Day 12- Lordsburg to Faywood Springs

We rode 79 miles and 5057 feet in bicycling elevation gain.

Today we did a lot of elevation riding to Silver City; at Silver City, I met Tim, a 23 year Army Vietnam Veteran, working at the visitors center, he was telling me about PTSD and how veterans organizations like the American Legion have not been a good social outlet for him – I encouraged him to give it another try as caring and listening about what happened in the Vietnam War and locating resource services are renewed focuses of the American Legion.

On our way to Post 18, we stopped at the “Hub” of Town between 6th and 7th Streets and ordered a sandwich from a sandwich shop Clerk that gave us this lead on a place to stay halfway on our Journey to Deming.

At post 18, we met with Commander John and member Bob, who showed us around the post; they gave us a post 100th anniversary coin, as the post was one of the first 18 state charter members of the American Legion.

We left the post in search of the “hot springs camping” area as recommended by the sandwich clerk; we arrived as the sun was setting. It was also raining off and on for the last hour of riding; and for the first time since I can remember, I saw a rainbow from one end to the other, but could not fit the rainbow within one picture frame.

Faywood Hot Springs camping et al was located 2.2 miles off our main route to Deming, but it was

Getting dark and we thought we would give it a try. We met Saankpt the clerk at the welcome center; he told us about how he had a Christian name given by his mother, but that he recently went to Egypt in order to go through an ancient African ritual to become renamed.

While in one of the natural springs hot bath area, my cousin and I met a man who told us his life journey when in college during April vacation he took a spiritual journey making a steam bath until dizzy and running into an ice cold Indiana river; then, he decided to go to a monastery for three years; during that time he learn to make wine and beer using the monks ancient recipes; he left the monastery and lived a life of lust and indulgence until in his late forties he “matured” and “found his way” and put his life on a new path; now he states he is a drug addiction counselor.

After setting up our tents at the campsite, this ended our 12th day of the journey.

After playing Bingo at Post 32 in Day 10, Jim and his wife Suzie generously hosted cousin Duffy and I at their home in Copper Canyon, Safford. We left early in the morning for the bike start; had lunch at “Hilda’s Kitchen” in Duncan, AZ; crossed the border into New Mexico, and stopped in Lordsburg for night. We completed 77 miles. Cousin Duffy says that we have gone 729 miles so far. One Day 12 we head up to Silver City and an elevation of approximately 6000 feet.

Ride included a fair amount of up and down, we met a solo Swiss rider named Karen on her way to Colorado in an Apache town called Bylas. After a massive Duffy made peanut butter and jelly, we left the Apache market bound for Safford AZ. It was sunny and hot today; after 82 Miles we stopped at American Legion Post 32, met the commander Steve and his wife Joy along with many other Legion friends.

We did a 50 mile day to Globe, AZ. Most of yesterday and Day 8 were spent riding through the Tonto National Forest. Most of this day we rode around Roosevelt Lake. We were able to visit Globe Post 4 and meet some new friends. Day 9 will be spent resting. Day 10 we will be riding to Safford, AZ

Well, this was the day of two flat tires. One occurred in Mesa and set us back 90 or so minutes. The second occurred at mile 235 on route 87 just two miles from the intersection of route 188 to Punkin Circle at sundown and after 78 miles of bike travel. Duffy was unlucky to have both flats. This day was also included over 7500 feet in elevation climbing. Day 8 we will get flat fixed and Ride to Globe, AZ.

After 90 miles to Mesa and doing the river trail in Phoenix for miles, Duffy and I found Jake, a local biker passing through. He lead us through Scottsdale and Tempe, and then directed us on the trails to take to the Mesa Residence inn on grove Street. Because of Jake’s help, we were able to get to Post 26 in time to meet some new Legion friends.

We did have to spray down and wipe down our bikes from all the red Arizona mud collected from the river trail this night before the start of day 7. In order to stay safe on the roadway we Opted to take a roadway that adds 50 miles to our trip. On Day 7 we will go to a place called Punkin Center in the Tonto Basin Area.

Thursday September 26 we rode to Post 12 in Wickenburg AZ just a mile or so down the road from where we stayed at the Super 8. We met a great group of people. My list of names members was destroyed in the rain storm we rode through…

We made it to Mesa in the dark; 90 miles done. I have more to say about this day.

Today, Duffy and I are heading to Mesa; the rain just stopped, the sun is out, and it’s time to go.

Let me tell you about yesterday; I was pedaling for 10 hours and 25 minutes up hill! I rolled into Wickenburg AZ after 116 plus miles 30 minutes or so after sun down. AZ desert is much richer in color and plant life with the big cactuses. I tried to take some meaningful pictures. I rode through 3 rain squalls, fought challenging head on and side winds, similar, but weaker then the day long headwinds on day 4.