AZ Day 3

I woke up with the sun again today.  I have to admit, it is hard to compare to sunrise over the desert.

After a good breakfast and great cup of coffee, John Salskov and I started riding at 8:00 am this morning.  Today was a ride for recovery and base strength after a weekend of hard intensity riding.

We headed east and north of Mesa, AZ to the Bush highway.  The first adventure was after about 25 miles of riding when we were about 10 miles into the desert.  A car pulled past us and onto the shoulder (safely) and rolled down the window.  Behind the wheel was and woman of at least 70 who looked incredibly confused.  She asked "Can you help me?" in an uncertain tone.
John and I responded "Sure."
Lady- "I need directions, I am lost" again very shakily.
J&D- "Ok, where are you trying to go?"
Lady- "I need to get to Mesa" this time a bit more assuredly.

-Now, I will reiterate the fact that we were at least 10 miles into the desert and pointed in the direction of the deeper desert with no evidence of civilization in sight.-

J&D- "Um... alright, you need to head about 10 miles back in the opposite direction."
Lady- "Is there a gas station that way I'm almost out of gas."

-Oh my god, there is a 70 year old woman who lives in Arizona for the winter and is not only driving deep into the desert, she is almost out of gas!-

J&D- "Yes there is a gas station like 11 miles back on this road."
John- "So, where exactly are you trying to go ma'am?"
Lady- "I'm trying to get to my home." this time said with a hint of anxiety
John- "What are the cross streets do you live at?"
Lady- "On Guadalupe and Shipley"
John- "Oh shit, you are like thirty miles away from there!"

What ensued was slightly more specific directions by John on how that woman could most efficiently get to where she was going.  What was learned was a simultaneously hilarious and sad example of what early onset alzheimer's looks like.  Boy oh, I hope that lady made it home ok today.

The second adventure of today's ride was that I got a flat tire and fixed it in ten or so minutes, not as interesting.

Have a nice evening all,
Drew
    

Welcome to AZ

Hello,

This is my first entry on the new blog!
I am very excited to be in Arizona for some great early season bike racing and training. The rest of the Rio Grande team will be down next weekend for our first training camp of the year. I am like the scouting party, checking out the competition.

With the help of my friend John Salskov I am getting lodging gratis with some acquaintances of his. Right now I am in Mesa which is east and south of Phoenix.
Today was my first group ride here and it was excellent.  There must have been 70 or 80 guys at the start, it was whittled down pretty quickly to 25 or 30 of the fastest fellas left in the front group. So fast in fact that we got pulled over!

South of the city there is a reservation we were riding through and whether from sheer bordom or some unknown vendetta one of the policeman on the reservation felt it necessary to flex some muscle.  He pulled past us with sirens blaring and got in front of the group to stop. To his credit he gave us ample room to slow and stop before we got to where he was parked. Counterwise affront to his credit was the plume of smoke and long ashed cigarette hand that stuck out a half cocked window after we stopped.  He proceeded to flex said muscle and tell all that he would be issuing citations to any and all that were caught on the left side of the white line (divider of road and shoulder).  We listened politely for a few minutes and both parties went on their way.
I treated the ride as I think all group rides should be treated, race simulation.  I stated right up in the top ten wheels and was taking my turn at smooth, strong pulls at the front. Time will tell but I feel stronger now than I have in years past at this time of the season.

Signing off for now,
Drew Christopher