CATCHING UP, 10.18.17

10.15.16, Sunday, 55 miles today--biggest miles so far--into Sun City, the western outskirts of Phoenix. I was looking at the map a couple of days ago and realized that my friend Erl Hardy--a sometime hiking partner on my 1993 Appalachian Trail hike--lived here. I called and he was at his winter home in Sun City. Erl was good enough to put me up for two nights, so I took off my first full day in order to rest (mainly my butt, it hurts!) and to do a little shopping at the bike, electronic, and food stores. 

For the first time as I left the Christian retreat this morning and continued up another ten miles or so of the seemingly endless incline from the day before, I could feel that I'm getting stronger. I picked up both speed and distance between stops and it feels good to be on the bike. About ten miles into today's ride the incline  turned slightly down (finally) and the peddling was a little easier most of the way into Sun City. In part this accounts for the bigger miles. 

Someone told me that the slight incline I was going up for so long was one side of the continental divide, while the decline was starting down the other side of that same divide. I just looked it up and the divide is in New Mexico, so my informant was wrong: it was just one bitch'en long hill. 

I don't have any photos from today, so I have included one from the AT hike in 93. Unfortunately I don't have any digital photos of Erl, only me and Bear. 

In this one I had made it to Vermont and the Green Mountain and I was happy. 

10.16.17, On my day off I ran a few errands on my bike and found that I was looking forward to getting back on the road. There is a freedom and joy to riding along through the desert, figuring out where to eat and where to sleep and how far to go. As I get stronger and suffer less, it becomes more fun. 

10.18.17
I stayed at my first WarmShowers home last night and it was great. I stayed in Mesa at the home of Lane and Gaylene and their four children (they have seven, but three are grown and gone) and they could not have made me feel more welcomed and at home. Lane bikes an hour to work and back every day and has done long rides in various places around the world and he did Adventure Cycling's northern tier from end to end while his family followed  in an RV. They are Mormon and Lane took me to see the Mormon Temple and visitors center near his home. Here are some photos: 

I have seem Mormon temples before and each time I'm struck by how nearly perfect the construction is. This temple was no exception, and it was interesting to learn more about Mormonism. 

10.18.17, evening

I have been struggling physically as I ride. It has been going on for a few days and I don't know why. I'm drinking a lot of water and eating OK (as well as I can on the road), but after ten miles or so I can barely keep going. I stop fairly often to rest and then feel OK for a bit, but suddenly I'm tired again. Today I was doing some hills and my legs began to shake, I guess from strain. After a good day on Sunday the last couple of days have been brutal, and that was after taking a full day off . Instead of feeling stronger I can barely make it through thirty miles. I had to skip a section today because I simply could not keep going up the hills. Lane suggested that I change my eating and drinking habits: drink more often--things like Gatorade--and to eat 20% protein, 20% fat, and 60% carbohydrates. Any other thoughts or suggestions are appreciated.

I'm staying at a hotel in Globe, AZ, perhaps 40 miles east of where I stayed last night. I might stay here again tomorrow and see if I  feel better.  

Here are some photos from yesterday and today: 

While much of the the Phoenix area was endless noise and traffic, there were these wonderful canal bike routes too. 

This was along route 60 in AZ, and I hit the 100 mile marker along the way. 

These are from the Tonto National Forest: