A Sag Van Day

Some Days I Just Don't Ride

       There are riders among the group who are determined to do EFI - every fricking inch - but I knew I would not be among them. They become deeply frustrated when they can't finish rides and plan to do extra riding to make up missed miles. I am merely grateful to be able to do miles in any quantity - and today was a zero, as it was for four of us in the sag wagon.
     It was a typical New Mexico spring morning - very like Colorado. Cool, cloudy and a wind came up that blew in everyone's face so hard that some riders called the sag wagon after 14 miles or so. The rest battled on up winding hills like Colorado mountains and down and up. About half of them finished the complete 47 miles, and basked in their achievement as they should, since three of them were 70. The rest were younger and the New Zealanders are astonishingly accomplished riders. Must be all that stuff they eat on bread, Vegemite, which isn't Marmite though it tastes as weird.
     .Anyway, we arrived at the Comfort Inn in Silver City to find they were resurfacing the parking lot so we had to go round the block to the back parking lot and come in the back way. Jo and I agreed we were starving since we'd been sitting in the van doing nothing. So we went next door to the nearest restaurant, Grandma's Café which serves breakfast till two. We both had scrambled eggs, hash browns and crispy bacon - it was delicious.
     Back at the hotel, once we'd unloaded our stuff, I biked down to the Gila Bicycle shop about 10 minutes away, though I did spend five minutes huffing up a hill in the wrong direction. It's a lovely low-key bike place and I found a perfect bike-bag to replace mine which had broken one of the straps that hold it on and was having zipper trouble too. This one is lighter, easier to manage, and softer so you can stuff more in, and can even hold an extra water bottle. Inspired by the purchase, I then cleaned my bike and squirted the chain and wiped it off, and it should be ready for Friday when we are scheduled to climb to 8858 feet and go over Emory Pass Vista. This is not what I signed up for, I have to admit. In Colorado, I avoid doing mountain passes and impossible peaks because I am breathless at the mere thought not to mention gasping when I try steep hills or high altitude. Sigh. I'm waiting for the long not hilly stretches along the seashore with ocean views and a swim. We've been asked not to use 'flat' to describe any part of this trip because nothing is 'flat' and it's the 'f' word we shouldn't say. Less hilly, undulating, up and down, rolling landscape, sloping hills, gentle climbs.
      Tomorrow's big adventure is that I am going to get my hair cut at Belleza Spa which is just round the corner from the bike shop - for $25. The bangs are drooping to my nose and my helmet is fitting snugger so I know that it's time and it will definitely be a new experience. Maybe I'll have a pedicure too since it's a full-service spa.

   
       Sammy Note: My lovely beagle at home tore a ligament and my cousins Myriam and Scott are looking after him beautifully. On Monday he went to Orthopets to see if he was a suitable candidate for a leg brace. The vet just sent me a long and daunting outline of what they can do to fit him with a brace so he can run around again. Sigh. Who knew dogs could do things like this and get leg braces?  
   The photo is of Sammy in February when he tore a nail and had to have his foot wrapped in plastic bags to keep dry so he could run around in the deep snow and eat it. He's my adventure dog whose nose leads him onwards. Lap-sitting??? Nah. Let's go out and play.

