Day 22: Great Bend, KS to McPherson, KS

A new phenomenon: not only did we NOT have a headwind, we had NO Wind! Beautiful sunshine, 56 degrees at the start, smooth pavement...wow...the bike seemed to fly down the road after the slog we had yesterday. Before we knew it we hit the thirty mile SAG...and that continued for almost 55 miles until a little wind came up the last ten miles but overall a gorgeous day. The terrain is changing now with more rolling hills and trees. We still see lots of water in the fields and ditches. I can't remember if it was today or yesterday but we crossed the Little Arkansas River and it was completely over its banks and spreading way out into the surrounding countryside.

Injury updates: Joanne is riding again and after putting in a couple of partial days, rode the whole 65 miles today. Yesterday Don Kieffer was out with a shin splint also, but was back riding again today. (There is an awful lot of icing and KT taping going on in the hotels at night.)

Tomorrow it is on to Abilene, KS...and we have a rest day there. Yahoo! 

My knee is probably about 90 percent but I am continuing a regimen of ice, tape, stretching and naproxen. 

The picture of the day: Beautiful Kansas!

Day 21: Dodge City to Great Bend, KS

While I was riding today I was thinking of clever things to say on the blog tonight but for the life of me I can hardly remember what I wanted to say because I am so tired. We started right out of the gate with a huge HOWLING headwind....at best a quartering headwind. It had to be a steady 20-25 and gusting higher. Sometimes I could barely keep from being blown off the road. The wind never let up all day. Plus it was COLD...46 degrees to start and when we arrived it was only 66. The wind made it feel much colder...this Arizona girl is wishing for some warm weather.
The road goes on and on and the way you know you are coming to a town is each town seems to have its own set of grain silos. So you see those way on the horizon but it seems to take forever to get there.
The other thing we saw today was every creek or river we came to was overflowing its banks. The rain has been incredible....in this we have been lucky: the rain continues to be in front of us...so far.
85 miles is a long way to go with that kind of wind...the whole group agreed at dinner it was a very tough day. Tomorrow we go on to McPherson, KS. It will be Day 8 of our 9 day stretch...Everyone is looking forward to the rest day on Tuesday in Abilene.

Day 20: Liberal , KS to Dodge City, KS or Riding into Dodge

Today we had another cool start at about 55 degrees...with high clouds. The rain continues to go before us....our luck is holding and we have escaped the deluges. When we stopped at the SAG today it was at the Dalton Gang hideout...there is a little museum type thing there and a local man came out and told us the road was closed yesterday because it was underwater...they had gotten 5 inches of rain! We had another headwind today especially the last 20 miles so we worked the paceline and got here in good time. I think a lot of people think Kansas boring but I find it quite beautiful...wide open spaces, big fields, some freshly plowed and some with foot high corn....huge silos dotting the horizon...it smells of green and earth. Spectacular.
Another 84 miles tomorrow to Great Bend, KS...so we will be "heading out of Dodge"...
Here is a picture of the Kansas morning...it doesn't transalate very well.
P.S. I seem to have no control over the comment section of the blog. Demerits are due I am afraid.

Day 19: Guymon, OK to Liberal, KS OR We are in Kansas, Dorothy!

Today was ALMOST like a rest day...only 39 miles to Liberal, Kansas! The rains continue to march in front of us and everywhere we follow there is standing water. The locals tell us they haven't seen this kind of rain in 15 years. We took our pictures at the Kansas State line...that is me and Jim C. (now shortened to JC) in the photo. We had a little sprinkle just as we were coming into town, and could see lightning and thunderstorms off in the distance, so ducked into the hotel. Some folks went off to see the "Dorothy House" but I decided to hang out at the hotel. Last night the group went out to an Italian restaurant and we played a joke on our New Zealand gerontologist, Damian...we had a birthday cake brought in with a big "75" on it...he is always saying how he looks younger than the other guys....he is really 66 and it wasn't his birthday but he took it it in good fun and blew out the candles.
Other news of the day: Joanne's first day back on the bike and it went ok.
Tomorrow is a big day...82 miles to Dodge City and we are expecting headwinds, plus it is day 6 of a nine day stretch before we have an off day in Abilene, Kansas.

