Riding Route 66 Day 1 September 14 2012

Route 66 Day 1

This is The first day of our four-day ride mostly a long old Route 66 across Central Arizona.

Myself and my two sons, James and Bryan, arrived in Prescott last night after a 38 hour, 3,440 km (2,138 mi) non-stop car ride from Ontario, Canada. The experience of that car ride could be an entire blog entry in and of itself. It was an adventure. But I don't think any of us would choose it as the preferred method of getting to Arizona. None of us could figure out how to sleep in either the passenger seat or back seat of the Honda Civic. It was one of those "character building" trips.

It is now Friday, September 14, 9:40 in the morning and all five riders, Mark, Ben, James, Bryan, and myself are milling around brother Mark's garage preparing our bikes.

We have all loaded up our bikes with equipment and water bottles. We have oiled our chains and put on our helmets and we are ready to roll.

Leaving Mark's driveway we began to weave our way through the city of Prescott.

Within the first five minutes of riding through the residential and commercial streets and climbing the many short but steep hills that make up the town of Prescott, I found my heart rate at 140.

I think this is largely because of the high-altitude. Prescott is at 5300 feet above sea level. I also think part of the problem is that I am just exhausted from the 38 hour car ride that brought me here.

In about 20 minutes we find ourselves on the outskirts of Prescott. We are pedaling north on highway 89 towards the town of Ashfork located next to Interstate 40.

Our road takes us through the moon-ish looking limestone formations known as The Dells.

About 19.5 miles or 31.6 km north on highway 89 we come to the community of Chino Valley. We eat lunch at Taco Bell.

Chino Valley isn't a huge and prestigious civic center these days. But at one time it was the Territorial Captial of the Territory of Arizona. 

Back on the road we continue heading north and soon come to the small community of Paulden. This is about 7.9 miles or 12.8 km north of Chino Valley.

By this time the sons are far ahead of us and Mark and I are bringing up the rear. I think Mark is just being thoughtful and sticking with me because I am very slow today. Maybe he thinks I could get sick or something. I really don't feel very good today.

A unique feature of today's ride is the presence of large grasshoppers or locusts all along the road. These large insects are about 2 1/2 inches long.

We run over many of them (accidentally on my part; I'm not so sure about the other riders) with our bikes. Some of them stick to our spandex pants in a weird sort of Velcro way. This experience reminded me of the terrorizing times I had riding on the farm tractor with my grandfather as the Texas grasshoppers jumped all over me. Fortunately, that childhood experience desensitized and prepared me for today's ride :-)

Many of the insects are hit by the cars zooming by us. The injured bugs on the ground are then cannibalized by the living bugs. It's all a very gross to witness.

Fortunately this is the only day we see these bugs in these volumes. But there are thousands of them. Kind of wanted me to be biblical and eat a few.

At the community of Paulden, Mark and I stop for ice cream sandwiches for some energy at the one and only food establishment in the community, as well as to cool down a bit. Today is very warm. But not overwhelmingly hot like Arizona tends to be.

Not only is the temp "reasonable," but the desert is relatively green. This area has experienced significant rain over the past few weeks and we enjoying the benefits of it. We even sight the rarity of pools of standing water. Big puddles.

We are now about 26.1 miles or 42.3 km from Ashfork.

What we find is a very straight road on the very gradual and consistent incline. This is starting to take a toll on some of us.

At some point Mark increases his speed so as to maintain a good climbing pace.

I am lingering behind, going slow and steady. But mostly slow. I accept my duty as last in line, making sure no man gets left behind :-) I know I will eventually get Ash Fork. And I am on vacation so why should I really hurry? Truth is, I'm just not feeling so great and not really "on top of my game."

15 km from Ashfork I see you a rider heading towards me. It is my son James who's coming back to either check on me make sure I'm alive and okay, or maybe he just wanted some more exercise.

But he sticks with me and around 5:30 in the evening we reach Ash Fork.

I have been sitting in the bike seat for six hours. Total time for today's trip is 7 hours and 40 minutes.

We are staying at the Copper State Motel . This motel certainly shows it's age. Obviously remodeled several times, but it still holds the spirit of a motel that housed weary Route 66 travelers back in the 1930s.

