Race News, Updates and Press Releases

Race Day 2 - Blythe, CA to Kyanta, AZ

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

Team One arrived in Blythe and turned the duty over to Team Two.  As Team One drove out the next day to catch up at Ashfork.  We saw the climb that Team 2 had to negotiate to reach Prescott.  What an effort.  This photo looks back at the California border.

Doesn't this climb ever end?



Even more



And more

Team 2 drove on to Kyanta, AZ for some sleep.  High desert going from Prescott to Ashfork.  The tilt is not the camera, riders have to climbing all the way.  Riding the Interstate up to Flagstaff was a real experience.  I have to say that traffic was very courteous, the truckers of America gave wide birth and honked is full support.

The ride on I-40 requires that you get off the freeway to make rider exchanges.  The truckers and traffic has been very gracious to us and we get many honks of support as we ride.  Fortunately we are done with the interstate.

Flagstaff is a few miles away.

Ron, just finishing his I-40 ride approaching Flagstaff, AZ.  Flagstaff is at a 7000 feet elevation.  Riders have climbed from the Salton Sea, which is below sea level to 7000 since last night.  Normally it takes 8 hours to drive to Flagstaff.  At this point, the old moto of RAAM, "expect the unexpected" became a reality.  We made it in 28 hours, with a slight forest fire delay.

Gary, waiting for rider to complete ride so he can continue on up I-40.

We were delayed an hour getting into Flagstaff.  They shut the highway down due to a fire.  We eventually got routed around it, but lost hard earned time.  Leaving Flagstaff we has a beautiful sunset as we drove down highway 89 to pick up Chuck who is riding down at about 35 mph.  The ride for 60 miles down from Flagstaff to the cutoff for Kyanta, AZ. was down hill and Pete, Ron and Chuck averaged over 30mph.  Then there was the climb back out which Gary rode.  How did those other guys get all of the downhill.  No good down hill goes unpunished.  There is always the uphill.  Sounds a bit like life.  Highway 89 North was a little busy, especially for night riding.  But, again, traffic was supportive.

We rode through the Indian reservation and Monument valley.  Unfortunately we could not see most of the beauty, but we were treated to a full moon and the stars were beyond belief.  We arrived in Kyanta, Az at 2:21am PDT.  Team 2 took off for Durango area.  We will meet them later this morning and it looks like we get to go over Wolf Creek Pass, near Pagosa Springs, CO. at 12,000 feet.  Can't wait.  Right now, this dispatch is being cut short so I can go find some real food to eat before we start traveling.  Another night of 4 hours sleep.  Another day of 12 hours of riding.  Have a great day. What a way to see the USA from ocean to ocean.  It is an opportunity of a lifetime.  Just think of the words to America the Beautiful, only from the perspective of seeing it from a bicycle.

The great adventure continues;  see you tomorrow, same time, same station.