Still hanging in....

30 April. Hope, Arizona to Joshua Tree NP, California!!!!

Another very windy night in my tent, dawning on the third day when the wind hasn't dropped at all, day or night. Today's big decision was whether to run 50 miles to California border, or to try for the ton to an RV park in the Mojave desert. Nothing in between, and once I had set off I was committed. Forecast said strong wind NNE (cross wind or even just better) and so it proved....until the last 40 miles when it backed NW very strong. With temperatures just below 30, it was a very hard day and I completely ran out of gas. But: wheel held, LA now under 200 miles, and just another 50 mile unsupported stretch finally to cross desert. Forecast N/NW strong and very hot, so probably another 5.00 start. But a little time in hand.

Will try to keep ahead of schedule as I swing NW towards Palm Springs and on to LA. Contact made with Chuck so cold beer could be looking good for Sunday lunchtime!

Now sitting in completely deserted RV park, having had mah beans n' rice (for third consecutive evening). Early to bed.

Thanks for tips on preserving wheel. It is no worse, but really there aren't many options but to 'press on'.

Hanging in there

Tuesday 29 April

Wheel holding. Trying to put minimum pressure on pedals, moved weight forward and am dropped on bars. Cannot deny a little anxiety. California tomorrow....... Camped in middle of nowhere. Wind up (nearly brought tent down last night) and forecast to continue, with temperatures climbing. Might cross Mojave tomorrow if get away early. Hooah!

Short Update from W Arizona

Monday 28 April

Sitting in rocking chair in fabulous RV park that loves cyclists, on lovely evening in Wickenburg AZ. The last few days have been great: across the Apache Reservation (although got caught in foul storm when temperature dropped to 50 F in heavy rain and strong winds - but it snowed at Flagstaff, so mustn't grumble, and didn't a tornado kill someone in Little Rock,Mark P?). Then great route through mountains and back down to desert floor at Phoenix. Phoenix interesting (epic university campus, for anyone considering Master's for themselves or children......), and on towards California.  Even passed 'Los Angeles 348' sign.....

However, just to throw spanner in, spoke has ripped clean out of rear rim, distorting wheel. Have balanced it as best I can, but if rim begins to collapse then I fear game over, as 27 x 1 1/4 replacement definitely unavailable! Watch this space, as I will be watching wheel every minute. Curses!

No PC for photos, but (wheel permitting) California Wednesday a.m.

Arrival in Arizona

 

 Deming NM to Safford AZ 23-24 April.  Two great days of light wind, hot sun, super roads.  Now 2082 miles down, with about 600 to go.  Yee-hah!

 

 Maria and Ned (keen cyclist), from Austin TX, whom I met in the motel and who then screeched to a halt when they overtook me to take this photo.  Hope you found the blog!

 Just the tracks...

I wasn't quite sure this child presents the right image for Dairy Queen - he just may have had too many already....

More endless vista

Of great significance - in fact, a party of about 10 people arrived last night to walk this latest trans-con trail, from Mexico to Canada - about 4-5 months!  The two other massive trails are the Pacific and Appalachian, but this one has by far the biggest logistical challenge - not least water.

 For train spotters  - rail survey the Union Pacific way!

 Sometimes a bit of 'commercial' is a sight for sore whatnots....

 More endless sky and open road - this is just short of the Arizona border

 And here we are - spot the time zone shift.  No, it isn't there, which confused me for most of the rest of the day.

 A spot of shade, midday.

And, finally, lunch under the sole tree.  Brilliant country for cycling, and the roads remain fantastic.  This is the business!

Wiped Smile off face - Las Cruces to Deming, 23 April

 

Yesterday's morning climb - lovely area

                                                          Start of epic descent to desert

                                                           Didn't come out very well, but you can just see White Sands      (gypsum) on horizon

                                           Rear wheel puncture in middle of desert crossing.......