Day 18: Dalhart, TX to Guymon, OK...Wahoo! BIG Tailwind!

Wow....what a difference 24 hours makes...yesterday was the headwind slog...today we had 62 degrees to start with a WHOPPING Tailwind....flat...and good roads!!! Right out of the chute I got on the wheel of our mechanic Rick and we were flying down the road. We picked up my roomie Maggie about 15 miles down the road (she had started in the early group) as Rick thought it would be a good day for a paceline lesson for her. 71 miles, avg pace, 18.4...what a great ride!
Cruised into Guymon, Oklahoma which is the little panhandle part...and of all things the group had dinner at a Chinese Buffet. Who knew?
Tomorrow is sort of like a rest day...a late start and only 40 miles to Liberal, Kansas!
The first picture is of me and Maggie at the Oklahoma state line. The second is another Oklahoma sign...I don't know why they have two!

Day 17: Tucumcari to Dalhart, Texas

Today was a tough day...everyone was tired from yesterday's 109 miles, and even though we started off with warmer temps and sunshine we had a freshening NE wind. Guess which way we were going?
The landscape became much flatter but still impressively green from all the rains they have had.
We ended up forming pace lines today because of the wind and it became a real slog. 96 miles later we pulled into Dalhart, Texas...everyone was pretty beat. Tomorrow we have a late start so we are looking forward to a little extra rest. Tomorrow (only) 71 miles to Guymon, Oklahoma. My knee continues to improve and for this I am exceedingly thankful. Thanks everyone for all your support and encouragement. Pictures today are of us stopping for a break along the road, the Texas state line, and me with my riding buddies Matt and Jim.

Day 16: The Road to Tucumcari

Everyone was joking about the song "It's a Long Way to Tiperary" and substituting Tucumcari....
but it IS a long way to Tucumcari...109 miles and 3600 feet of climbing. The country as you leave Las Vegas, NM is wide open and spectacular, up on a huge plateau at about 6000 feet, plus some.
The landscape is much like a huge grassland and right now it is green with lots of clumps of blue and yellow flowers because of all the rain they have had. I even saw some Indian Painbrush today, but failed to get a picture. We then came off the plateau in a huge descent, again with fantastic views. Today we also climbed a hill known to the CrossRoaders as "The Wall"... straight up at about 7-9 percent grade. I wasn't sure I could do it with my knee the way it is but managed to grind my way up so I was pleased about that. Unfortunately, I developed a stomach ache after the second SAG so had a difficult last 30 miles or so. The pictures I am putting up tonite are the road leading out of Las Vegas, me standing about hallway down the big descent, and the bikes at the SAG, which apparently is a famous spot in the movie "Dead Man Walaking"..... On to Dalhart Texa tomorrow. Oh...I forgot to mention, we hit 1000 miles today...I will put that picture up if I can.

Day 15: Santa Fe to Las Vegas, NM

Today started off bright and sunny and COLD. Apparently New Mexico has had the coldest May in over 20 years to hear the locals tell it, but I believe it..it was 42 this morning when we left the hotel.
BRRR. We climbed out of Santa Fe and because it was Sunday, there was barely any traffic. We spent all but 5 miles on the Santa Fe Trail,  climbed up over Glorieta Pass at 7570 feet, and had the most fabulous tailwind all day....which was fortunate because we had 73 miles and 4009 feet of climbing.
I find that my knee is holding up well except I have to take the climbing slowly. Gear down...be patient...(I can hear my friend Christian telling me...)
We arrived in good time today so I had time to jacuzzi and ice the knee before dinner. One of the challenges of this tour is eating. It is really difficult to get enough calories...my stomach just doesn't have the room! I am amazed at how much food I eat and I still wake up in the middle of the night with my stomach growling!
Tomorrow we have a long  day...106 miles to Tucumcari and yes, more climbing....
Updates on fellow riders: Joanne has been out for 3 days (counting the rest day) because of leg injuries but will try to ride halfway tomorrow. We are all cheering her on and hoping for the best.
On a sadder note, one of the older male riders, Jim McDermott, is leaving the tour. He took a fall early on and has not felt well since then. We all feel great sympathy as this is our worst fear...that we won't make it for one reason or another. The group has really bonded...now we are 17 from coast to coast.

