Day 2: 93.6 miles 7 hrs 35 min riding time
average speed 12.3 mph
Incidents: At 60 miles, 2 women on motorcycles gave me a quart of water. A big truck forced me off onto the soft sand shoulder while passing another vehicle coming toward me. I fell, but did not get injured. At 89 miles, I was out of fluids and going very slowly. I waived down a vehicle and 2 young guys gave me a couple of monster drinks. I made it into Vidal Junction about 4:30 and cooled off in a gas station cafe. I hung out at the cafe until about 6:30 and then headed across the street and pitched my tent on really rocky ground. It was not easy. At 8:30 I started trying to get sleep, but it was difficult with all the noise from the trucks at the junction. According to my wife, the high for the day was 96 degrees, and at 8:30 it was still 88 degrees.
Day 3: 61.3 miles, 5 hours 37 minutes of riding time, average speed 10.9 mph
Incidents: Had 2 flat tires on my trailer wheel. I went through a goat head patch. I patched the first flat and thought all was well, but it was flat again 4 or 5 miles later. I decided to limp to the next town about 20 miles away by pumping the tire with my miniature dual head pump. That proved to be a lot of work, especially since the temperature was approaching the mid nineties. I made it to town and decided to eat lunch at a restaurant. After lunch a gentleman offered to take me, my tire, and wheel to half a mile down the street to a tire shop. It took the guy longer to patch it than it took me. I guess he was not use to such a small wheel. Anyway, he had a water tank and found 2 other tiny holes. Forty minutes later I was back on the road, but going very slow. I had a tail wind that made my going seem even hotter, as there was no breeze to cool me off. Finally, I had enough and flagged down a guy in a truck who offered to take me the 13 miles remaining to Salome, Arizona. I got a hotel room and am now thinking of taking a day off to recuperate. I have a raw spot on my bottom in the crease, and my left arm is numb from my elbow to my little finger. It is also very weak. I will just have to see what the morning brings.
Keep up the good work, Russ. Remember, don't put your pride ahead of your health. He are all proud of you already.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about the fall. I hope it did not aggravate your neck problem causing your left arm and finger symptom. Rest well. Like you said, Take one day a time. Helmet might be a bit over the eyes making the need to tilt neck back more. You are in our daily prayer.
ReplyDeleteBen