Lazy day... we have finally internet access, so I do some updates on the blog! Though only for this day.
Still have a sore throat, don't know how to get rid of it, I've had it for 6 days now, no better no worse.
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| Julia surprised me |
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| The house in Cottonwood |
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| Our view from the house in Cottonwood |
April 18, 2011 Daytrip to Sedona
Feeling great today, ready to move, check out Sedona.
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| Church built into the rock by Sedona |
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| Rock formation around Sedona |
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| Prickly Pear around Sedona |
We visit Montezuma Well on the way back. A fresh water spring, and there is not all that much water in this desert. Everything is pretty dry, though we see many different flowers. It's spring and it's hot in the sun, but the wind is still cool. The trees and bushes are just starting to bud.
April 19, 2011 Daytrip to Jerome 3.21hrs, 50 km, 14.7 km/h
I'm riding to Jerome, a 50 km round trip, it goes up from 3300 feet to 5300 feet, almost 700 Meter.
Soon after I start, I almost run over a big dead orange snake, one of those big black flies or bees is following me same speed as I'm cycling, I see a dead Coyote well dehydrated by the sun.
The last bit is the toughest, but the town is just ahead of me and the drivers are quite cautious. I pass pretty flowers, a rock wall covered with prickly pear ( a cactus) and other desert plants.
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| Still a long way up to Jerome |
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| view backwards |
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| Jerome, Arizona |
Jerome is a pretty place, some old ruins and old buildings nicely fixed and painted. Lot's of tourists! At a look-out before the top people chat with me, they are impressed, I came up here on my bike. Even in town people talk with me. I meet a couple from Victoria, BC. What a surprise to meet someone from home! I'm talking with Molly and Bud from Albany, which must be a cycling heaven. I will have to check this area out some time.
On my way down I meet my first fellow touring- cyclist, Mike from Missouri. We go for a beer in the park, which is one of the few public places in Arizona, where it is possible to drink alcohol in the open, though it has to be in a plastic container. Mike is on a 1 week vacation, a 24 hour train ride to Flagstaff, I call this dedication! He cycled down the switchbacks through the canyon into Sedona and kept going to Cottonwood. A long haul, especially with the strong winds here, that tend to miraculously often come from the front!
The downhill part is total pleasure. By now there is not much traffic and we can race down the hill at 65km/hour. A great end to a great day!
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| The view down from Jerome |
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| The road back from Jerome to Cottonwood |
April 20, 2011 Daytrip to Cornville and Montezuma Castle 70 km, 3.46 hrs, 18.7 km/h
Today I visit Montezuma Castle, a 70 km round trip. Julia is not quite ready for cycling, so Mike and I are cycling out to Cornville. A lot of it is against the wind, which is blowing constantly in the daytime. Eventually Mike is riding ahead, I cycle right behind in his windshadow, as I say it. What a treat! And at least this way he can work relatively hard and I manage to keep up with him- of course, unless there is a hill!
There is a pretty new store, all organics and local food and drink, a great wine selection, nicely done. We have a cold drink, it is getting hot in the day. Then we keep riding to Montezuma Castle, 8 km or so are on the Interstate 17. There is actually a sign, which says 'Cyclists use right lane'.
It's National Park week, so all the national parks are free this week. Montezuma Castle an interesting place, there are still handbuild walls visible in the big rock cliffs, which are the ancient buildings of the Natives.
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| Day trip to Montezuma Castle |
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| Montezuma Castle |
We take a rest at the Montezuma Castle Casino in the shadows of some trees on rare grass! Great temperature in the shade. In and around Cottonwood and Montezuma Castle you can see small bushes, everything is pretty dry and monotonous. Coming into Corndale the river valley changes the scenery. There are actually fields under water and lots of greenery around. Big trees too.
The ride back is partly hard work against the wind and partly pure pleasure flying with the wind. So much fun, even when being tired! 70 km is certainly enough today.
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| Around Cornville near Cottonwood |
April 21, 2011 Cottonwood to Flagstaff 46 km, 3.05 hrs, 14.9 km/h
Well, Cottonwood to Flagstaff is not only 46 km, but I get to that later.
This is my first real day touring with luggage. And my bags are heavy!
I started off with 30 kg in Canada, but of course I had to buy dried foods like soup, cranberries, oats, quinoa and more. In addition to that I have to bring kerosin for cooking and a good amount of water. The air here is so dry, that just sitting on your bike riding downhill you get a dry throat.
I say good bye to Chris and Julia, who will stay another few days in Cottonwood. They have been great company and I'm looking forward to meeting up with them again.
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| I still have to pack the tent, sleeping bag and mattress-pack! |
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| On the way to Sedona |
I'm setting off at 10 am to meet Mike at his Motel in town. He's ready to go and we have a good ride out of town. Elevation to Sedona is only 1100 feet, 335 meter, but again the wind comes often from the front. I'm a lucky girl though, because I can draught behind Mike.
We take the Red Rock Loop Road just before Sedona and get some great view of the red rock formations. Also, this way we avoid the Highway.
Once we get to Sedona, we decide to keep going to Flagstaff. There is so much tourism and traffic. It's Easter weekend and Easter Brake. Mike has ridden the road down and we were told by several people, that it would be a big risk trying to cycle on the road to Flagstaff. Also, I'm quite tired after riding with the weight on my bike.
So we try to hitchhike from the end of Sedona. Not all that many pick-up truck and if, they are so new, that I don't believe, they will pick up 2 bikes, 2 people and their luggage. Within 3 minutes we get lucky!
Sanna from Sedona is picking us up, she makes room in the back of the van and off we go. We find out, she actually runs a Shuttle Service between Sedona and Flagstaff and is on her way to pick up some Customers from Flagstaff. She's not charging us for the ride and we are very greatful to her for having picked us up. I like to mention her business here, I can heartely recommend Sanna. So if you need a ride, here is her contact:
Going My Way-Shuttle, flagstaffsedonashuttle.com, 928451-6186
The landscape changes rapidly from small bushes in Cottonwood to big bushes in Sedona area to firs and pines in Flagstaff. The temperature changes rapidly as well. It's cold here! I'm already missing the warmth of Cottonwood, that I got used to for a week!
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| Red rocks around Sedona |
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| Riding into Sedona |
