Periodic Progress Report Southern Tier Cross-Country Bicycle Tour

Date(s): Sept. 27, 1999
Day: Monday
From: Aguila, AZ
To: Phoenix, AZ (actually in Goodyear, a suburb)

Lodging: Destiny Phoenix RV Park
Segment Mileage: 80.5
Cumulative Mileage: 457.5
Actual Riding Time: 5:37
Average Speed: 14.2
Weather: Hot and sunny
Temp: 100

Today was a long, hot ride. It started with Cyndi having a flat. She couldn't find the hole so we didn't know what caused it. We've had several flats, most caused by small pieces of metal from truck radial tires that have blown. There have been about 7 or 8 flats attributed to these bits of metal.

Oliver and I started together again and we were off relatively early, just after sunrise. We soon encountered Todd and Suzanne, fixing Todd's flat. I offered my Master Blaster pump, a popular item these days. Suzanne and Oliver decided to go ahead so as not to get too far behind. Todd and I rode together into Wickenburg, making good time drafting each other. With a slight headwind, one of us would be pedaling like crazy downhill while the other would have to brake. Most of us stopped at the Safeway in Wickenburg for food and drinks. Lynne and Spike decided to forego the usual breakfast at camp and feasted on a big breakfast at the coffee shop. I sent another package home; photos and a book, my third shipment home. The bike still feels as heavy as when I started, probably because I'm carrying 4 water containers now that we are in the desert. In Wickenburg I also used a phone to send and receive email, which included several messages in response to a message sent to several friends the day before.

From Wickenburg I rode alone for the next 40 miles on a very boring and dangerous stretch of US 60 into Phoenix. There was a wide shoulder, but I rode close to the white line to avoid all the broken glass and blown tires. A couple of semis passed very close, and most of the vehicles were going 65-70 mph. I made good time because the road was flat and the headwind had stopped. The mountains on the opposite side of Phoenix were barely visible through the haze that hangs over the city. I was appreciating the past week of fresh air and clear skies.

Just outside of Goodyear I caught Oliver and Suzanne. By that time we were all hurting from the heat and long ride. It was around 100 degrees by then, with heat radiating from the pavement. Our water was hot and it was hard to keep hydrated. We made it to the store where we were to meet with the others, and spent some time recovering in the air-conditioned supermarket. Gradually the others arrived, except for Jimmy who had been waiting for us for nearly an hour, having decided to get in early to do his laundry while waiting for the others. Dinner was a feast of fajitas with loads of vegetables, fried tofu (and beef for the meat eaters), sour cream, guacamole, salsa, etc. cooked by Todd and Bruno. They definitely won the undeclared cooking contest to this point. Then Janet's daughter and her family joined us bearing gifts of fresh fruit, muffins, and cookies. We're camped on the gravel tent camping area, but the park does have a good pool and jacuzzi. After dinner several of us went for a swim and soak in the jacuzzi. Most of the group are relishing the day off. Four of us are going to ride the 17 miles into downtown to see what sights there are to see.