Mark and I get to share one room. All the sons share another room.

After everybody's had a shower and brief time to rest we head out to eat of the only food establishment in Ashfork.

We have a great supper together just enjoying each other's company. I really feel like I'm on vacation at this point.

We head back to our rooms after supper because there's really not a whole lot more to do in this town and we are generally tired.

Even though this community is located right off of the interstate, interstate has created away for the world to just pass it by. Over the next four days I will form a perspective about these towns on Route 66 and how history and the interstate highway system has impacted them. Ash Fork is an example of how just moving the follow of traffic a few hundred yards away from the town's Main Street changed everything. More thoughts of the Route and the towns later.

We stopped at the general store and purchased our Gatorade Power Aid for tomorrow's ride. After 86.9 km (53.8 mi) with an average speed (My speed anyway) of 14.5 kph (9 mph), we all hit the sack looking forward to a good rest. Excited that tomorrow we will actually be writing on the original Route 66.

Bro Mark appreciating the shade of the tree and his ice cream sandwich outside of the general store in the small community of Paulden, located between Chino Valley and Ash Fork.

Just on the outskirts of Paulden, we had a brief break from the traffic of Highway 89. This is Old Highway 89, a remnant of the original road before more modern "improvements." This section of road was so calm we enjoyed riding side by side and had some good discussions doing our best to solve the world's problems. 

Here we are fresh and clean and energetic on the street in front of Mark's home. From left to right you see me (Blog Hog), James (Scary Peccary), Bryan (Little Hog), Mark (Boss Hog), and Ben (Jack Rabbit). We are -- and remember  this name -- The Wild Javelinas (And we have official gang/club T Shirts to prove it!)

 

Classic Arizona. But it should be pointed out that we rode through at least three distinct ecosystems in one day. You notice this by the vegetation in these pictures -- all taken on the same day.

The Dells Granite Formations on the road just on the north edge of Prescott. Notice the nice wide shoulder we had to ride on. Very much appreciated by all cyclists.

A very old building in Chino Valley. This will be the first of many old buildings (and old cars) I photograph. I figure that someday all we might have of this history are pictures.

Bro Mark cooling off in our Ash Fork motel room. Notice the neat mural on the wall.

Any time and any place you ride in Arizona you are struck by the beautiful vastness of this land. And, of course, you take a picture of it only to be disappointed that pixels can't capture the reality your eyes take in.

For a long time and my kilometers this is what we saw. This is considered "lushness" in Arizona's desert.

They fall to mention on the sign that our refrigerator door had no handle and was held shut by duct tape. But you know what? It worked and kept our Gatorade cold.

Dinner Time

This is the first Route 66 sign we see. And now, from Ash Fork on, we are getting our kicks, or at least getting kicked, on or by Route 66

Route 66 Ride Day 1- The Ride Before Us

In just a couple of hours we (Myself, my sons James and Bryan, Mark, and his son, Ben) pedal out of brother Mark's Prescott, Arizona driveway heading north.

Our objective is to pedal 91.2 km (53.6 mi) north where at the town of Ash Fork, Arizona, we will find Route 66 -- "America's Main Street" and "The Mother Road" and"The Road of Tears and Hope" as it has historically been called.

In the 1930's, thousands of grieving, displaced, and crushed Americans, devastated by the Great Depression, loaded what few earthly possessions they had left on either their backs or cars and headed west from Chicago and all points along the way on this road of desperation seeking employment and survival somewhere in the the direction of the setting sun.

Interestingly, Route 66 actually had part of its beginning right here in Arizona.

In the mid-1800's, a certain Lt. Beale was sent to this territory with two orders.

First he was to create some
kind of trail or road that could be used by the American army to transport men and supplies to the west coast. A war was brewing with Mexico and these kind of logistics had to be considered.

The second part of Beale's orders involved experimenting with the use of camels as a military alternative to horses. A logical idea given the super harsh desert environment of the American Southwest.

Beale did indeed create such a trail/road across the desert. The railroads would follow his trail. Later a real road would evolve and become part of Route 66.

As for the camels, they apparently didn't work out too well. But isn't it intriguing to visualize what would have happened to American culture and folklore if they had?

