Day 8 - Safford AZ, to Silver City, NM 122.88 miles/13.2 mph average 8 hrs 34 min.

Wet, cold, hungry and deleriously happy

when we saw the Jeep.

What more could we ask for?

OK, today was it, the day that will haunt us for years to come. It was a great ride, but with a few challenges. 122 miles combined with 3000 to 4000 feet of elevation gain kicked us around like unsuspecting mugging victims. The weather started out fine, a bit cool, with clouds. About 15 miles in Chris hit a strange bonk that came out of nowhere. This lasted about 15 miles or so, and we got it solved before we hit the main climb.

With a raging tailwind, we dropped down into a valley with one last stop before going up and up. Threeway consists of a small grocery, gas station and porta-potty, where highways 191, 70 and 78 meet. We pit stopped and headed up 70 into the Gila forest area. About 10 miles up the slightly pitched elevation, we stopped to take off leg/arm warmers, vest and gloves. Just a few miles later the clouds moved in, and it got colder. Then the rain started, quickly turning to snow. All the cold weather clothing went back on. When we topped out at around 6300 feet it was snowing sideways, due to the side/tail wind we still had. Our main concern was soaking wet gloves, hands cold and aching. I'd ride along with one hand tucked behind my back like a horse jockey, then switch to the other, just to get them out of the wind chill.

We rounded a corner and there came Dad and Phyllis heading up the road toward us. Oh the mercy. By this time Chris was delirious with cold, now tempered with happiness at the sight of the Jeep. Our support team has remarkable timing, and we can't explain it. We stopped, peeled off our wet gloves, vests and arm warmers. Dad turned the heat on full blast and we sat in the back seat shivering, eating turkey sandwiches washed down with Gatorade and V8. About 30 minutes later, we regrouped, donned dry gloves, and reluctantly exited the car for an additional 57 miles to Silver City. The next 25 miles or so were sunny and fast. We passed through a few small towns, making sure to take food breaks (really mental breaks OFF the bike) at every opportunity.

By now we were chugging toward the continental divide, and all seemed right with the world. About 12 miles from Silver City, NM, a spoke on the drive side of my rear wheel popped. With the wheel pringled, it would not clear the rear brake, so I took the pads out, and jockeyed the wheel in the rear hub to minimize the tire sidewall from rubbing on the frame. I checked for cell service - none. I needed to call a bike shop and find one open on Sunday, magically our rest day. If the spoke chose to die this day, I praised it's timing.

The last 12 miles were done standing out of the saddle, as I did not want to pop another spoke and disable the bike with a locked up rear wheel. Chris had reached her new physical limit, and each new rise in the road elicited screams, screams that I could not hear. She likes to scream in private.

I rounded a few more bends in the road, and stopped again to check for a cell signal. Got it! I called the first shop on the list, Gila Hike and Bike on College Avenue. This Sunday would be the first they'd be open for the season. My broken spoke was an old soul with a deep understanding of circumstance and luck.

With arms on fire, sweat flooding down my face and a screaming wife 200 yards behind me, I soldiered on. The continental divide sign FINALLY came into view and we knew we had only four miles left to go. Even in our weakened mental and physical state, we had to take a pic of the sign. We both knew that we'd never be here at this spot again on bikes, ever.

Highway 180 turns friendly and drops down into Silver City, and we were thrilled. We rolled into the hotel at around 4:30 pm. The most important part of finishing every day is getting it done before sunset, average speed be damned.

Now we rest.

over and out