It has been one month since the journey ended—hard to believe. I’m just getting back into riding regularly, some with Peggy and Nancy, a bit with Tony, and, of course, solo. The routes of New Hampshire and Vermont are simply a joy. My everyday route of 25 miles starts just a mile from home (to avoid a steep, dirt road leading to the house), while I have about 15-20 other routes from 20-75 miles which require anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour to get to the starting point. All is well.
I’ve been working on transferring my blog from the internet to document format so I can print it as a journal. In doing so, not only did I recapture so many wonderful memories, but also I got the urge to categorize highlights and, yes, some not so highlights, which will serve to jog my memory as time passes. So, here goes—
Most Scenic/Beautiful Vistas
Blythe, CA
Globe, AZ
Kingston, NM
Las Cruces, NM
Fort Davis, TX
Vanderpool, TX
Kerrville, TX
Blanco, TX
Navasota, TX
Most Challenging Rides
Alpine, CA
Jacumba, CA
Globe, AZ
Silver City, NM
Kingston, NM
Fort Davis, TX
Del Rio, TX
Vanderpool, TX
Kerrville, TX
Highest Passes
3890’; Tecate Divide, Jacumba, CA
4600’; Signal Mountain Pass, Globe, AZ
6355’; Continental Divide, Silver City, NM
8828’; Emory Pass, Kingston, NM
Best Tailwinds
Blythe, CA
Fort Hancock, TX
Van Horn, TX
Marathon, TX
Sanderson, TX
Pensacola, FL
Best Downhills
Brawley, CA
Silver City, NM
Kingston, NM
Las Cruces, NM
Fort Davis, TX
Best Wildflowers
Blythe, CA
Salome, AZ
Globe, AZ
La Grange, TX
Navasota, TX
High Springs, FL
First Century
Marianna, FL
Best Break/Lunch Stops
Wickenburg, AZ (Salome)—Ingredients
Lordsburg, NM (Duncan)—Old Joe’s Café
Las Cruces, NM (Hatch)
Fort Hancock, TX (Tornillo)—La Calesa
Marathon, TX (Alpine)
Kerrville, TX (Medina)—Lovetree Orchard
La Grange, TX—Prause Meat Market
Silsbee, TX (Kountze)—Mama Jack’s
St. Francisville, LA (Morganza)—Not Your Mama’s Café
Dauphin Island, AL—Barnicle Bill’s
Pensacola, FL (Gulf Shores)—Trigger’s
High Springs, FL
Best Swimming
Bracketville, TX
Wakulla Springs, FL
High Springs, FL; Ichetucknee Springs (unfortunately, I missed the swim due to a back injury)
Best Accommodations
Kingston, NM
Fort Davis, TX
Marathon, TX
Vanderpool, TX
St. Francisville, LA
Wakulla Springs, FL
Best Rest Days
Silver City, NM
Fort Davis, TX
St. Francisville, LA
Wakulla Springs, FL
Other Highlights
Apache Junction, AZ—Desert Botanical Garden, Chihuly exhibit in Phoenix
Kingston, NM—turkey dinner and breakfast buffet prepared by the Black Range Lodge staff
St. Francisville, LA—crossing the Mississippi
Wakulla Springs, FL—jumping off the high platform and the boat ride
Worst Head/Crosswinds
Jacumba, CA
Salome, AZ
Safford, AZ
Las Cruces, NM
Fort Davis, TX
Del Rio, TX
Kerrville, TX
Lafayette, LA
Pascagoula, MS
Perry, FL
Coldest Weather
Brawley, CA
Marathon, TX
Sanderson, TX
Least Scenic
El Paso, TX (last 35 miles)
Van Horn, TX
Ft. Davis (first 40 miles)
Sanderson, TX
Del Rio, TX
Bracketville, TX
Silsbee, TX
Quite a lot of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama
Perry, FL
Hardest SAG Days
Lordsburg, NM
Bastrop, TX
About Me
- Carol Moehrke
- Come along for the ride as I, joined by more than thirty women companions, journey by bike along the Pacific Coast from Bellingham, WA to Ventura, CA.
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Comments
2 comments:
Well, it's nice to know that my backyard is one of the hardest rides. :-) I'm in Lakeside, CA. I've ridden Alpine...backwards. Now that is FUN! Start in Alpine and head back towards San Diego and have a car waiting at the other end. :-)
So now I know that it will be good training to master it going the other way.
I live in Del Rio and I applaude your courage to do this! I'm at a loss on how you manage the water needs! From Sanderson to Comstock there is nothing! Kudos to you all!
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