Day 11 & 12 – March 25 & 26, 2018

Total accumulated miles: 374.34 – Total accumulated time: 29 hours 29 minutes

Day 11 – 31 miles – 2 hours 14 min – March 25, 2018

This morning we packed up camp, and drove to where I ended yesterday. It took about 2 hours to get there. I got a late start riding as a result. However, that was okay. I had a few hills to climb, but otherwise, it was an amazing day of biking. The roads, for the most part were pretty good. There were a few patchy spots where I had to ride in traffic due to no shoulder. Also, the biggest problem that I am finding are the rumble strips (the noise makers if you drive over them to keep you from running off the road). They are the worst thing for bikers. Also, when they repave a road, they do not repave the shoulder. So, bikers get the worst road conditions. On top of that, the rumble strips take away anywhere from 10-20 inches of the shoulder space that we are allotted to ride without being “in traffic”. There were times today where I had about 10-12 inches of space to keep my bicycle, with a strong cross wind trying to push me over. Those of you who do not cycle, please understand that if a cyclist is riding on the white line, or just inside the road, they are doing it because the shoulder is too rough or there is not enough space on the other side of the rumble strip to ride. As a person in a vehicle, you do not see, for as fast as you are driving, that there are sometimes rumble strips, debris, or rocks on the side of the road that prevent a cyclist from being able to safely (and comfortably) ride in that area. I had many people today get close to me, honk at me, or refuse to give me space when they had plenty to spare, just because I wasn’t riding on the shoulder. I scowled and called them all jerks as they passed me unsafely. But, I also realize that they are just ignorant to how the side of the road really looks. Unless you get out and look at it up close, you would never know.

As you can see, the space I would have to ride on the shoulder beyond the “rumble strip is barely the width of my shoe (maybe 8 inches wide). This made me have to ride in the traffic of the highway, which was traveling at least 65mph (or more). It’s impossible to ride these roads safely.

Between Globe, AZ and Bylas, AZ on Hwy 70

Day 12 – 44.3 miles; 3 hours 3 minutes – March 26, 2018

Today was a beautiful day of riding. It was slightly overcast and pretty chilly to start out the day. My muscles are sore, and my left knee is starting to give me some trouble. I popped an ibuprofen, and that helped. I hope the knee doesn’t become a long term problem. There was some construction which gave the opportunity to ride with all the traffic stopped. I was riding Hwy 70 past Safford, AZ and once I got past the junction of Hwy 191 where most of the traffic turned, I was pretty much the only one on the road. It was wonderful to be out by myself with only the occasional vehicle passing by. I stopped for a rest at the end of a guard rail, and noticed this message written on the top of the post.

Somewhere along Hwy 70 after Safford, AZ – Post says “Long distance bike touring. Hungry, sunburned, lonely. If you know, you know. Cold nights & sunny days. Couldn’t get any better!” If I had a pen, I would have added to this!

Hwy 70 east of Safford, AZ

Hwy 70 east of Safford, AZ

March 26, 2018