Can you see the Lone Ranger and his might camel racing to the rescue?

Roy Rogers and Dale Evans side by side on their camels?

And Gene Autry singing "Back in the Saddle Again" mounted on his camel?

And there goes Jessie James pursuing the train with the bank payroll -- on his camel?

And how's this for revisionist history: the Native Americans repelled the White Men seeking to steal their lands and North America became "The United Nations and Tribes of North America."

So it is off to seek this small but powerful American treasure.

On our way to Ash Fork today we will pass through the communities of Chino Valley (Once territorial capital of AZ) and Paulden.

On Tuesday morning, we will begin to get our kicks on Route 66.

Painting below is an artist's rendering of Lt Beale and his camel army.

Official Intro for Arizona Route 66 Ride

This is it folks!

My official introduction of the big ride which starts this coming Friday.

If you track with me watching the map below, you'll get the general idea of the trip.

Start at the tip of the lower right hand pen. (Those Truckers reading this will appreciate the symbolic nature of traveling "pin to pin" :-)

The tip of that lower right hand pen is on Prescott, Arizona. Bro Mark lives there. We pedal down and out his driveway Friday morning, September 14.

And we pedal all day. 91.2 km (53.6 mi) to be precise. We spend the first night in Ash Fork, Arizona. (The second pen counter-clockwise from previous pen.)

By the way, joining brother Mark and I will be Mark's son, Ben, and two of my sons, James and Bryan. For the purposes of this trip we have declared ourselves as a gang or club to be known as "The Wild Javelinas." (Javelinas are these pig like creatures with lots of character and attitude that roam around Arizona.)

We all have matching shirts with our "club" names on them. Bro Mark is "Boss Hog." I am "Blog Hog." James is "Scary Peccary." Ben is "Jack Rabbit" (For some reason he isn't a hog. Go figure.) Bryan is "Little Hog." How cool is that?

(James and Bry and I will be driving to Arizona from Ontario, Canada, leaving Tuesday, September 11. That will be an entirely unique experience of its own!)

Waking up on Saturday morning in Ash Fork, we now pick up the trail of old Route 66, the "Main Street" America. The iconic Grapes of Wrath highway of the Depression Years. Most of the highway has been either abandoned, or replaced by the US of A's modern Interstate Highway System. But this stretch we pedal west across central Arizona is one of the oldest and longest remaining segments of the legendary road.

After pedaling 100.6 km (62.1 mi) we reach our second day destination of Peach Springs, AZ, more recently made famous in the Pixar animated hit movie, "Cars," as the town of Radiator Springs. (Third pen counter-clockwise.)

Day 3 finds us riding 83.9 km (51.8 mi) from Peach Springs to Kingman, AZ (whose name is in the famous song about getting kicks on Route 66). Fourth counter-clockwise pen.

Our fourth and final day of 83.6 km (53.3 mi) takes us through the historically rich towns of Oatman, Golden Shores and Topock. Bro Mark mentioned recently that we are going to ride over the bridge over the Colorado River and set foot on California soil just to say we did so.

That's our trip of 357.7 km (220.8 mi).

When we arrive at the River on Monday afternoon or evening, Mark's wife, Carolyn, and my son, Luke, will find us and transport us a mere 4 hours drive back to Prescott.

Here is the first official trip sheet provided by Bro Mark a month or so ago:

* * * * * * * * *

DAY 1: 501 Joseph Street, Prescott, AZ to Copperstate Motel, Ash Fork, AZ

ROUTE: White Spar Rd/Montezuma/Whipple to Willow Creek Road to Hwy 89N

KNOWN STOPS: McDonald's in Chino Valley (19.5 mi/31.6km) and the only grocery

store in Paulden (7.9 mi/12.8 km), then to Ash Fork (26.1 mi/42.3 im).

