| Distance | 78.07 kms | 48.47 miles |
|---|---|---|
| Climbed | 420 meters | 1,378 feet |
| Ride time (hours) | 4.19 | - |
| Avg speed | 11.5 kph | - |
| Avg climb | 2% | - |
| Max grade | 20% | - |
| Distance | 25,212.71 kms | 15,666.63 miles |
|---|---|---|
| Climbed | 264,825 meters | 868,848 feet |
| Ride time (hours) | 1,784.96 | - |
Monday, April 7th, 2014
I wake up before dawn ravenously hungry. I’m not sure how that happened, I ate pretty well last night. It is freezing cold but I set up the tent on the east side of the ridge so when the sun comes up it quickly takes the edge off. By 7am I’m walking the bike back through the woods to the dirt road, then I’ve got 3 miles of gravel to get back to the main road. Not a soul around except for the birds and the squirrels. On the ride to Desert View I stop at a whole bunch of spots to admire the views of the canyon.
I run out of water about 10 miles short of Desert View. When I get there I go straight for the fountain to fill up, then I go to the café for a coffee and some warmth. Even though the sun is shining brightly the wind is still carrying a cold punch. The panorama from Desert View is truly spectacular. I stay for an hour just looking at it from different angles.
Then it's time to get a move on. At first there is a long descent of a couple thousand feet before I reach the valley that is apparently a Navajo reservation. I've got some work to do and some decisions to make so I get a motel room in Cameron to have some time to sort things out.
