Day 7: Touchdown, Home Run, Score - We are in Mesa AZ

The Day 7 ride was on 2/23/2021

Today’s ride had a real finish line, a ride with a mission.  I am sitting on a nice bed in a hotel writing the update.  All three of us need a rest day.  Most days Sandy’s job is harder than mine.  I help a bit with packing up before I head off, but she does most of the heavy lifting getting Bessy packed.  After this she must find a place for us to camp for the night – all harder than it sounds.   Bessy is holding up well but last night after our first dinner out on the trip we notice a crack in the windshield.  Hang in their girl we need you.  My legs are tired but I still can't wait for the next day to ride again.  

The Day 7 ride was an easy 70 miles to Mesa AR.  The ride was basically flat with a tail wind.  Riding into the city gave a new view from desert and flat land riding over the past few day. Getting near to the hotel, I had a guy holler at me and give the middle finger…  welcome to Phoenix.  During the ride I had front tire flat from a desert thorn.  I thought I pulled them all from the tire, but I arrived at the hotel with another front tire flat.  This will be a rest day project to get this straightened out.


Along the way I saw Arizona State University, Chicago Cubs spring training field and the A’s spring training field.  Now you understand the title of this blog. 

What a great sports town...

After arriving to the hotel, I spent an hour in a heated pool with beer.  

Finish of Day 7 
Heated Pool

After some mix up in communication, we went to dinner for Mexican, then over to a longtime friend’s house.  We visited with John and Brenda Sniegowski until midnight.   The last time I saw John was in Singapore and have not seen Brenda in 20+ years.  The conversation started fast covering work, kids, retirement, and a bunch more.  Other than a few gray hairs they have not changed, and we had a great time.  Waking up this morning I realized – no pictures were taken. 

It was another perfect day to ride, cool leaving camp in a jacket and arriving at the hotel in short sleeve.  Winds were very light and what winds we had were friendly.

 Todays Ride Stats:

Start Time: 8:59 AM Mountain Time                     Finish Time:   2:38 PM Mountain Time

Elapse Time:  5 Hr. 39 Min                                    Ride Time:  4 Hr. 42 Min

Distance:  71.6 Miles                                              Average Speed:  15.2mph

Climbing/Descent:   1362/1588 Ft.                        TSS: 123

Average Power:  143 Watts                                    Normalized Power:  161 Watts

Calories:  2419                                                        Ave/Max HR: 114/137bpm

Most of the down time during the ride was spent fixing the flat tire.  In the city, there were many stop lights and stop signs that slowed me down and add up.

For food today, I had one cliff bar and many blocks.  I was hungry at the end and should have had another bar – I did not want to ruin my dinner.  I finished the three water bottles I carry with me. 


Todays plan… do nothing, sort of.  I need to work on the bike and get it ready to go.  We have some business to take care of.  Who would think that bills still come in while we are riding?  After a week on the road we are realizing we have way too much stuff.  If we can part with some of it, we will box it up and send it home.

Comments

  1. FishwifeFebruary 25, 2021 at 10:11 AM

    “Pool, with beer” 😂 And poor bessy! Cracking up like the rest of us.

    ReplyDelete

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