Day Seven
It's April 7 and I rode just over 68 miles, from Salome, Arizona to Morristown, Arizona. Sunny skies, and winds were a bit on the nose but not bad. There was frost on my gear this morning, but the temperature steadily rose to the upper 60s.
Bit of frost
A couple of stretches of road were rough and/or narrow, but overall, not bad. Traffic was heavy this Sunday morning and lightened up midday, when I presume everyone was busy doing what they drove out to do.
Late in the day at Wickenburg, my highway (US 60) converged the southbound US 93. It's a divided highway with two lanes each way, and manic traffic. With the weekend fun over, everyone was dashing back to the city. Fortunately, this highway has the best and widest shoulders I've come across. I didn't have to fight for the white line with tailgating, tired drivers tearing through at 70 mph.
Today felt...routine. As in, I feel like I am falling into one. In the early days of a big trip, or a trip I feel anxious about, it is easy to ride (or paddle or climb or hike) the map, instead of the terrain. Calculating to the next waypoint, figuring percentage of miles ridden or to go, or fixating on aches or problems, are natural enough signs that while my body is in Arizona, my head is modeling data. This is a way to maintain some sense of control when in fact I feel very little of it. Today, my head was consciously and curiously in the same place as my body: on a road riding through beautiful terrain, in perfect weather, with a body that was willingly doing the work. There will be rough days ahead when I again ride the map instead of the road, looking for reassurance or watching out for boogie men. But today I got a taste of everything working together. I'll feel more and more at home on the move, when I settle into a pace, a routine, and some actual confidence that this is not going to suddenly blow up on me.
I met three other transcontinentalists today. Nice guys from Oregon, doing a similar route to Florida in a very different way: no bike bags, hotels every night, and a dedicated driver in a sag wagon, carrying everything, and meeting them with lunch every day. They plan to average 65 miles a day and will get to Florida at about the same time as I do. I interviewed Cory for my blog, and he interviewed me for his. Today I covered 10 more miles than they did, so they are now behind me. Hopefully I'll see them again.
The historical Morristown Hotel, built in 1899.
Rural Arizona appears to be clearing out. Most of the Snowbirds (retirees who are sick of northern winters) are heading somewhere else. The RV resorts and campgrounds are nearly empty. They must be taking their time because it's still snowy and cold across the north. But next week it starts heating up here, with temperatures in the 80s. This morning in Salome, I was told that summer temperatures will reach 120. Don't ride this route then.
Tomorrow is my last day of this first section, from Santa Monica, CA to Tempe, AZ. Section? Pitch? Segment? I like the term Reach. I finish my first reach tomorrow and get a full rest day off the bike on Tuesday.
I’d love to hear from you. Donate to the ride and send along your words of encouragement and tell me why getting kids outside matters to you.
