Nah..........(March 20: Day 17--Las Cruces, MN)

Today....not such a good day.  The latest example....as I am sitting here on my bed, I feel something wet on my rearend....looking down, I see I am sitting on the nozzle of my camelback, and it is dispensing water,,,,,,that sums up how today went.  Until I shift my mood, I think I will go have a beer and enjoy the company of my comrades.  Excuse me while I change.....(my mood)

Picture Info (March 20: Day 17--Las Cruces, NM)

Don't know if I will have time to blog tonight, but I just wanted to just cover a few things.

1. If you click on the pictures, you will be able to see the whole thing--many are clipped on the blog
2. I have started uploading pictures to webshots--user name is womantours
3. I appreciate all the wonderful comments and encouragement--they keep me going, so thank you.

That's it for now.  I will try to blog tonight, but need to get ready for tomorrow's ride first.

Amazing Grace (March 19: Day 16--Kingston, NM/Emory Pass)

Today I am back in the saddle...been to the doctor, have oral antibiotics, have new shorts....ok!  Let's do it!  Of course, I chose the toughest day of climbing on the entire trip to jump back in.....over 5000 ft of climbing in 47 miles.  Ouch....  a constant upward grade ranging from 2% to 14%.

 Was I nervous--you bet.  I am not well versed at climbing, and having fallen a couple of times because of mis-shifting (the chain fell off and locked the pedals), I was having all sorts of mental conversations of why I could not do this.  Fear.....what a powerful emotion. The self-doubt was definitely present, but I didn't sign up for this trip to watch.  I have already been on the sidelines too long for medical reasons, there was no way I was going to let these conversations rule me.  Let's go; let's do this!

It was a beautiful ride through the Gila National Forest, up and over Emory Pass, elevation over  8000 ft.  Snow was still on the ground and it actually started snowing at one point.

 I rode through wonderful pine forests, with creeks running rapidly on both sides of the road.  The rock formations were phenomenal....and the smells....pine, cool crisp air....I felt like I was back in the Wind River Wilderness.  Despite the beauty, the climb was grueling. The 'big' climb was 12 miles...no relief.  I put on my tunes and spun up the mountain listening to a mix of disco (yes, I said disco) and Sousa marches.  (Laugh if you must, but the tempo provides a great cadence beat.) At one point, Stars and Stripes was on, and I was stuggling slowly up a 12% grade.....then the piccolo started playing, and in my mind, came my sister, Shari, and I saw her playing this when she was in high school....up the the grade I went until it faded to an easy 7%.  Spinning, spinning, spinning. On I went.  I rounded a hairpin turn with 14% grade AND  HIT A STRONG HEAD WIND!!  I was spent--in my granniest of granny gears, and decided, this one was worth walking.....   Let me tell you, walking was just as challenging--muscles were cramping as new demands were required.  Legs 'rested' and with the grade more gentle, I got back on and continued to the top, still fighting first a head wind, then a crosswind, and back to the headwind.  A storm was brewing....

I reached my cry point (that's when I have reached my breaking point---that's when I either muster up the strength and walk through it to a new level on physical and mental ability  or I cave in and settle with my current comfort level) at mile 38.5--I just didn't think I had it in me to go another foot.  "Burning Alive" (how appropriate) was playing on my Nano.....suddenly, as I was ready to clip out and quit...tears running down my cheeks (the cry point)....the music suddenly changed to a beautiful a cappella rendition of Amazing Grace.....the sun came out, the wind died and to my right, the forest broke, and I was looking down and across miles and miles of breathtaking beauty.

 Divine intervention...angels on my shoulder.... you decide.  ....Amazing Grace was not on that playlist.... Now my tears were for another reason,  and I dug deep, rounded  the curve, and climbed to the summit.  I had walked through my fears and self doubt.

I did it!

75 miles

Make New Friends, But Keep the Old......One is Silver and the Other Gold (March 18:Day 15--Silver City, NM)

Back in 1972, I attended a national Girl Scouting event on ecology in Green Bay, WI.  My room mate was a gal from Silver City NM.  My first introduction of her was when she popped up from under her bed, and said hi....blond pigtails swinging and contagious smile shining.  That was Sarah.  For me, a girl from small town Ohio, New Mexico seemed like a foreign country--I couldn't imagine what it was like.  To bring New Mexico to me, Sarah mailed me a tumble weed....that's the type of person she is.

Today, after not seeing each other since 1974, we had lunch together, along with her amazing mother and husband.  It was like stepping into yesterday and picking up where we left off----the pigtails are gone, but the contagious smile and the positive optimism are still very much present. I do not believe the word 'can't' exists in this woman's vocabulary. Among the many things we discovered that we have in common as adults (besides both having a daughter named Diana) was that she lives three hours from me.  She was in Silver City this week visiting her mother by happenstance....there is no such thing as a coincidence.

She took me to her mother's home, where she grew up.  It was very cool with a beautiful view.  In the living room was a working spinning wheel--her mother spins her own yarn and knits from it--she is currently making a beautiful bedspread.

Today was indeed at treat.  Pictures to come....

Toilets Across America--Through the Eyes of a Bicycler is BACK

Back by popular demand....Toilets Across America!  Sorry to those that found it offense, too many others found it fascinating.....so coming soon....Toilets Across America!

White Badge of Courage....March 18:Day 15--Silver City, NM)

You've all read, (or at least aware of) the book by Stephen Crane, The Red Badge of Courage, right?  Well, after these past several days, I have earned the 'white badge' of courage.  What I am talking about is the use of zinc oxide for my saddle sores.....you know, Desitin.....the stuff mothers put on a baby for diaper rash.  That stuff, no matter how carefully applied, seems to get everywhere....on my face, on my clothes, on my luggage....  How does that happen?  How do you get it out?  Does it have a life of it's own and creep on it's own?  There is no doubt in anyone's mind when I am wearing the white badge...the only question might be..... I am sore or do I have a baby..........heavens!!

