Day 1 went very well, as I made it from Oracle jct. to Phoenix in a straight run. I rode 90mi that day and set a new personal record. That evening I pitched my new tarp/tent that I finished seam-sealing the morning prior, but pitched it so low to the ground that everything was wet in the morning due to condensation. Despite being a little damp, the trip was off to a great start. The desert hills were bountifully green with all of the recent rains, and the smell of creosote drew me closer to the mountains.
Day 2 was very difficult. Starting from just outside Mesa at about 1200ft, I rode almost all uphill until I got over the 4500ft pass in the late afternoon. I found a great spot just off the road where I was out of view of cars, but had access to a running creek down below. Learning from my mistake the night prior, I pitched my tarp several feet off the ground and had a much more enjoyable morning.
Day 3 (today) has also been very strenuous but equally rewarding. I lost the several thousand feet in elevational gain that I conquered the day before, only to climb it again. At about noon I reached Payson at 5000ft, approximately 20mi from where I was camping. I stopped at a small Mexican restaurant and had the best bean burrito of my life. I have a friend in Payson that I will stay with tonight, making today a relatively easy day. Tomorrow I'll be back on the road...
The only thing that stands between me and Show Low at this point is the Mogollon rim, a straight 2500 ft climb. Because it is all uphill, it will surly take me several days. Saturday night, there is supposed to be a storm that will roll through bringing me snow, though I'll likely just hunker down and wait it out.
Here are a few pictures of my route, campsites, and my bike on the side of the road
-Andy
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