                                              Some tired bloke on final ascent, after 100 miles

                                         

                                           Looking back at final ascent that nearly did me in

                                            And down to Las Cruces

 

                                                  Today - brutal headwind (25 knots, then stronger as day went on, unrelenting for 61 miles, which took me nearly 8 hours in total.  No escape, no cover, no hiding on I-10, and this dust storm happened later......

                                                 Typical view - not that I was remotely interested

             

                                         The line from New Orleans to California

                                            A very welcome sign - the wind was by now even stronger (30 kts), and I was down in 2nd/3rd gear on the flat.  Last 19 miles took 2 1/2 hours.....

                                             Dust storm just beginning....... yum! NB quality of hard shoulder, which didn't help.

Probably the hardest day I have ever done on the flat.  But another inch on the map.

Ludicrous Day

Ruidoso to Las Cruces 22 April

After working out that I was about a day short to get to LA on time, climbed to 7000 feet this morning, but had forgotten payback of descent. 31 miles in 80 minutes through fabulous wooded country dropped me to White Sands desert (first A-bomb exploded here May 45) and on to Alamogordo.  Decision to make: after 50 miles did I have oomph for further 65 mile desert crossing (which needs to be done as oner - no water in between) with strong headwind. Just another Dunwich Dynamo.... Filled up my 8 pints and went for it. Not bad (rear wheel puncture, first in 3 weeks, very unhelpful in mid-90s), until totally unanticipated brutal ascent of 2500 feet as I passed my day's  93 mile mark - regret to report legs totally failed and walked (!) most of 6 mile stretch.

113 miles. Completely Jacob'ed and won't do that again, but it has put me back on track. Only eating place by motel a steakhouse. Beer was great but baked potato, salad and dipping vegetables, negative steak, marked me down as un-American, commie, bleeding heart liberal who obviously believes in big government and Islam. Nobody talked to me.....

Mark P: Wally Walmart  remains brilliant. Mike G: no Hersheys yet but plenty of other industrial stuff. John B: yes please to LA contact; aiming for Santa Monica, for swim and proximity to LAX. ETA Sun 4 May, sometime, for flight pm Mon 5 May. Rod; thanks for your solicitude about climbing hills. Fran: bum marginally better, and meatless not too bad (pace above). And thanks all for tips on route, but in fact New Mexico tops so far - great scenery, quite laid back, fab road surface. A fre miles on I-10 will probably sort that out....

Update Eden TX to Roswell New Mexico

A bit of time since the last post, due to a combination of lack of wi-fi (camping) and sloth.

  Back on the road, 100 miles west of Austin.

Centre of Texas and, by chance, round about my half way point, at 1350 miles

Nodding donkey in cotton field (not due to be planted until end May)

 Cotton Gin, west Texas

Nodding donkey, this time augmenting wheat

Camping, this time at free municipal site in far west Texas. Pretty good, including loos but no showers.

Trouble on the way - this is just inside New Mexico, and it struck about 20 minutes later in a deluge. "We need the rain", but timing is everything.  I was going to camp again, but motel owner insisted I have the spare room at no charge.  Typically decent.

This was the beginning of today's (Easter Day)75 mile run with nothing in-between, including water.  Camelbak filled for first time, giving me 8 pints in total, and I ran in with 2 remaining.

Mid-way to Roswell - the strong headwind dropped a little as I passed this watershed in the valley floor.  But this felt like the type of America I had come to visit, and it was a good day.

 

Now with 1699 miles done, and with around 900 to do.  Big route decision tomorrow, to go northwest via Grand Canyon (nice route, weather could be iffy at 8000 feet, slightly longer), or southwest to Phoenix (less nice route, better weather, shorter).  Hmmm. And exactly two weeks to go to make LA on time.  Bike holding up well, although may need to replace chain. As for me, bruised bum which makes things just that bit more difficult; beginning to tire of beans, rice, salad and (occasionally) pizza, and eking out Yorkshire Tea with daily ration (keep away, evil Lipton).