PacTour AZ Day 4 Hump Day

Last night before dinner at the local Green Chile burrito shack Paul, Terri and Jim got a quick photo taken by the PAC Tour motel truck.  Turks legs are surely coming into definition midway thru the week!

This trip is made extra special because our friend Lara, who crewed with us on our PAC Tour Northern this summer, is with us.  More on Lara later.

Everyone has their own method of doing laundry on PAC Tour.  Here the hotel room suitcase holders are used as clotheslines.

Rolling out of Lordsburg, NM today we saw some cool cactus from the Yucca family.

As we neared the Arizona border we rode thru farmlands along the Gila River.

And past a Holstein ranch.

We helped Sandra change a flat and she rolled with us for a while.  Sandra comes from Winnepeg, Canada - good time of the year to get out of Canada for the perfect southeastern AZ weather.

Turk and Jim must be in the right place, they rode along Lovers Lane today.

The major climb of the day was to lunch.  6 miles with 1200 feet elevation gain.

Today Paul rode the 2nd leg with Jim on the Tandem.  Lara rode the 1st, 3rd and 4th because Paul is still trying to find a comfortable position on the tandem.   No, Lara is not blind, she just has her eyes squeezed shut and is grimacing, because...

She is afraid of heights and this massive bridge across the Gila river must be crossed to start the climb for lunch.

Turk was very happy finishing the climb to lunch, for sure.

The descent from lunch was spectacular.

On the way down we saw some cool cactus that looked like deer antlers and some maroon Prickly Pear cactus.

Tomorrow the brave of the bunch will tackle the climb to the peak of Mt. Graham.  The road starts at 4000 feet and tops off at 10000 feet, 20 miles later.  Jim has done this climb twice in the past and says "No Thank you" this year.  See that snow on the top.  It is cold up there and you freeze on the 20 mile descent back down!!

Successful day for all, and Jim's newest favorite stoker, Lara added to the beauty of the tour so far.  Lara is so powerful on the bike that after Jim and she flew up the 6 mile climb today Jim told the Turk "Honey, if I weren't married to you I'd marry Lara."  Turk quickly replied, at the top of said 6 mile climb "Honey, she can have you...."

Tomorrow we ride from Safford to Wilcox.  We'll have the best Mexican food of the trip.  Some of the riders will brave Mount Graham, our contingent will not.  Today was day 4 of 7, so the trip is more than 1/2 over.  Bummer, cycling in AZ is simply brilliant.  

Hopefully more Bicycle-Heaven customers and friends can join Terri and Jim out here next year.

Thanx for reading.