing else than the super wide shoulders.

I had a short diversion onto a side road where I met some prospectors who were literally looking for gold. It was fun to chat with them – believe it or not, they do find gold every now and then. Apparently this is a pretty common snow birding activity down here. This is where my day with the snow birds started.

Wayne and Carol pan for gold & help clean up the desert – they come down from North Dakoda every winter.

Highway 60 … well, that was really nice to ride on. It was smooth. Wide shoulders. And had some fun things along the way. For example, Stevie’s dinner where I spent 20-30 min chatting with another set of snow birds who live in the RV park nearby – also down from somewhere up north for the winter.

Stevie’s Diner – in Brenda, AZ, 15 miles before Hope. I had a great turkey on rye sandwich here with slaw. Also spend some time chatting with some snow birds.

At the end of the day, I got to Hope, AZ with no issue. There’s really nothing here but the Ramblin Roads RV Park. Turns out these RV parks are lil communities, complete with planned events! Bingo some nights. Poker tournaments other nights. Tonight was Bluegrass! Score! I got settled into camp, got a shower, and now I’m sitting in this overwarm community center listening to some crooning of “Walking after midnight” and the like.

I love it! It was the perfect way to end this day.

Looking back on Highway 60 – it was a nice ride!

Hope! The only thing in this town is the RV park & the gas station.

Listening to Bluegrass music at the Ramblin Roads RV park with the snow birds.

 

Some other pictures from the day:

I grabbed a picture with Liz before I left B&B Bait this morning.

Cute sheep! – Just outside Blythe, CA