Cycling Ellen

78 miles today
582 total

The first 20 miles today were not fun. It was about 34 degrees and raining when we left Globe and everyone was suited up in the clothes we didn’t use yesterday when rain was only a threat. I headed out on my own, slogging along through the rain, wondering why I was doing this ride. I passed into the Apache Indian Reservation about 6 miles out and saw the huge casino on the left and an airstrip on the right. Along that stretch, I saw more roadside memorials than I’ve ever seen in one area. It was very sad and may explain why there are so many rumble strips along these roads. They are very annoying for cyclists but I hope, have saved some lives.

The sag stop was at a grocery store at mile 20. By then, my feet were cold (although the rest of me held up well). Carol had hot tea in the back, thank goodness. I headed into the store to get warm. I noticed people staring at me and felt like the white girl from New England in a land of native people. When I got into the bathroom and remembered that I was wearing my rain gear including my bike helmet with a shower cap on top, I realized that maybe that was part of the reason I stuck out! On the way out, I saw a couple of young girls with a mom sitting in the café part of the store. I stopped to talk. They are on spring break here and sounded surprised to hear we have two vacations in Vermont – one in February and one in April. I took their picture and gave them this web address. Thanks for talking with me girls! It made me feel much better to be warm and connect with some children again.

From then on out, the weather started to improve until our arrival here in Safford where the sun is shining. It’s still cool but we were able to strip off the layers as we traveled today. Off to the north we could see mountains with rain clouds, to the south, mountains with snow on them. What a treat to be riding through the middle! It was a great ride through some hills and valleys with desert scruff turning into fields in the last 20 miles or so. We went through Pima which is where pima cotton comes from. The fields were sown under now but there were pieces of cotton along the side of the road. Pima is also home to the Taylor Freeze, known for their root beer floats. I had to try out the local specialty and I just happen to love root beer floats! Yum.

It was an easy ride through Thatcher and Safford to home here for the night. I spent some time cleaning my bike and getting all the morning grit off of it. It should ride smoothly again tomorrow as we make our way across the next state line to New Mexico. The states are going by so quickly!