Top o' the Mornin' to ya...(March 17:Day 14--Silver City, NM)

Beautiful skies and a false flat grade blessed the road today, and made a new meaning for the Irish blessing "May the road rise to meet you"....because it did.  Of course, still being benched, it didn't affect me, but several people were picked up because of it.

The ride was to Silver City today...  I would have thought it more appropriate to go to Emerald City, considering that is is St. Paddy's day, but Silver it is.  The city is a lovely town founded on mining; oddly, it is copper that is the big metal being stripped out of the earth today.   Silver City boasts the third largest strip copper mine in the country.  The town itself is very laid back, and somewhat 'hippish', bohemian and 'granola'

Dinner tonight was corned beef and cabbage.  Very good.....

 Leprechauns hard at work (Guides Linda and Carol)

Not much of a blog tonight...sorry

Rita and Karen

Lois and Alayne

Karen, Mary and Lois

Roberta, Frankie, Barbara, Leslie

Lynne, Linda, Karen

47 miles

Go Fly a Kite. (March 19:Day 13--Lordsburg, NM)

I am benched for the next couple of days until my saddle sores heal....hopefully I will find a bike shop  and be able to buy some good bike shorts.  When I tell people I was wearing Pearl Izumi, they all just say  "oh..."  Guess I had to learn the 'hard' way.

If I had to pick a day to sag, this was a good one.  The actual ride should have been great, but the winds that plagued us yesterday are worse today.  Straight out of the southeast, they are blowing at an average of 15-18 mph with gusts up to 29.  As I sit here typing, a number of riders are sagging in.  It is a better day to fly a kite than ride.

We did cross into New Mexico today, so that means a Margarita party tonight, if the table and chairs don't fly away.

So until, let's hope the front over Texas that is producing all this wind dissipates.

75 miles

Beware the Ides of March.....continued (March 15: Day 12--Safford, AZ)

AS I was saying before sleep overtook me last night, the ride yesterday had it's challenges, physically and mentally.  The first 20 miles were up and down long inclines--2-4%  grades for the most part.  Riding on Highway 60 requires diligence as the shoulder is rough with cracks and breaks, has ambitious rumble strips,  is littered with debris, (mostly glass) and has overhanging thorn bushes that lay in wait to ambush passing riders.

As such, one has to chose to brave these risks or swing out into the highway when it is clear of traffic to ride. (Doing so requires a jarring ride across the rumble strip.)  About a quarter of our riders chose the latter, until a disgruntled driver called the Highway Patrol and complained--the riders were stopped and asked to stay in the shoulder.  So tha-thump, swerve and dodge was the name of the game.

The winds were ferocious! How hard was it blowing?.....as one member said..(this is going to be gross), 'my snot rocket went straight to the moon.'  Flags were flying straight out, with the wind blowing directly into our faces.  It was definitely a day to put your head down and just pedal to cadence.  For those that didn't make it over the rollers before the real winds kicked in, my condolences!  My average had been 16.7 mph until the wind, then it dropped to 15.3 with the same effort.  Just keep on spinning, spinning, spinning.

Motivated by Taylor Freeze at mile 68, that's what I did--head down and spin, spin, spin..... There I grabbed a hot fudge sundae and sagged the last 6 miles in; my hiney just couldn't handle anymore friction.  I walked like an ancient cowboy!

So the day was physcially and mentally challenging--it just felt like riding in a vortex.  For me, it was also a ride that saddened and shamed me.  Our route took us through the San Carlos Apache reservation.

I searched the internet to learn about this reservation, and the pictures and description that I found were not what I observed.  Run down, ramshackle homes with littered yards and tarp stapled over windows, broken cars, stray dogs, old tired horses and garbage were the norm.

Established in 1871,many bands of Apache were relocated to the reservation from their traditional homelands, which once extended through Arizona and New Mexico. Median family income is below $20,000 (2000 U.S. Census). Unemployment rates are very high compared to the state average.*(*resource).  I took this from their Chamber of Commerce website:
  "The Apache are descendants of the Ancients. Over time, many bands of Apache were relocated to the reservation from their traditional homelands extending from Texas through New Mexico and Arizona into Mexico and California. The San Carlos Apache Reservation was established on November 9, 1871 is the worlds first concentration camp still existing to this day. Our story, is the American History"  

Pretty much sums up the story, doesn't it. So while we, as a nation, did this to them 130 years ago, what has transpired since? More degradation and humiliation?  The littering of alcohol related glass and bottles on the road are evidence of the rampant alcoholism reported among the tribe.

As with many poverty stricken areas, though, I don't understand the wanton disregard for cleanliness. I don't understand why garbage and debris surround their homes.  I can only guess that it is like being at the bottom of a well, the way out seems impossible, and one eventually gives up, which is reflected in their surroundings.  I am sure there are a multitude of studies and reports about this phenomenon, but actually seeing it makes it become real and personal.  Yet, amid this, I also observed a strong pride and kinship not evident in the general American public

There is also beauty to behold, however.  One just has to look beyond to see it....perhaps that has been the problem all along.

Graham Mountain

75 miles

Page Removal

It sounded like a good idea at the time...."Toilets Across America", but feedback is such that I will remove that page...people just didn't see the humor (albeit, bathroom humor).  Guess those kind of ideas hatch at about mile 50 when the mind goes a little numb.....we all thought it was funny at the time.