to Punkin Center near Tonto Natl Frst 5 Apr - Stan's Excellent Cross Country Ride 2025 - CycleBlaze

April 5, 2025

to Punkin Center near Tonto Natl Frst 5 Apr

 I was very tired and trying to update 2 days worth of activity yesterday. 

Spacious Motel 6
Heart 0 Comment 0

The biggest news was that 2 of the Every Fabulous Inch riders had to be taken off the road due to time and weather.  They each chose to go back 7 miles to where they ended yesterday and pick up the continuous thread.  The rest of us left from the hotel and continued on.

In contrast to yesterday's horrible ride, today's was very nice. Not too much traffic, reasonable road surface, not much elevation and 52 miles.  Nice scenery at the beginning looking at mountains in the distance in every direction.  Later, we went by a lake created by a dam which was pretty.  

I would say at least 200 motorcycles and the like went by us near the lake. Some were too close when passing and almost all were very loud.  

The routing app suggested there would be much more ascent than there was  and we were all pleased that it didn't happen.  There was a long steep descent to the lake and I set a new 5 mile record for shortest time, beating the section on the interstate in Texas.

I was with Eric and his son again and it was a good pace.

We are at the Punkin Center Lodge and it is very basic. We had lunch next door on arrival and it was pretty good and we got a discount since we were staying here.

Heart 0 Comment 0
Heart 0 Comment 0
Heart 0 Comment 0
Heart 0 Comment 0

there were 2 more flats today, possibly residual from yesterday's bad roads.

Near sunset, it started raining and the sunlight reflected through the clouds beautifully.

Today's ride: 52 miles (84 km)
Total: 2,663 miles (4,286 km)

Rate this entry's writing Heart 0
Comment on this entry Comment 2
Cindy SenningHi Stan - I just got caught up on your journal since Austin. Texas is certainly long. I don’t remember as much head wind as you had every day and since we were inside every night didn’t feel the cold as much s as you. I loved getting into New Mexico and Arizona and it’s been a fun afternoon reading your time there and getting it all back! Lots of cool birds for sure. Thanks for sharing them all. I’ll try to keep up a little better! In the meantime safe riding! C
Reply to this comment
3 days ago
MARGARET SMITHStan, It's good to see you're still making forward progress! I got a text yesterday from my grandson in Clovis, New Mexico and they had snow. Did you get caught in any of it? I know you were more south. It's cool to hear about all the birds you're seeing. Stay safe! MS
Reply to this comment
3 days ago