Day 14: Rest Day in Santa Fe

Today it was really nice to be off the bike. I did laundry, cleaned the bike and put on a new rear tire, (the tractor tire is still lurking in my bag in case I need it), then went for a massage at the Hotel Santa Fe Spa...boy was that nice! A bunch of riders went to an  Italian place for dinner and before you knew it...time to get ready for tomorrow. We go to Las Vegas, NM.

Day 13: Albuquerque to Santa Fe

We woke up to beautiful blue skies and NO WIND. The prediction is for SW winds today and we are headed north to Santa Fe...is it possible??? Tailwinds??
It turned out to be one of those days on a bike that you don't want to end. We rode up the Turquiose Trail, so no Interstate riding, we actually did have a tailwind, and the views were spectacular.
We stopped in the funky little art town of Madrid for coffee and snacks...perfect.
We had 4721 feet of climbing in 68 miles but it was primarily big rolling hills with only one or two  real climbs over passes.
Sadly, one of the three women in our group had to take a day off the bike today as she has developed some leg issues and will see a doctor in Santa Fe. We are all hoping she will be back on the bike soon. We have a rest day tomorrow ( Saturday) in Santa Fe...so it's laundry, clean bikes, etc.
I am getting a massage for the weary body...last 5 days: 398.9 miles, 11,698 feet of climbing.
Sunday we leave for Las Vegas, NM.
For those of you who said you have had trouble leaving comments, I think I have fixed it so try again. Thank you all for your emails, texts, comments, etc....all the encouragement has helped me keep going!

Day 12: Grants to Albuquerque OR ANOTHER HEADWIND???

The headwind we had coming in last night never died down and only intensified overnite. The CrossRoads staff decided to send everyone off 1/2 hour early as they are predicting strong winds and thunderstorms. The riders decided it might be a day to paceline so we split basically into two groups and set off under very threatening skies. It was a slog, but we did pretty well until the second SAG at mile 57.1. From there we had to get back on I-40 for the last push to Albuquerque. There is a long 5 mile climb up and it is in wide open country...now the wind is absolutely HOWLING out of the southeast...we are headed due east so a quartering headwind probably a steady 20 mph gusting to 30 or more. I had a death grip on my bike as we GROUND up that hill. I was with my friend Jim C., the most effervescent, funny and sweet guy...he rides with a red and white polka dot helmet ..like a King of the Mountain jersey only a helmet. So as we are going he starts whooping and hollering...
"Yahoo... doggies!! Is that all you got?" or when a big gust would hit " yeah! that's the way I like it, give me more..woo hoo" etc.. I was laughing so hard I was having trouble catching my breath. I joined in and we whooped our way into Albuquerque...we caught up to some others and got a few pictures of the city laid out down below. The final blow to a long and difficult day was a flat on my rear tire within a few miles of the hotel....ARRRGH! and the last 2 miles to the hotel was dead into the wind...
The good news was it didn't start pouring until after we arrived, and my knee was fine. I could only think of Terry on his cross country trip last year..if someone had told me at that point to pitch a tent...well, I don't know what could have happened.

Day 11: Gallup to Grants, NM, 66 miles

Another picture perfect New Mexico morning as we saddled up and rode out of Gallup. New adventures: we are on Historic Route 66 for most of the day today, instead of I-40. We cruised along with no wind for about 16 miles and then we had to get on the interstate for 11 miles, which had a very rough shoulder...as in NO shoulder just gravel, debris and cracked up pavement. HORRIBLE! (but brief) We then had some climbing to do to get up to the Continental Divide at 7,275 where we had a SAG stop and then got back on Route 66 the rest of the way to Grants, NM.
It was spectacular scenery, and mostly downhill but we encountered a vicious headwind. So those Irish boys Damian and Liam organized a double paceline with myself and California Peter, but then several other groups caught up and we had quite a group going of maybe 10 riders...which ran for maybe another 20 miles or so...we were all ready for a break so hit the Dairy Queen on the way into Grants.
My knee is doing well and today was the first day I felt as if I had a little power behind the pedals. Still taking it very easy, though and enjoying it. I am still having some trouble posting pictures. It seems I can only get 2 or 3 on there before it goes haywire. Tomorrow: Albuquerque

The Continental Divide

A few pictures...

