Apache Jct. AZ to Globe AZ

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Saturday April 25, 2015
Apache Jct. AZ to Globe AZ
60 miles


Wrong uniform for Golf
Yes.....It finally happened we are heading for the hills. Today starts uncharted territory for me. Up to this point I have travelled (via car) the roads and areas we have come through. The area we cover today will be new to me and I was excited to get out of the city. The ride did not disappoint. We saw some nice country taking an off pavement route through Queen Valley. It was nice to get off of Hwy 60 for a bit. We even found a very nice golf course in Queen Valley. Wouldn't you know they had a tournament starting. Just as we rounded our turn to pass by the course a half dozen golf carts were racing toward us. They seemed shocked to see a couple of people on bikes cruising around the golf course. Royce turned back soon after this and I continued on my way. Not far down the road I came upon a couple on mountain bikes who were clearly loaded up and touring. The couple was from Switzerland. They had started in Austin TX and were riding back roads (for the most part) to Flagstaff AZ. They were a lot of fun to talk to (luckily they spoke some English). I spent the next hour or so on another dirt road in the Tonto National Forest . I liked to say it was peaceful, however being a Saturday it seems the area was popular for everything from a shooting range to off road vehicles. Oh well....it was still pretty country. Once back on Hwy 60 I had to face the one thing I kept reading and worrying since I planned the trip. The dreaded "TUNNEL". There is a tunnel on Hwy 60 (called Queen Tunnel, above Superior). It has been the tale of many a bike rider. Some on guided tours get picked up and carried through it. Others take a long break on the other end after harrowing experiences while riding through it. My experience was, I got lucky.  The tunnel is on an uphill. I stopped before it, as there was a tremendous rock formation that made for a nice photo. I stared at the tunnel. It did not really look too bad. Not really long, but a pretty good pull up the hill. I waited for the traffic to clear and off I went. I thought I would just ride as hard as I could through it. As I pushed to gain speed my legs felt tired from all the climbing I had been doing that day. So much for the sprint idea. I am about one third of the way from the tunnel when I realize that I cannot push as hard as I had wanted. I keep my steady pace and no cars yet. Finally half way through I see a car coming up behind me. The car moves safely by and before I know it I am through the dreaded "TUNNEL" .


Off road on the way to Globe


Picket Post Mtn

"The TUNNEL" 
   

Comments

  1. AnonymousApril 29, 2015 at 2:04 PM

    Love your posts Terry. I could feel the dreaded tunnel coming, and like a gladiator you kept going. Hope you are having lots of time now to smell the.... ��cactus! Terry H

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousApril 29, 2015 at 3:10 PM

    Lov your post also. It's like I'm reading a good book and I can't wait to read what is happening next. Glad your still having fun. Lov Marc and Ron

    ReplyDelete

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