Weather:
Cool in the morning, about 60 degrees
warming to mid 80's by lunch.
Warm, bright sun in the afternoon reaching
about 89 degrees with cool mountain breezes and some tailwinds
into Show Low.
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Points of Interest:
Views look like the Grand Canyon! Striking
contrast with reds, whites, browns and greens. Sedimentary layers.
Shear dropoffs and deep ravines.
Most of the roads went through an Apache
reservation. Most of the people we saw were wearing winter coats!!
The scenery changed as we approached Show
Low with pine trees (which smelled wonderful) and high plateaus.
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Highlights:
French toast for breakfast!
Our bodies are extremely stiff and sore
at this point on the trip. Our muscles were screaming in pain
the entire day; especially the quads, glutes and lumbar muscles.
Steep climbs with fast descents and winding,
twisting roads.
Lots of construction with delays causing
20 minute waits.
Bruce had no flat tires or other technical
challenges.
Even though it was only 87 miles, the
climbing was extreme and the air was thin!!
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People We Rode With:
Brian rode solo and got to hotel before
the truck (had to wait by the pool).
Bruce rode with many people for short
periods including Brian U., Howie, and Ned.
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Comments/Quotes:
Brian had a bee sting at 45 miles per
hour and couldn't get the stinger out until finishing the 3 mile
descent.
A bee got stuck in Bruce's helmet but
didn't sting him (he managed to get the helmet off real fast!).
The town of Show Low got its name when
two men were playing cards to determine who would get to keep
their mutually owned land and one man said "Show low"
(referring to the other's card).
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