Monday April 6, 2009, 56 miles (90 km) - Total so far: 504 miles (811 km)
Weather: Sunny skies, temperature 62-72, winds east at 15-35 mph. This was one of the hardest bike rides I have ever done. The whole day was one long climb, from 1500 feet at Apache Junction to almost 5000 feet at Signal Mountain pass. The climbing was steep, but the worst part was the relentless head wind. Additionally, Globe is a major mining area and there was lots of truck traffic between Globe and the Phoenix area. Probably the worst part of the ride was going through the quarter-mile long Queen Creek tunnel. There was no shoulder and the noise from the big trucks was almost unbearable. The entire ride today was on US Highway 60. Despite the difficulties - the terrain remained scenic. We rode through some beautiful mountain passes and went through some interesting old mining towns that have since fallen on hard times. Staying tonight in a brand new Days Inn in Globe. Below is a picture of an old mining town and hotel - we come across a lot of these small towns. Also below is a picture of a unhappy camper we passed along the road today. Yep! I think we made him mad!
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