Let's take another crack at the trails - 16 Wheels to Tucson - CycleBlaze

January 22, 2025

Let's take another crack at the trails

I’m laboring overlong on the journal while Barry makes another run to the camping store for a new toilet. Time for a break. 

I wander over to see Hank and his new trailer. Brigitte is away for a few weeks visiting family in Illinois. We met them 11 years ago on a road ride when Hank wanted to try my recumbent. Within a year they were proud owners of Lightning P38s like mine. 

A few years ago they shifted to mountain biking, sold the recumbents, and eventually pestered us enough to try it.

The motorhome is gone, replaced with a more nimble trailer.
Heart 0 Comment 3 Link
Karen PoretIs the “other trailer” named Huntley? :)
Reply to this comment
3 weeks ago
Janice BranhamLOL, there's a good blast from the past
Reply to this comment
3 weeks ago
Karen PoretTo Janice BranhamAn era when news on the tube was something you could actually trust.
Reply to this comment
3 weeks ago
The new trailer is working out great, except for the hanging kitchen lights that were way too bright. A temporary solution until he replaces them: glued-on blue shop towels. They fooled me.
Heart 0 Comment 6 Link
Gregory GarceauHank looks similar to a guy I met, also named Hank, on my tour from Seattle to Minneapolis twelve years ago. By any chance, did your neighbor Hank ever own a Bruce Gordon touring bike? The Hank I met was riding from Illinois to Seattle. I would not have even brought this up if you hadn't mentioned his wife was visiting family in Illinois.
Reply to this comment
3 weeks ago
Janice BranhamHe is the very same Hank, and recalls riding with you around Breckenridge Colorado. Right away he was able to produce a couple of photos from your meeting 12 years ago which impressed the heck out of me. I'm passing along a howdy from Hank, and will post the photos below in a moment since I can't figure out how to get them in a comment.
Reply to this comment
3 weeks ago
Gregory GarceauTo Janice BranhamIt is such an amazing coincidence that he might be the same Bruce Gordon-riding Hank I met when I was on my first post-retirement bike trip. However, he must be remembering a different Greg, because I distinctly remember our meeting being at the Wenatchee Confluence State Park in the state of Washington.

Yeah, you can't post photos along with journal comments here. But you can post journal links, so this one has a picture of the Hank I remember. https://www.cycleblaze.com/journals/questionable/fear-the-bear/ I was riding with my son on that day, and I'm pretty sure we were a little obnoxious. So, if that's the same guy, please return a howdy (and an apology) from me.
Reply to this comment
3 weeks ago
Janice BranhamTo Gregory GarceauThat sure looks like Hank. I wonder who the guy was in Breckenridge. I'll pass this on and see what he thinks.
Reply to this comment
3 weeks ago
Gregory GarceauTo Janice BranhamI have to believe there aren't a whole lot of bike tourists named Hank who rode from Illinois to the Seattle area on a custom Bruce Gordon, so he must be the guy we met. If I'm right, it was a Cycleblaze meet up before Cycleblaze existed.
Reply to this comment
3 weeks ago
Janice BranhamTo Gregory GarceauHe remembers you now. That amazing dinner was the clue. Sounds like some fine eatin.
Hank has also warned us of the perils of goat head thorns. I haven't flatted on one yet. The sealant in my tubeless tires seems to be getting the job done.
Reply to this comment
3 weeks ago
Finished with road riding, Hank has gifted us his collection of Adventure Cycling maps.
Heart 0 Comment 0 Link

Bonus – when I asked Hank about Gregory Garceau’s comment above on his picture, he sent me these two photos of their meeting 12 years ago in Breckenridge on the TransAmerica Trail. Pretty cool!

Heart 0 Comment 1 Link
Gregory GarceauNope, not me.
Reply to this comment
3 weeks ago
Heart 0 Comment 2 Link
Gregory GarceauNot me on the right, but the guy on the left has the same helmet as the guy in my picture.
Reply to this comment
3 weeks ago
Janice BranhamTo Gregory GarceauThat's Hank Holz for sure. I recognize the shirt.
Reply to this comment
2 weeks ago


When I get back to our tiny home, Barry is back installing the new toilet. It's the same model, same 30 day guarantee. This does not inspire confidence, but it works. Everything works!

Let's celebrate. I want another shot at the hills I didn't make it up yesterday. Barry goes with me on the same route - an easy one that Hank and Brigitte showed us when we first got started with these bikes.

This time we make all the right turns to stay on the route, and I get up all the hills except one. The shifting was a little rough yesterday and I notice it more today. I really need to take it in to check it out and get the broken spoke replaced.

In the Cholla forest
Heart 4 Comment 0 Link
Starting a third attempt at this particular wash with the freaky downhill turn
Heart 1 Comment 0 Link
Trying not to brake too much
Heart 1 Comment 0 Link
Nuts, didn't quite make it. I'll need another session on this one.
Heart 2 Comment 0 Link
Heart 0 Comment 0 Link

Conditions look good for the sunset tonight so we'll take a stroll around the RV park looking for the best viewing spot.

I'm just going to leave this here. Nice to have a day without any drama.

The tall olive green building had some purpose in this place's former life as a water theme park. Not sure if the tan one next to it is original. It's my favorite on account of the yoga classes held there 3 days a week.
Heart 2 Comment 2 Link
Rachael AndersonWhat a beautiful spot!
Reply to this comment
2 weeks ago
Janice BranhamTo Rachael AndersonI think so too! For an RV park, it has plenty of good scenery.
Reply to this comment
2 weeks ago
From the tallest point in the park we can see well above all the RVs.
Heart 1 Comment 0 Link
Heart 2 Comment 0 Link

Today's ride: 7 miles (11 km)
Total: 38 miles (61 km)

Rate this entry's writing Heart 7
Comment on this entry Comment 2
Bill ShaneyfeltRough shifting... Might be fraying cables.

Had that a few times on various bikes and it usually has turned out to be fraying cable. Can be a problem if chunks get into the shifting mechanism. Had one destroy my Shimano brifter, then learned that they recommend replacement every 1000 miles... I got about 25oo miles before the hard expensive lesson.
Reply to this comment
3 weeks ago
Janice BranhamTo Bill ShaneyfeltAs you suspected, the cable was toast. Not frayed, but mashed on the way here as we discover in the next dispatch.
Reply to this comment
3 weeks ago