And on into New Mexico

A beautiful day of bicycling March 19 2013

Today I remembered exactly why I am on this trip and why it is so much fun. We set off from Safford, AZ on a perfectly flat road and then rode on almost deserted roads along what felt like the roof of Arizona on slow slow ups and downs with unlimited stretches of scrub and droopy small palm trees recovering from the winter, and prickly bushes with no leaves and a sense of spring coming from the unexpected yellow and blue flowers by the side of the road. For most of the day there was a huge arc of sky above, an immeasurable stretch of land on either side of the road looking like an abandoned desert replete with an edging of empty and broken bottles and white plastic bags and other non-desert creations. In the distance the horizon was edged with mountains, including the snow dusted Mount Graham looming to the south.
     It was delightfully easy riding along straight highways with only occasional trucks and semis charging down so the silence of the place was almost uninterrupted. We had a stop at Duncan which was on the other side of the mountain that we were climbing up slowly. When we got to the top, there was a spectacular ride down speeding along the road and then another down, and then another, and we were in Duncan where we had lunch at Ol Joe's - recommended by our guides.
      When we set out after lunch, my bike suddenly started balking and refusing to move. I looked at the chain and saw to my horror that the bungee cord I'd used on the back of my carryall had fallen into the chain and was completely tied up inside.
      Coming towards me on the sidewalk was an older man - probably my age - on a bicycle. I waved him down and said pathetically: "Could you possible help me?" He got off and came round and opined that we had to get the bungee cord out or the bike wouldn't go. I was almost in tears and said:"How could I do something so stupid?" He said, "You know, worse things could happen". Then he took out a tiny penknife and expertly cut the bits of bungee cord so they fell off leaving the chain to do its work. I thanked him profusely and he asked if I carried a knife and I said no, but I would get one. I left the pieces of bungee cord on the ground,  thanked him again and rode on. As I said, Duncan is a delightful town full of wonderful people who saved my bike from strangulation by bungee cord.
     The second half of the ride we had to wait for road repairs and ride a couple of miles in newly laid paving for the bike path, with lots of loose stones, which was quite difficult and not good for our tires. We wanted to do the whole 75 miles but because NM is an hour ahead of AZ we didn't want to come in too late so we took a ride in the SAG wagon for the last eight miles in order not to miss the margaritas for crossing the state line. Delicious and with salt!
      Tomorrow the ride is to cross the COntinental Divide and do a lot of hills - so I am planning to ride into the next town, Silver City, and just hang out for day before our day off, and do the thing everyone on this group enjoys the most: visit a bike shop.

ARIZONA HIGHWAYS ARE AMAZING

Riding from GLobe to Safford in Arizona on HIghway 70 Monday March 17


     Just so you know it's not perfect bike riding, there are too many trucks and campers and large vans on the road if they're going to allow bicycles to ride in the bike lane because it is really too narrow and not smooth enough. To divide the traffic from the bike land, they have put uneven bits of concrete so your bike vibrates when it goes over them. Not ideal. However, we are all getting used to it - and we  ignore the rude drivers who sound their horn and appreciate the truck drivers who move into the far lane.
      Today, there were beautiful highway roads rolling ups and down in the middle of a Native America Reservation with no buildings, no factories, no gas stations, nothing at all but miles and miles of scrubby land with cactus and rocks and some very small ants we saw when Jo and I had our sandwich along the way. In the distance are some striking tall granite mountains still dusted with snow - which I think are the southern end of the Rockies leading to New Mexico. They are spectacular against the deep blue sky and the sun didn't get too hot until the afternoon and I was at the Days Inn in Safford by then.
     It was a challenging ride for the uphills but wonderful rolling downhills and the key is to get enough momentum going down that it carries you halfway up the next up. Deep purple low mountains in the distance, rocks and scrub and a sense of being at the end of the world, miles from civilization. When we sat and ate our lunch, it was intensely quiet as we looked at the low hill in front of us covered with saguaro fingers stretching to the sky and low scrubby bushes. We talked in quiet voices because of the intensity of the stillness.
      It's a different landscape from Colorado because the mountains are lower and less gray and stark in the distance. I heard some birds, and I saw a hummingbird at the hotel. But otherwise nothing lives above the hot desert land though there are insects and animals who can survive the summer heat.
     It is unexpectedly hot here for Spring so no-one is ready for it this early.
     The bike road is not entirely ours. There's a British guy from Doncaster with a nice Yorkshire accent who is taking the Southern Tier route for his late-life adventure. His bike is loaded down with all his stuff - no sag wagon - and he joins us for rest stops and days off with ease. He has a three month visa so he has to get to Florida in time and he admitted he might quit a bit early "because I had no idea it would take so long." No, Keith, this is not riding across the British Isles in a week. He passed me today when I was walking up one hill that proved to be Too Much, and then I rode past him resting under a tree when he had had enough.
     Then there's the heavily laden bike and trailer a man was pedaling yesterday when he saw us getting out of the Sag Wagon. He was wearing traveling clothes, and a helmet with a big wide rim on top to keep off the sun. We called hello and he waved back and he asked what we were doing, so we told him. He planned to ride off into the mountains an stay there. When he heard we had a Sag Wagon, he called: "Amateurs!" as he pedaled off into the distance. SO there's a hierarchy here too.
      Another day, another 48.5 miles - and I've actually totaled more than 200 miles so far. I don't think my grand total will be 3,100 this year - though one New Zealand woman who is a triathlete and has done Iron Man races will probably do the whole thing without breaking much of a sweat. Yes, she is a little younger too. Today, three of us 70 year olds together at a picnic area were laughing at the fact that we'd chosen to do this and not sit in our armchairs knitting. Who knew getting old could be this much fun!

