A few weeks ago I told you about meeting an interesting cyclist who lives right here in Warrenville. His name is Paul Hayes, and he and about a dozen other cyclists (from various places) are doing and Adventure Cycling Tour called the Southern Tier….it’s a ride from San Diego, California to St. Augustine, Florida. At this writing, Paul is in his second week of riding.
The second week found them threading their way between the Harcuvar, Harquahala, and Vulture mountain ranges, rolling into the cowboy town of Wickenburg and swooping through the big city of Phoenix. Their first layover day was spent in Tempe. Home of Arizona State University and taking advantage of an opportunity to explore the Valley of the Sun. . . .From here they headed east throught the desert before climbing in the copper mining towns of Superior, Miami, and Globe.
Paul posted the following on his blog. “Today we biked from Globe, AZ to Safford... Lots of ups and downs,” That day, the group met a student from Japan who is riding from Los Angeles to South America, being gone from his home fro a year. “We invited Masaki to stay with us, eat & spend the night. He’s asleep as I write.” And Paul continues, “Tomorrow we have an 82 mile day with 2 long climbs and end the ride in Buckhorn. New Mexico. Please keep us in your prayers”
What’s ahead for Paul and the group? After enjoying their descent into Three Way and proceeding into Nee2 Mexico, rolling steadily toward Buckhorn, they will then move on to Silver City, the legendary land of outlaws and renegades like Billy the Kid and Geronimo. Here they may choose to kick back and chow down on some spicy Mexican food during their next layover day.
Rested up and ready to go, they will then surmount the Continental Divide and zoom down in Mimbres, readying their legs for the scenic climb up 8.228 foot Emory Pass, the high point of the Southern Tier. From there it’s smooth sailing to their campsite at Caballo Lake State Park, and onward toward Las Cruces.