Day 54: Wickenburg to Salome

April 9, 2025

I went to bed at 9:30 and woke up about 4:50. I got up about 5:20. Yesterday we voted to have breakfast start at 6:30 and I wanted to try to leave early since it will be hot. I ate oatmeal, raisins and walnuts for breakfast and packed a PBJ sandwich with some clementines and bars. I put most of it in the van as it was supposed to meet us at mile 25. I am cooking this evening, so had to do an inventory. I told BW he could leave early. I left about 7:30. It was still cool, so I wore a vest over my long-sleeve jersey. The route took us back to Wickenberg and then west on US-60 all the way to Salome. The road started up right out of town, gaining about 800 feet in 10 miles. It wasn't hard climbing, but was still climbing. I was averaging about 13.6 mph at the top of the climb. From there, the rest of the route was downhill, losing almost 1000 feet over the next 47 miles. There was a a net tailwind, though it wasn't very strong. On the downhill I was consistently over 20 mph. The van was supposed to meet us at mile 25, in the town of Aguila. It wasn't there, so I stopped at a convenience store and bought a liter of water and strawberry shortcake bar. I also ate a clementine and a granola bar. I was there about 20 minutes and then left. The van passed me and stopped at about mile 30, but I didn't need anything so kept going. I stopped at a market right next to the KOA, the one we will shop at tonight, and got an ice cream. At the KOA I got another strawberry shortcake bar. So, that's 3 ice creams in one day.

The van got here shortly after I did. I set up my tent, took a shower, and am doing some laundry. I will go shopping soon. We are having BBQ chicken, depending on what they have at the store.

Today's ride: 57 miles (92 km)
Total: 2,765 miles (4,450 km)

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