My first flat tire..

March 16, 2013 Saturday in the Best Western in Gold Canyon AZ where there is a huge Renaissance Festival this weekend to that the cars are packing the highway in front of the hotel as people come and go. As I got ready to leave this morning with everyone else, I pumped up my tires and the front one made a strange hissing noise. I checked with Carol: it had a flat because of the valve had broken. I whipped out one of my two inner tubes, and she most kindly helped me change as everyone else was leaving for the morning ride. It's fine now and I only have one inner tube.  Because I left after everyone else, I biked along following my cue sheets - and it was fun.
What I learned from today was that I love flat riding. We left our hotel in Phoenix and rode along quiet Scottsdale roads - an affluent suburb - with neat houses set back behind large cactus gardens. There were good bike lanes, and I even spotted Real Arizonites out on their bikes in bike pants and shirts , enjoying a weekend ride.  I looked just like them but they didn't know I'd started in San Diego. We ended up at a lovely park, for the Sag Break, and then pedaled along a bike path that wound around lakes and parks and people fishing and three white herons contemplating from the banks of the river, and a man who caught a large mouth bass - which is definitely A Large Fish - and families with children setting up picnics and playing Frisbee and two teams starting a game of rugby= which excited our New Zealand bikers - and dogs out for walks sniffing happily and other people biking on cruiser bikes on the path and the cloud-shaded sun providing the perfect temperature for a day outside in the park.
    Then we road along more industrial roads with traffic - not much fun. I stopped for a snack and the sun decided to come out the temperature soared to the 90s. I had a snack and then pedaled on to the first restaurant with air conditioning I found - a pizza place that wouldn't sell me one slice but redirected me to Burger King where I had a chicken sandwich, fries, iced coffee, unlimited air conditioning and the use of a bathroom.
   The next route direction was to go left on Broadway Road for 18 miles and when I started down, it felt oppressively hot. The Sag Wagon was at 10 miles - because I called - and feeling hotter and less able to go on pedaling, I arrived to find most of the others taking a break too - except for the zip-off=-and-get-there-really quickly who were probably at the hotel. After a break, water refills and a lot of discussion, three of us agreed to take the Sag Wagon back for the last 14 miles and the rest were ready to roll on. However, hardly had we got organized and left, then we saw one of them tapping her helmet to say she too wanted a ride. We loaded her bike on the roof rack and tried not to feel too aggrieved because it's to load a bike on the roadside.
      Tonight's dinner eating outside in the warm evening air under the stars at this excellent Best Wtern,was Moroccan stew with some chicken not fish and rice and peas and pineapple chunks. Delicious.
       TOMORROW is a Challenging Day because we are going to cross the Continental Divide's mountains (gulp) and go other climbing up and down, and go through a tunnel. I shall see how much I can do. We are going higher for the next couple of days so not as much to d O\Lov

