Wednesday 1/26 Superior AZ to San Carlos Lake
The day started with the typical energy packed oatmeal, a cup of hot coffee in a mug and as a special today "eggs in a hole" breakfast from Lenny. The special breakfast entree was designed to fuel us up after yesterday's hard ride and the long steap climb that began as soon as we turned out of the RV camp spot.
Based on the maps the 1st 12 miles today is uphill to the top of the 4,600 foot Signal Mountain Pass. To our suprise we crested the peak after 6 miles of climbing. We figured it was a small downhill in the climb but had our spirits raised when we saw a sign stating "6% downhill next 12 miles ". We did a short celebration at our good fortune, put on our jackets and speed down the hill. It felt great to get up to speed after spending the last 90+ minutes grinding up the mountain. Then I heard a loud "OH NO" up ahead. Aaron saw it 1st. After only 1/2 mile of glorious downhill the road went steeply up again. For the next 5 miles we were back to the uphill grind...the whole time cursing the cruel joke the Arizona DOT did by getting cyclist hopes crushed with their inaccurate signage.
We eventually got our downhill reward into the copper mining town of Globe. Then headed out of the high traffic area into the Apache Reservation. We had an another incredible 6 mile downhill into the town of Peridot before setting up camp on picturesque San Carlos Lake. We had big helpings of pasta and italian sausage with Aaron teaching me how to toast bread on the camp fire rocks.
The adventure today was a great experience but it was also a sad day. After joining us on day 3, we said goodbye to Rick Mason. Rick had to turn in the wheelchair accessible mini-van today that the Ability Center so kindly loaned him for the last 2 weeks. Rick has been instrumental in arranging the media contacts, updating the website with pictures and blog entries, making helpful route recommendations, taking roadside action photos, providing moral support, being a great companion to Lenny during the day and we all looked forward to sharing the days experiences with him each night at camp. In Aaron's words..."Rick is my inspiration and the reason I'm on this journey...without Rick I wouldn't have this great opportunity." We are all sad to see him leave us and look forward to him rejoining our adventure soon.
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