SAG stop today on the way to Gallup

Beautiful New Mexico

I-40 out of Flagstaff

Day 10: Holbrook to Gallup: Or, "Going to Gallup"....

Well I think today will be the real test...another 90 plus mile day. Sunny and 50 degrees to start from Holbrook. We are on I-40 again today, but already to start we have a nice little tailwind out of the Southwest. Every day as we get ready to leave the hotel, Robin (our mother hen) always waves at us and says "Tailwinds...." And today I think we are going to have them....
Bright sunshine, fantastic tailwind, smooth road, sweeping vistas...all make for the ride of a lifetime....today was the kind of ride cyclists dream of. It may be the best ride I have ever had....
the knee is feeling good but I am not pushing, just enjoying being able to ride.
We hit the New Mexico State line and stopped for photo ops and and sand sprinkling. We have sand from the beach where we started in California and whenever we hit a state line, we sprinkle a little of it. Apparently we must do this for the good luck elves.
So today the elves smiled on us and we FLEW into Gallup.
I forgot to mention that yesterday the group had 15 flats...lots of little tire wires. I managed to get one but not until I was actually wheeling my bike into my room. Rear tire, of course.

Day 9: Flagstaff to Holbrook: Back in the Saddle for 92 miles

It was a clear and cold start on I-40 out of Flagstaff, 39 degrees but sunny. I have to admit to being nervous about how my knee would do and my stomach was feeling queasy. I was determined to set my own comfortable pace...I had set off with the early group with my roommate Maggie behind me. First SAG stop was not for 40 miles, so we took our own after about an hour and looking back had a magnificent view of Flagstaff mountain covered in snow.
After the first SAG, I was happy to feel that the leg was not hurting and continued to spin a high gear and take my time. However, the not so good news was a stiff SE wind that was getting stronger and by early afternoon turned into a 20-25 mph crosswind that was gusting much higher. At times, it was all I could do to control the bike and keep from getting thrown into the rumble strip. We rode through Winslow and stopped at the "Standing on the corner" spot and rode right by the  La Posada hotel.
 At the 76 mile SAG I hooked up with Matt and Jim C. and we worked a small pace line to help with the wind, but it was a real slog. Everyone was shattered after today's ride and it was like Zombie-ville at the group dinner tonite. Amazingly my leg held up. I am not sure how another 90 plus day will go tomorrow but I feel encouraged.

Day 8: Rest Day In Flagstaff

Today was spent doing all the things for my knee thatI am supposed to do: Jacuzzi and exercise, ice, tape. etc.The best part was my friends Milly and David Johnson from home drove all the way up here to spend a few hours with me. David worked his KT tape magic on both knees and we went shopping at Target and Walgreens and they treated me to lunch at Pita Jungle. They also brought me things from home that I needed, offered their support and encouragement, and generally above and beyond. Thanks Milly and David for being such wonderful and supportive friends.
I then took my bike our for a spin and the knee felt pretty good...fingers crossed for tomorrow...Flagstaff to Holbrook, 92 miles.

Day 7: Cottonwood to Flagstaff: AKA Day 2 in the SAG

Still very cold and windy with scattered rain showers and low clouds over the Sedona Red Rocks as the riders started up Oak Creek Canyon. They had already come up from Cottonwood and we stopped and had coffee at the Pink Java Cafe in Sedona. It is toasty warm in the SAG wagon and I am a little concerned that I am getting TOO comfortable in here..... I am now learning how things work from the other side, all the work and organization. I am also learning how to be the sweep with Robin and to count riders. She affectionately calls all the riders "my riders." She isn like a mother hen herding her chicks. The Canyon is challenging and scary..no shoulder and too much traffic. The weather is breaking as we arrive in Flagstaff and there is big snow on the mountain.

DAY 6: Prescott to Cottonwood: Thoughts from the SAG wagon

Today the stars aligned in a way: if you need to miss a day or two on the bike, today was the day. It was a cold rain as all the riders saddled up and headed for Cottonwood. It was a tough thing to watch everyone go off as I loaded into the SAG wagon with an ice pack on my knee...it was the first time I didn't set off with the group. The riders had a tough day of it...it was SNOWING on the way up Mingus Mountain and they got pretty hypothermic coming down into Jerome. We stopped at the Haunted Hamburger and everyone got warmed up and had lunch. The weather reminded me of the historic Sedona MS ride a few years ago when we had that late spring snowstorm. Still raining but no more snow as they descended into Cottonwood.
My knee is improving and I am doing all the prescribed regimens. Tomorrow I will ride the SAG again as I know the knee is not ready to climb Oak Creek Canyon on the way to Flagstaff. Then it is a rest day in Flagstaff, so my hope is to be on the bike Monday from Flagstaff to Holbrook and hopefully be able to carry on from there. All your messages and emails are greatly appreciated and I feel very supported.
I have a lot of pictures but am having trouble with the blog so will try to get that figured out.

A couple more....

My troubles start...

climbing Yarnell yesterday

MORE PICTURES

Crossing the Arizona State line...hello Arizona!

on the road to Wickenburg

adding some photos from the last few days while I am in the SAG wagon today ...boo hiss. These pictures are passing through the Mojave desert....

Day 4:116 Miles: Blythe to Wickenburg & Day 5: Wickenburg to Prescott

SO...a lot has happened in the last couple of days...I woke up feeling fine on the morning of the BIG day to Wickenburg. A little stiff but no other problems. Started out on the bike and noticed a pain on the inside of my left knee...???? for the record, I have never had any knee problems, EVER. So I thought it would pass.... not only did it not pass, it got much worse. I took a "bump" in the SAG wagon up a hill for about 10 miles then got out and continued riding. Managed to get to almost 90 mile mark before I had give in. ARRGH.
Arrived in Wickenburg pretty devastated. Read: Weeping.....swollen eyes, you get it.
So, Rest, ice, tape etc...Bruce came for dinner and suffered through another deluge...finally managed to find my stiff upper lip and "carry on." Ate some chocolate, which is always called for in these situations. 🍫
SO, today was the day the one and only fabulous Trilogy Bike Club was coming to ride up Yarnell Hill with me. I set out from the hotel in Wickenburg and met up with the gang in Congress. Malcolm, Kim, Jim, Gail, Christian and Donna ...I went up Yarnell slowly but okay. When I got there, the CrossRoads SAG support staff and riders were at the top having a grand time with the Trilogy bunch. 🚴🚴🚴🚴🚴
After that, Jim and Donna went back down and the rest of us continued on downhill with a big tailwind and a few sprinkles. CrossRoads staffers literally gave Gail and Christian the jackets off their backs as it was very chilly up there. Malcolm and Kim finally turned and made their way back up to Yarnell...Kim says it was a "bitch".... uphill and into the wind. A big shout out to all the Trilogy gang for coming and riding with me ....I love you all for that. So then it was Christian, Gail and me on to Prescott but I didn't make it. Managed 43 of the 59 miles and over 3000 feet of climbing when the ice pick pain started in my knee again. So they continued on into Prescott and I rode in in the SAG wagon. Decided it was time to go to a doctor so spent a few hours in the ER ...verdict: tendinitis of the quadriceps. Steroids, pain killers, anti- inflammatories, ice, and worst of all...REST...Read:
I won't be riding for a day or two to try to give myself the best chance of getting to Boston. 😥😥😥
I am trying to keep a positive outlook and all the encouraging and supportive emails and texts I have been receiving are greatly appreciated. Dinner tonight in Prescott with Gail and Bob (who was my dedicated and unswerving chauffeur to and from the hospital), and Christian and Jane...a lot of laughing which was good for the soul. I will try to post some pictures tomorrow, and I will let you all know how I am progressing with the knee. The weather forecast tomorrow is for rain and cold so if I had to have a day off the bike it is a good one to miss!

