Days 4 and 5 were relatively easy days. The three previous days had been long and hard days on the bike. I decided to slow things down a bit, and give my legs a rest. So I spent the morning in Flagstaff doing some shopping … heavy weight tubes were high on my list and not to be easily found. Flagstaff is a very pleasant place, and the “off bike” time was greatly enjoyed.
After the previous day’s ride into Flagstaff, I came to the conclusion that riding in the rain really chaps my ass … literally … quite a rash and the beginning, I think, of a saddle sore. My solution to minimize the possible irritation of the sore spot, was to purchase a package of the little donut shaped pads sold for when you have corns on your foot. Worked great, except for one thing. The adhesive they use is one step stronger than super glue. Word to the wise, place a band aid over the sore, then the little pad … saves a lot of skin.
Mid-day, I rode twenty miles out to Sunset Crater National Park and set up camp. Nice place. This is how much my world has been turned upside down … I sat in on a presentation about woodpeckers, and found it to be very interesting. Did you know that woodpeckers have a small bone mass in their eye socket that increases the amount of blood (in the bone mass) just prior to the bird’s beak striking the tree? By doing this, it increases the pressure in the eye socket, thereby keeping the eye from being destroyed by the impact of hitting the tree … or something like that. Once a “C” student, always a “C” student.
Day 5 was another easy day … rode 40 miles to Cameron, AZ, mostly downhill. Cameron is an old English word meaning “not much here.” I set up the tent in a small “campsite/RV” area behind the gas station/convenience store/laundromat. Fifteen minutes after setting up the tent, a dust storm hit that went on for about four hours … with occasional rain. Finally, the storm subsided, and the sun set. Once it got dark, I discovered that the spot I where I placed the tent was almost directly under a security light placed on the wall of the adjacent building. I could have used this light as a reading light in my tent, but thought it might be somewhat of a distraction when it came time to try to sleep. So, in the relative darkness, I dragged my tent to an area where there was a fence shading the light. One draw back … that fence housed a gas powered generator that kicked in every hour or so. A good night’s sleep was not to be had in Cameron.
After the previous day’s ride into Flagstaff, I came to the conclusion that riding in the rain really chaps my ass … literally … quite a rash and the beginning, I think, of a saddle sore. My solution to minimize the possible irritation of the sore spot, was to purchase a package of the little donut shaped pads sold for when you have corns on your foot. Worked great, except for one thing. The adhesive they use is one step stronger than super glue. Word to the wise, place a band aid over the sore, then the little pad … saves a lot of skin.
Mid-day, I rode twenty miles out to Sunset Crater National Park and set up camp. Nice place. This is how much my world has been turned upside down … I sat in on a presentation about woodpeckers, and found it to be very interesting. Did you know that woodpeckers have a small bone mass in their eye socket that increases the amount of blood (in the bone mass) just prior to the bird’s beak striking the tree? By doing this, it increases the pressure in the eye socket, thereby keeping the eye from being destroyed by the impact of hitting the tree … or something like that. Once a “C” student, always a “C” student.
Day 5 was another easy day … rode 40 miles to Cameron, AZ, mostly downhill. Cameron is an old English word meaning “not much here.” I set up the tent in a small “campsite/RV” area behind the gas station/convenience store/laundromat. Fifteen minutes after setting up the tent, a dust storm hit that went on for about four hours … with occasional rain. Finally, the storm subsided, and the sun set. Once it got dark, I discovered that the spot I where I placed the tent was almost directly under a security light placed on the wall of the adjacent building. I could have used this light as a reading light in my tent, but thought it might be somewhat of a distraction when it came time to try to sleep. So, in the relative darkness, I dragged my tent to an area where there was a fence shading the light. One draw back … that fence housed a gas powered generator that kicked in every hour or so. A good night’s sleep was not to be had in Cameron.
Great to read your posts, keep them coming. Sounds like you have the Garmon gene for camping, remembering Dad's choice of a campsite, just off the right field foul line, at least it was in foul territory, but boy, when the lights came on......
ReplyDeleteYour woodpecker lecture and then description of the woodpecker made me laugh out right out loud. Love the updates! Thought of you today as we drove to Old Tucson over Gates Pass. I know you've been climbing higher hills on a loaded down bike. Go Randall!!!
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