Kingsman, AZ to Seligman, AZ 84.7 miles
The directions for today's ride were real simple. Turn left out of the hotel parking lot on to Route 66, go 84 miles , turn left into the Historic Route 66 Motel in Seligam, AZ. The landscape consisted of high plain desert and we only passed through one very small town. While the cooler temperatures were much more ot my liking, there was a very stout crosswind the entire ride. At times, it was so strong that you literally had to lean into it so you wouldn't be blown into the road. Despite the wind, I was still able to average 16.1 mph over the five hour ride. Tomorrow's 108 mile ride takes us to the Grand Canyon, which I am really looking forward to since I've never been there. Another incentive is Monday's a rest day to enjoy the sights and surroundings of this magnificent area.
Sunday, Sept. 21st
Seligman, AZ to Grand Canyon 108 miles
With 108 mile in front of us, we were pulling onto Route 66 at 6:45 am. The first 30 miles continued to be high plains desert, but shortly after turning onto I-40, the landscape quickly changed to foothills and pine trees. There was a great deal of climbing before we stopped for lunch at a very scenic lakeside park. The wind gods blessed us with a strong tailwind that enabled us to cover the remaining 60 miles of rolling terrain in under 2.5 hours. Average speed for the day was 18.2 mph with the maximum speed of 44.9 mph. Needless to say, we reached the Grand Canyon so far ahead of schedule that our rooms were not ready.
Monday, Sept 22nd
Rest Day-Grand Canyon
After riding 8 consecutive days and covering approximately 700 miles, I was looking forward to a rest day. I spent the morning hiking about a third of the way down the canyon to a thin pinnacle that provide an absolutely incredible panoramic view. Being my first time here, I found myself mesmerized by the sheer beauty and the magnitude of its size. The visibility was approximately 130 miles. After lunch, I spent hiking the rim trail. So much for resting on my off day.