Our ride started out under a pretty blue sky with Tim singing “Oh, what a beautiful morning, oh, what a beautiful day,” and I couldn’t get that darn tune out of my head for the rest of the day. I don’t know any other words to it, nor do I know the other melody line that it must contain. Enough about that. So I was stuck with that little ear worm all day. I did find 8 pennies along the way. In the middle of nowhere. See a penny, pick it up. It’s the first loose change I’ve found. I also saw 2 foxes crossing the desert highway, a couple of hawks in flight and some black vultures. No, they were not circling above me. (We see mostly Turkey Vultures in Pennsylvania.)
Mt. Graham again dominated our southern vista for many miles beyond Safford. I would like to go to the top of it someday. There is a lake near the top and the views from up there must be incredible. Irrigated fields of hay on both sides of the road prevailed until we climbed out of the Gila Valley. Dry desert scenery with distant mountain ranges to our north and south continued until a few miles west of Duncan, AZ, which is 40 miles from Safford. Then we began to see more grass and trees with prickly pear cactus interspersed. My camera batteries died and my cell phone was just about dead so I didn’t get as many picture as I would have liked.
Today we also got chased by some more dogs. About the same story as yesterday. They just don’t give it their all and it’s hardly worth getting excited about. All the big, mean dogs are tied up or uninterested in bicyclists. Beth got the big dog scare today. She was chased back into “Midnight Rider” by a Doberman. You go girl!
I am sure Tim and Brian will rave to you readers about today’s tailwind. What a joy it was to ride the final 37 miles after lunch with a 20 mph tailwind. We were going up a small incline for all 37 miles and we were flying. The roads in Arizona are very well paved. Once in New Mexico, the asphalt was noticeably rougher for the first 15 miles. But then we came upon a newly paved, smooth as glass surface all the way into Lordsburg. Phenomenal! It had to be the easiest 76 mile ride I have ever done.
Mt. Graham was visible for many miles again today.
Field plowed and ready to get growing.
Dry desert after the Gila Valley with Mt. Graham still in the distance.
No tailwind yet. We take breaks about every hour for 5 minutes. They really help keep us going.
Tim reading to us again.
We met John L. He was heading West on Rt.70., doing a long Sunday morning ride. We talked about our coast to coast, multi-year adventure. He told us the route we are taking is a good choice. There is another route to Silver City that has some really hard, hard climbs. As it is, we still will cross the continental divide twice. Once at around 6,000 feet tomorrow and again the next day above 8,000 feet.
The tailwind is coming. The tailwind is coming.
I’m getting some weird tan lines again. This one is from my watch, gloves and long sleeves. You should see Tim’s right calf. Beets look pale in comparison.
A great place to eat in Lordsburg. Lots of food and great prices.
It was rough country for the settlers even in 1895.
Thanks for the flattering picture. Its always awesome meeting people going cross country. The winds this time of year can blow from any direction but usually not until the afternoon. Go out early in the morning and you can beat the wind. You caught Duncan on a Sunday and yes, there isn’t much opportunity for food but on a week day you can enjoy fantastic Mexican food at Hilda’s, great sandwiches at Greenlee Grocers and if you wish, some great donuts at the Three Sisters Bakery and of course Ole Jo’s. Just wanted to set the record straight for future cyclers coming through God’s Country. Good luck and tail winds for the rest of your adventure.