Outside Safford

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Silver City and a Day Off. Yippee

Sluggish this morning, after yesterday, so by the time I got this darned tent packed it was 7.30am before I left. Only 36 miles today so although still hilly made it to Silver City by lunchtime. We passed through the continental divide and as I was with a group there was much photo taking. In Silver City we are 6000 ft up and I can feel the slight effect of altitude. Heart racing a bit. Went into town in the afternoon and bought a skirt !!!!! Just what I need on a bike tour. Also bought Mace, a dog deterant spray as some cyclist got chased by 3 dogs the other day. This is one of my biggest fears. Will have to ditch the spray afer the tour as it is illegal in the UK. Good campsite, great laundry and shower facilities. SC is the home of Billy the Kid. He committed his first crime of stealing here , aged 15, and was jailed but because he was so slight, escaped through a chimney. More about the SC area later but must get some sleep....still loving it...

New Mexico Here We Come

This has to be the hardest days cycling I have ever done. 74.7 miles of relentless climbing in heat in the high 80's. Up, up winding, zig zagging through mountain passes. My legs were sore but breathing was ok so knew, although it was tough, that I was coping. We climbed 5400 feet and man did I know it. General Kearney passed through this way, guided by Kit Carson opening up the route from New Mexico to California. Had a great compliment paid to me by Dave, our fearless leader, he said ' You are good, you are strong. You will have no trouble on the mountain.' That gave me a great lift and kept me going for the next 10 miles. We passed into NM, putting or watches forward by one hour, and immediately the terrain changed from scrubland to a lovely pine forest. After 45 miles of hard climbing we still had another 30 of steep rolling hills. Lisa and Robert C rode in the van again. Robert C lives in flatlands and is not used to hill cycling. He is feeling quite depressed. Camp tonight was not the best, one toilet and one shower between 14 of us and other campers but we managed. Thanks to Andrew, Betty, Cams and Michael for there support. The comments keep me going. Much harder now but guess what ....still loving it...

Safford in a Hurry.

Another long day of 77.8 miles in the high 80's. Left at 6.45 am as Robert M and I are cooking tonight. The route took me through Geronimo but disappointing as it was just a couple of run down houses. This is 'Apache San Carlos Native Reservation' land and you need permits to camp, fish, hike etc. Snow clad mountains in the distance but land is barren and the native villages very run down. Someone is making money as there is a Casino in the area. Hard day again with 2500 ft of climbing but pushed myself to get in, in good time. Camping facilities were good and there was a good social room with cooker. I made ground beef ( mince ) with pasta and Robert M made a salad. Seemed to go down well. Wish I could get haggis?? Felt very tired tonight with hard cycle, darned tent and cooking. The honeymoon is definitely over. Some disgruntled people in camp saying 'it is no pleasure now, just endurance.' I'm glad of all my training on the Arran hills so....Still loving it.....

Brutal Hills on the Road to Globe

Ok this is the first of 3 long days and it was a killer. 80 miles in temps. in the high 80's. Left Phoenix on my own and proudly negotiated the suburb route out of town. Beautiful ranchstyle houses, no high rise in sight. Cycled past Tomahawk Road and Apache Jct and kept my head well down. Had to make sure we had plenty water as there were few towns so I was carrying 3 bottles. Then the climbing started, up through rugged, jagged passes. Took my time and coped well although very steep. Lisa was struggling with the heat and heart palpitations and Robert C said he could go no further and would have to stop. I therefore wasn't too surprised when I saw the van go back for them. We had to cycle through a long dark tunnel and it was awful. I can hold my line in traffic, and on this tour I have been in some busy roads but this was frightening. The roar of the traffic and the dark was disorienting and I was all over the road. Anyway made it through and the rough, stoney cliff faces were beautiful. We must have climbed 4000 ft. I felt strong when I finished but then had to pitch my darned tent etc. Globe used to be a bawdy copper mining town and there is still mining in the area but it is more a sedate trade centre. On Superstition Mountain lives the legend of the ' the Lost Dutchman Mine'. Apparently in the late 1800's he would disappear into the mountains and return with vast quantities of gold ore. He told no-one where his mine was but when he died, left a riddle. People have been searching ever since to no avail. There's gold in them thaur hills. Hard day today, more to come but......Still loving it.

Lazy Day in Phoenix

Ok I don't have a smoke signal yet but will continue with blog anyway. Had a lovely rest day, sunbathed in morning at the motel then shopped in the afternoon at an fantastic outdoor shop REI. Bought another cycling top and new bumbag. We are all developing ' panda eyes' from the sun. Just saying. Still loving it...........

No Smoke Signals In Them Thar Hills

Just to let you know I am alive and kicking. Signals have proved difficult through the hills. Extremely gruelling last 4 days but we are now in New Mexico and all well. I don't know when this will get through, hopefully soon. Still loving it...