Departure: Bisbee, AZ Finish: Portal, AZ Distance: 84.8 miles
Elevation gain: 2,075 feet (Yes; but we had 2,298’ of downhill.)
Winds: Tailwinds for the first 75 miles. Headwind for the last 7 miles.
Weather: Sunny. Departed with 42 degrees. Arrived with 71 degrees.
On bike duration: 4 hrs, 58 minutes.
Average speed: 17 mph
Began the morning by coasting downhill past the massive copper mine at the outskirts of Bisbee. After 3 miles we got off our bikes in the next “town” over - Lowell - and invaded the “Bisbee Breakfast Club” for blueberry pancakes, two eggs, bacon, coffee and orange juice.
Lowell, AZ. (A short walk from Bisbee.)
When we got on the road (US Highway 80 again), we received the payback from yesterday’s climb. We enjoyed a continuous, moderate downhill for 12 miles with the tailwinds many of my friends have been praying for. After about 10 miles, I realized the road was virtually vacant of any traffic, and the pavement was great, and the winds were at our back and we had a slight downhill for MANY miles. On a 30 mile stretch, I averaged 25 mph, with several miles at 32 to 34. It was a cyclist’s dream! I have never gone that distance with a sustained tailwind on wide open roads.
Lunch stop below:
At mile marker 406 (10 miles west of the New Mexico border) we passed a monument that marked the site where Chief Geronimo surrendered to the U. S. Army. On September 4, 1886.
After we crossed into New Mexico, we came upon a small village called Rodeo. The only thing I could see that the town had going for it, was the name. Perhaps that’s not fair, but I was trying to find something remarkable as we rolled past.
Just outside of Rodeo we made a left turn and lost our push. Another 4 miles and we completed the U-turn and met the headwind and uphill climb to cross back into Arizona and arrive at the Portal Lodge for the night. The lodge was the first thing I came to when entering the town of Portal. Frankly, I don’t know if there is anything else here besides the lodge. It sits in the shadows of the beautiful Chiricahua Mountains.
I had to include the photo below. It’s a 22 year-old Cockatoo named Boo. He was at the restaurant where we ate last night.
Also, this photo from today. This guy came barreling up the dirt road when we were stopped for water. I could tell from a long distance that there was something funky about his car. The entire rear end was covered in wine corks, but I had put away the camera by then.
Thank you so much for updating your blog each day. I visited the Chiricahuas last January on my SW road trip and they were beautiful. I hope you get to make a stop at White Sands National Monument, for it is simply mesmerizing. Keep up the great work!
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