March 14, in Wickenburg AZ

I can't believe it's only a week since we started our great trip  but last Thursday I was in San Diego anxiously waiting for the 1p.m. meeting with everyone followed by the Banquet where my daughter and other friends and relatives of the 30 riders came to share support and encouragement.
I think I've now biked about 200 miles in rain, cold, and hothothot sun - and I have crossed the stateline between California and Arizona where I am now in Wickenburg.
     It is a delightfully simple life. I get up at the appointed hour depending if breakfast is served in thehotel, or out by the van in the parking lot where Leader Linda whips up oatmeal and scrambled eggs with all the fixin's and juice and we eat. We load our luggage into the trailer - a challenge since there's a lot of us and Some People brought large hefty bags which are extremely Heavy. However, in the evening we always unload quickly because at the bottom is the icechest with the wine, beer and soft drinks for us all into which we pour fresh ice every evening.
As we leave, the Sag Driver checks us off on her list. Then we ride following the cue sheets fixed to our handlebars in plastic holders so we know where to turn right and left and how many miles to the lunch café and where the hotel is at the end. We are usually strung out in two and threes and fours and ones on the road. The Subaru sag wagon drives 20 miles after we've all left and waits to check we all ride by and provides water and snacks if we need them. When we've passed, she drives another 20 miles to wait again. She is our oasis.
    If she passes us we can give her a thumbs up to say we're OK. Or tap our helmet constantly on top to say we need her to stop and help us or pick us up or give us more water. Then we bike on to the hotel, the pool, the hot tub, the shower, and dinner on white plastic chairs in the parking lot. After dinner Leader Carol gives out the cue sheets for the next day's ride, which we discuss in case there are things to look out for - like road construction or tricky turns. And then to bed. No wild parties, no heavy drinking, no hi-jinks. Writing this blog - which I have been very remiss in doing - is delaying my bedtime. ALSO this is the first hotel I managed to get online easily. Thank you Quality Inn.
    I hope I will be able to get to this more often but I'm not sure about that. Check out the Facebook pages where I put photos and short notes - that I know I can do.

Map of the Route across America March 3

Link: http://www.com/member_map.cfm?user=catherinedold&tripid=412739

This is the link to a map which shows where I am planning to bicycle across the US which Cathy has successfully put on to the PedalingAcrossAmerica  Facebook page. I'm leaving Boulder on Tuesday for San Diego CA - Monday I'm packing... - and Wednesday I hope to collect my bike from the bike store and Thursday we have our Orientation Meeting, all 32 of us hearty women bicyclists and Friday we go down to the Pacific Ocean and dip our back wheels in the Pacific and then bike like crazy for 3,100 miles so we can dip our front miles in the Atlantic Ocean. Is there a quicker way?
Don't tell me about it.

Anyway, here is a map. And YES it works. At least it did for me - so I hope it does for you too.

I looked up the temperature in San Diego and it's 63 degrees....nice.
Sammy the Beagle has happily gone to stay with my cousins, who have Scooter, a beagle, and Stanley, not quite a beagle, where he can bark at squirrels in their back yard and at passing pedestrians and dogs, and be part of the pack there. And I'm clearing up and emptying the fridge and doing washes and going to vacuum up the dog hair one final time before I leave. That's it.

March 1st - last session training at the Y

Working the Machines at the Y

Today was my last session with Gerry Hernandez, my trainer at the Y, who is trying to reduce my legs to wet noodles. Today I ran up 19 stairs five times - and down but the down didn't count. And I used the stretchy bands to hold while I did innumerable squats - well, 15 or so twice. As you can see Gerry is yelling at me to improve my position - and I'm struggling.
Actually we're both laughing while the guy taking the photo tells us it looks good. This was before the stairs and after my warmup riding a stationary bike for half an hour and stepping up and down 20 times on a wooden platform. It's nice to find I can still do them.
      He always shows me how to do the exercises correctly and I watch. So when I do them, I imagine I look as good as he does. However, he is lithe and slim and has absolutely no hips. Sigh. It's like in dance classes with mirrors when I can imagine I look as good as the teacher, but in the mirror - ahhh never quite the same.
     However, I now don't feel so intimidated by the machines or people who seem to know what they're doing while they exercise because I know how to face those imposing weights and bars and pulleys and use them.
      Last week, I read "Younger Next Year: A guide to living like 50 until you're 80 and Beyond" by Chris Crowley & Henry S. Lodge. They give sensible advice on how to stay active and healthy as you get older. Exercise is a big part of this and he advocates doing active exercise at least four days a week for the rest of your life. So I am doing the Right Thing. That will be my mantra as I pedal on each day. Next week I'm off!