GRRRRRRRRRRRR

Globe-Safford AZ 77 miles A magnificent start to a potentially awesome day-- a 3 mile climb starting at 7:30 am -cool and sunny and a chance to warm up and then , except for a pesky cross/head wind, a 20 mile gradual downhill- oh what a start. It seems like the recycling plan in this part of Arizona is open window while riding in a car and toss glass bottle out window- broken glass everywhere along the road. Scenery has changed dramatically from yesterday -shrubby desert, softer peaks- not the drama of yesterday but snow capped mountains surround us as we ride in a very large , relatively flat valley. After that 20 mile start the relentless headwinds picked up to around 20-25 mph which we dealt with for the next 57 miles (8 to 9 mph speed which is agonizingly slow) and just to make sure I was paying attention- another flat tire (the trend is not my friend) This time it was a faulty tube stem and speaking of friends my saviors Patti,Katie, Amy and Suzanne helped me change it.(insert joke now? how many WT women does it take to change a flat?) Getting confident but not quite sure i can do it on my own. Stopped for lunch at an Apache Indian Reservation for fresh made Indian flat bread covered with beans and cheese. Two Native Amerians had set up a tent next to the post office and were cooking up a storm. The reservation was forlorn and impoverished and the people seemed stoic and proud . Reflected on the historical, disastrous decisions our government has made by driving these Americans to reservations.

Topped off this challenging day with a root beer float at the Pima Taylor Freeze and arrived at the motel 10 minutes before dinner- now that was a long, hard day!