PacTour AZ Day 3 Tailwinds and Tandems

Easy riding with spectacular surroundings and a tailwind.

Turk certainly seemed at "peace" with the ride today...

Paul was enjoying the cool morning air on the back of the tandem.

Gorgeous vistas, rolling from Douglas, AZ to Lordsburg NM.

Turk got on the back of the tandem at the first rest stop, taking over for Paul.  And reacquainted herself with the Stoker's view.  Notice the other tandem just ahead.

The "other" tandem was Captained by PAC Tour's fearless leader, Susan Notorangelo, with superfast Emmy Klassen stoking.  Emmy has competed in solo RAAM twice and is as fast as any male rider at Mountain Week for sure.

When you put 2 fast tandems together  combined with alot of gradual false flat downhill and a tailwind you get a very fast day.  

Not too far from the NM state line is a monument signifying Geronimo's surrender.  No comments from the peanut gallery, please.

We caught Lon on his Bike Friday, just before the 2nd rest stop.  Susan and Emmy put the hammer down and promptly dropped him.   Terri and Jim were obligated to follow Susan, she is the fearless leader, right?

At the second rest stop a nice example of Apache Pine.  This tree is found in Northern Mexico and SE AZ.  Unfortunately I'm sure the peanut gallery would prefer its scientific name, Pinus engelmannii...

Racks of bikes at the busy 2nd rest stop.  The flatter course and tailwind kept the whole group more tightly bunched than usual today.

The back of the trailer is where the water and Gatorade is and is a constant behive of activity.

Terri and Jim enjoyed their fast ride together on the tandem, and also taking  a break at the rest stop!!

Turk's new friend, Clare likes to body paint a theme.  Rumor has it that Turk's gonna draw Skull n Crossbones tomorrow.  Arrrr!!!!

Remember that Lordsburg has been referred to as "what it all will look like as we near the end of time."  Well we don't see Diamond Shamrocks in San Antonio anymore, they've been converted to Valero's.  What the significance of the "non-conversion" is, is not apparent.

Fast 100 miles from Douglas, AZ to Lordsburg, NM today.   Paul and Jim did the first and last legs together on the tandem.  Turk did the first and last legs on her single bike, and stoked for Jim in the middle half.

Always a fast ride, when there is a tailwind.  Today was no exception.  Susan and Emmy waited for Jim to get the tandem converted from Paul's setup to Turks at the 2nd rest stop, and it was a good decision.  We absolutely flew probably averaging 25 mph for the next 50 miles.

Another great day on PAC Tour.  Cool morning, warm and dry afternoon.  Great friendly cycling and the food is tops.  

Til tomorrow.  Thanx for reading.