Days 12 & 13: Broken Bottle Blacktop & A Day of Rest

Globe, AZ to Safford, AZ
Date: 01/13/2013 – 01/14/2013
Distance traveled: 80.55 miles (669.45 miles total)
GPS tracks: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/262117401

Bundled up against the cold.

The twelfth day of the trip was the second longest day of biking I’ve done yet. It took me right at 8 hours to go 80 miles. It was also the coldest – starting around 30° F and not getting much above 45° F. I had long johns, bike shorts, and my rain pants on my legs. Up top I had two long sleeve shirts and two wind breakers. On my head I had two hats. And I was still cold in the wind!

Mount Graham from very far away. I forgot to get a better picture up close.

Most of the trip was through the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation. The two most impressive things about the ride were (1) the views of Mount Turnbull and Mount Graham and (2) the sheer volume of broken liquor bottles along Highway 70.

There were just miles and miles of broken glass along the home…

I had been told that the reservation is not a place you want to be at night due to the drunk driving. If the amount of broken bottles of booze, the number of crosses dedicated to those who’ve died along the highway, and the Arizona ‘adopt a highway’ sections which were ‘in loving memory of X’ were any indication then I’d say that’s a warning worth heeding.

The ride was pleasant except for Bylas, AZ. Apparently it’s a well-known-fact that you will be chased out of town by a large and vicious sounding rottweiler. Glad I was faster than him.

A Day of Rest

Mons in front of his culinary creation… he knows how to direct great work. Roasted vegetables, frittata, risotto, amazing Bryce-tatic chicken on the grill and brownies! Best meal of the trip!

I ended my ride at the home of Mons, Gene Robert, & Joy. I already intended to take Monday off and I enjoyed my time with them so much that I stayed two nights.

As usual my hosts were awesome. I particularly enjoyed my time chatting with Gene Robert who is the president of the board on the local energy coop. It was fascinating to get his take on clean energy, clean coal, and the EPA. He’s passionate and caring and frustrated all at the same time in terms of the pressures to become more green while not letting the costs overwhelm his customers. I would have loved to see him and Kerry McHugh have that same discussion.

I spent my day hanging out with Gene Robert & Joy – talking, running errands, going out to lunch for Gene Robert’s 83^rd birthday. I even got a nap in there. I also got to spend a couple hours with Mons when I first got in which were really nice. It’s awesome to meet such caring and giving people out here on the road.

Mons, Ashley, Chase, Bryce & me.

I also had the added bonus of spending time with Ashley and Chase who are two cyclists heading the same direction as me who also stayed with the Larson family on the second night. We all made dinner together with Mons and his son Bryce. It was really nice to swap stories and hang out for a few hours.

Tomorrow I get back on the road and head towards Lordsburg, NM. A new state already!

Bonus picture:

Somehow this just looked like a crisis in faith.