2017 09-20, 21, and 22

2017 09-22 Usery Mountain Recreation Area to Tonto Basin

Today was a 67 mile day with no services for the first 50 miles.  The section had an elevation gain of 3000 feet.  There where a few occasional downhills.  The downhills resulted in a total amount of climbing in excess of 4000 feet, for when you go down you must climb to the same elevation again.  A significant portion of today's ride was on route 87, a two lane divided highway busy with a lot of motor homes and trucks.  This high speed traffic results in a lot of tire noise, and this noise, for some, is very fatiguing.  It frays ones nerves, resulting in significant tension.

We are definitely in cactus country.  The cactus plants where more plentiful during today's ride than in past days.

Some sad news to report tonight.  One of our brothers, Terry, had to drop out of the tour.  He has been having pain in his eyes for the past few days and this morning returned to Tempe to be seen by an eye doctor.  It turns out he has sun burn of his eyes and must remain in doors, in the dark and wearing sun glasses for the next 10 days.  He was a great rider and a good guy and we will miss him.  Sorry to see you leave the group Terry!

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017 09-21 Tempe to Usery Mountain Recreation Area

Today is a 27 mile day, and because it is so short a riding day, our leader, Ken, recommended a late departure from the hotel.  Most of us finally left around 8 AM after our group breakfast and a map meeting.   Today may be the exception in the old saying “it is not the destination but the journey that matters” s today it was the destination.  The first 20 miles of our ride was just getting out of the “city”; city streets, city stop lights, city traffic, very boring.  After turning north from our initial easterly exit from the city, the scenery changed to more of what we have become accustomed to riding through, desert scenery.  With the harsh late morning sun, there was no picture taking opportunities.  

Things seemed to change when we turned into the park entrance.  It had a magical feel to it, but its full potential would not be reviled until later, when the sun was setting and casting its magical glow on all the landscape.   A special treat was provided by a Harris Hawk which posed for several minutes atop a cactus plant, allowing ample time to capture pictures which would revile the true beauty of the bird.

Ken had mentioned early in the day that arrangements had been made to have dinner delivered to our camp site.  We all assumed that dinner was provided by request of Ken, but that assumption was wrong.  Gary and Debbie, owners of the Los Gringos Locos restaurant, have become interested in cycling and want to take a trip like ours someday.   Some how they heard about our passing through this area and contacted adventure cycling offering to serve us a free meal, compliments of there business.  What a treat.  They treaded us like royalty.  The food was delicious and they where the friendless people one could meet.   

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Map

2017 09-20 Tempe layover day

Today is a layover day, a day of rest and recovery.  Everyone is off doing their own thing as no group activities are planned on these days.  The only thing that just about everybody will be doing is a little bike maintenance, especially to the chain and gears.  They tend to get dirty from road dirt and will not work smoothly if left unattended for too long.  Layover day seems to be the day with enough time to tackle this job.