28 degrees when we left camp this morning. I really had to talk to myself for quite a while before getting out of my sleeping bag. I could feel a cold breeze inside my tent and it was not conducive to moving. When I finally decided to move, I ended up with seven layers on top, two hats, and plastic bags on my feet. I could hardly bend over but I was fairly warm. Geez, I don’t ride in this weather at home. Maybe four more days and we’ll lose elevation and get warmer.
Crossed into AZ and this was the only sign I saw stating so.
The scenery was very nice in this area but then it got boring soon after.
A sign I saw too late was really funny. I am assuming this is a pun on Trump. It said ‘Make chief great again’. I just laughed.
We had a tail wind and it was mostly downhill all the way. I averaged 14.3 miles an hour, a first for me and I wasn’t pushing it. Just kept moving to try to stay warm. No bathroom break and only stopped twice for pictures. I had two pair of gloves on and it was really awkward to try to do anything except ride. Just wanted to get there so I could get in where it was warm.
Six of us got to our destination early so we had a second breakfast in the restaurant. We are out in the boonies again and seriously, the only thing here at this interstate exchange is a gas station and the Days Inn where we are staying that has an attached restaurant. No houses, absolutely nothing else.
After that storm moved through late afternoon yesterday, our leaders decided it was just too miserable to cook dinner so we all went to a barbecue place. It was warm inside and more than enough food. So my partner and I will cook our meal tonite outside the Days Inn.
The question was asked how we do this. The first time we had to cook, we got to pick partners. After that, we have been assigned to a different person each time. Several guys only want to be sous chefs. “Just tell me what to do”. A couple are quite proficient at cooking and want to be in charge. Fine by me. I can go either way. Being in charge is kinda stressful because you want to please everyone and we have two vegetarians, a couple don’t eat onions, and there are various likes and dislikes. My feeling is if I don’t like the main meal that is cooked, there is plenty still to eat. We usually have a salad, meat of some sort, veggies, bread, and always dessert. Plus our trailer has food in it 24/7 and we never go hungry. In fact, I think we are overfed. Can’t lose weight on this trip.
The leaders take turns being a cooking partner since there are 11 riders. And each group is responsible for their own menu. They give a grocery list to the van driver that day and our leader buys the food. It works really well.
49.5 miles today. 5531.2 total
BikerAl Across America 2018 