A Retrospective

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