TOTAL Day 1: 53.6 mi/91.2 km

LODGING: Copperstate Motel, Ash Fork, AZ

DAY 2: Copperstate Motel, Ash Fork, AZ to Hualupai Lodge, Peach Springs (AKA Radiator Springs), AZ

ROUTE: Interstate 40 to Crockton Rd/U.S. Rt. 66 West

KNOWN STOPS: Seligman (24.3 mi/39.4 km), Grand Canyon Caverns (11.9 mi/

19.3km), then to Peach Springs (24.9 mi/40.3 km),

TOTAL Day 2: 62.1 mi/100.6 km

LODGING: Hualupai Lodge, Peach Springs, AZ

DAY 3: Hualupai Lodge, Peach Springs, AZ to Arizona Inn, Kingman, AZ

ROUTE: U.S. Route 66 West

Stops: Hackberry General Store (22.7 mi/36.8 km), Taco Bell-Kingman (24.3 mi/

39.4 km) to Arizona Inn (4.8 mi/7.8km)

TOTAL Day 3: 51.8 miles/83.9 km

LODGING: Arizona Inn, Kingman, AZ

DAY 4: Arizona Inn, Kingman, AZ to Topock, AZ

ROUTE: U.S. Route 66 West/Oatman Rd and Oatman/Topock Highway

KNOWN STOPS: Oatman (28.2 mi/45.7 km), Golden Shores-Hooch's River Grill

(20.0 mi/ 32.4km) to I-40 (5.1 mi/8.3 km)

TOTAL Day 4: 53.3 mi/86.3 km

LODGING: 501 Joseph Street, Prescott, AZ

TOTAL DISTANCE: 220.8 miles/357.7 km

* * * * * *

I hope to post and provide photos on our "Shelley Brothers Cycling Adventures" Facebook page and this blog each day as time, technology, and energy allows.

Hope you'll come along for the ride and join us as we get our kicks on Route 66!

Confessions of A Foolish Biker

As I am about to disembark on my next big biking adventure, I want to post two blogs.

This is the first one.

A confession of a careless cyclist.

No. I didn't hit something while I was texting behind the handle bars.

It was, well, different. This is kind of embarrassing.

Here's the backstory.

Since the middle of May I have been enjoying some serious, exciting training and conditioning.

In anticipation of our trek (which starts next Friday!!!) on Old Route 66 west across central Arizona, I have been delighting in a disciplined conditioning program. I have ridden about 1,800 km (about 1,100 miles) to get and keep my legs, lungs, heart, and butt in shape.

All was going well until about August 15 when I went on a simple training ride of about 12 km (7.5 mi). Should have been a non-event. But when I got home I felt like I had rode over 100 km (62 mi). Totally exhausted. But even worse. Within an hour of getting home and taking my shower I was in bed with a blaring headache and severe chills. Slept for 12 hours.

I thought this was weird. But really, I thought, I was just a bug or something I had caught. (A metaphorical bug. Not the kind I always swallow when I ride because I am a mouth breather.) But I did think it strange that I felt fine before the ride.

Did a couple of easy short rides during the next 6 days.

Then on August 25 I went on an almost 3 hour, 33.5 km (20.7 mi) easy pace ride. And when I got home, you guessed it; I had the same physical "symptoms" as the previous weekend.

So I did a lot of googling and asked Brother Mark who is wise in all things bicycle. Based on these consultations, here what I believed happened.

While doing all this great training, I foolishly neglected the care and feeding of my body. I wasn't drinking the important after-ride protein drink essential to muscle repair and strengthening. And I wasn't eating enough high quality carbs to fuel my exercise schedule. As a result, I dangerously depleted my glycogen reserves (Glycogen is the food energy in your blood and tissues which your body utilizes for power when exercising). So I had weak muscles and fumes in my energy tank.

And my body essentially said, "Forget this. I don't perform if you don't provide."

The cure? Here's what I hope will help: Since a 4.3 km (2.6 mi) ride on August 31 (I was puttering along with my daughter's little white dog, Snicket, at 8.5 kph / 5.27 mph -- you probably walk that fast), I have not been on a bike. I have eaten a lot of healthy food. I have drank a lot of protein shakes. I have rested and I have gained about 8 lbs (I kind of miss my almost skinny look. But I will have it back on the third day of our big ride).

I hope I will be rested, and strong, and glycogen replenished when we pedal down Brother's Mark Prescott, Arizona driveway on the morning of September 14 and head north to Ash Fork where we join Route 66.

The lesson learned: Pay as much attention to fueling your body as you do the number of kilometers (miles) you pedal.