Day 3: Indio to Blythe

I woke up this morning with a headache and a little nausea....thinking to myself I may not make this 100 miles today...decided to give it my best shot and hoping not to have to SAG in.
Big 12 mile climb right out of the gate but Joanne "the sparrow" and I decided we would just take our time and I could hear Christian...."gear down, be patient"... so up and up but no real problem.
We got to the first SAG and I ate two pickles...and drank a V8 (loaded with sodium) and Voilà!!
Headache is gone! More pickles and pickle shots along the way and wow! I am a convert....we fairly flew into Blythe. I drank electrolytes out of my camelbak today and I am sure that made a difference, too. Felt good at the end of the day...to be honest, I didn't think I would make the 100 today after yesterday. And, Tractor Tire did pretty well. Think I will leave it on at least till we get to Wickenburg.
Tomorrow: 116 to Wickenburg....

Riverside to Indio: Part 2

oh..I forgot to mention I had a huge rear blowout on I-10... thankfully the bike handled beautifully
even going at 20+ mph. Had to boot the tire and after that exhausting day had to put on a new tire.
Here is the funny part...went to "The CrossRoads Van" for a new tire...they handed me a tire I now affectionately call The Tractor Tire...must weigh about twice what I usually put on my bike and as most of my biking friends know..I am a little bit of a "weight weenie"...we'll see...

Day 2: Riverside to Indio

Today we started out from Indio with a pretty good tailwind and a 3 mile climb right out of the gate but not too difficult. At around the 30 mile mark we hit a big climb up a canyon for 6 miles...
pretty steep with a lot of twists and turns. I kind of blew up on that climb and never really recovered the rest of the day. (Part of my problem was being a rookie with my camelbak...put only water in it and put the electrolytes in my bottles. I ended up drinking mostly out of my camelbak and didn't get enough electrolyte.)
Then we went through the Palm Springs windmill farm...got into some heat and head winds...dead on HOWLING head wind into Indio at the end....expletives here....
Completely shattered and dehydrated at the end of the 91 miles...drank tons of electrolytes and crashed.

Robin and Carol
Part of the great CrossRoads Staff
Worked our SAG today

Day 1: Los Angeles to Riverside, CA.

Nerves were running high in our group this morning as we huddled up and gave it our best shout...
"Boston"!!! We then lined up two by two and the CrossRoads vehicles escorted us to Manhattan Beach for the ceremonial rear wheel dipping in the Pacific. Then we had to go up what looked to be about a 15% grade from a dead stop...have to admit this flatlander was a little intimidtaed....but manged to get up there...we then proceeded through the urban jungle of LA with a great tailwind, and bright sunshine. No marine layer! On to Indio, CA tomorrow.

even though I had to stand on my pedals at the end. We proceeded through the urban jungle of LA to Riverside with a great tailwind and bright sunshine...no marine layer! On to Indio, CA tomorrow.

Orientation Day!

Today was filled with lots of details. Getting saftey checks on the bike, getting the safety flag mounted on the bike, attending orientation and "route rap" for tomorrow's ride, reviewing the procedure for the ocean wheel dipping ceremony, etc. I got my roommate today...Maggie Ramsey from Great Britain. I feel right at home after riding with Malcolm and Keith these last few years. I can even understand what she is saying!

Bruce and I managed to find a Macy's and pick up a couple of shirts for him so he doesn't have to wear the same thing for four days!
Tonight was a group dinner and there seemed to be an undercurrent of nervous excitement. We have 18 coast to coast riders, with only three women. There are also 4 "sectional" riders who will ride part of the way, for example L.A. to Albuquerque is a "section."
So, here I go. My goal is to have fun and be safe, and to finish, of course!