Temperature: 101
Wind: Mostly calm some slight headwind for a time
Rest Stop 1: Peridot, AZ Noline's Country Store 20 miles
Rest Stop 2: Geronimo, AZ side of the road 53 miles
Rest Stop 3: Pima, AZ Taylor Freeze 71 miles
Lodging: Safford, AZ Sunrise Village RV park
Showers: Yes
Laundry: Yes
AC: Yes
I left Globe with my usual riding partners, Ed and Dave, just before 6AM. We missed our turn to get back on route from the campground but got directions from a lady walking her dog. In less than a mile we were on route and a mile later at McDonalds for breakfast.
I like McDonalds for breakfast because I can fill the water bottles with ice and have cold water for the first couple hours ride. Breakfast took about 20 minutes. McDonalds wanted us to use the new kiosks for ordering and none of us really wanted to. They finally gave in and took our orders.
After breakfast the ride started off with a modest uphill, then some rolling hills before turning into a very gentle downhill for several miles. Easy riding made very pleasant by a temperature of 69 degrees when we left camp.
For the rolling hills you go as fast as you can so the inertia carries you up the next hill as far as possible. 30 mph is about my comfort limit and I was a little over that on some down hills. It really makes the hills easier if can slingshot your way over them. Traffic was heavy near globe but quickly thinned out.
At about the 17 mile point there was road construction and 1 way traffic. We were held up about 10 minutes before it was our turn to go. By that time we had about 10 cyclist queued up. They let the cars go first and then us cyclists. Another 6 miles and were in Peridot for the rest stop. Peridot in on the San Carlos Apache Indian reservation. Unfortunately there was lots of trash and broken bottles on the side of road on the reservation and also at the convenience store we stopped at.
Leaving rest stop 1 we encountered more and bigger rolling hills. Still easy to handle. Before the next rest stop Dave and I stopped and a gas station in Bylas, AZ. As soon as we stopped there were a couple of people lurking around so we took turns going into the store so one of us was always with the bikes.
The second rest stop was at the side of the road in Geronimo. We rejoined Ed here.
Shortly after leaving the second rest stop we left the Indian Reservation entered the Gila valley. The terrain changed from arid to irrigated farming. You can see that the Indian were given the poorest land. This part of the ride was mostly flat with just a very slight increase in elevation.
Rest Stop 3 was at a Taylor Freeze (like Dairy Queen). I had a taco and lime slush. Both were just OK. Most of the group gathered at the Taylor Freeze and we had a group photo.
The last 11 miles to camp were hot, hot, hot. Safford has a population of 9,500 and we are on the east side in an RV park. We could sleep inside the Recreation building or outside. Quite a few people are sleeping outside but the AC was the deciding factor for me. Shower, laundry and a bike ride to town are on my agenda before bedtime. Of the 11 days on this trip I have been in bed before 8PM every day except 1 and that was the rest day. Tonight will be no different.
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