Winter catches us while we’re on the river.
Back in Flagstaff, we plan to regroup, change gears and get out of town. Instead, we linger.
We linger at the library catching up on old news.
We linger with friends around their fire place sipping hot drinks.
We linger in our comfy pants – literally and figuratively.
Leaving is the hardest part. The best thing to do is rip of the bandaid and go. The discomfort will fade and the desire to see what’s around the next corner will replace it.
Today’s the day, except I have been awake all night, listening to the wind howl around the house and through the junipers. The last night on the river we floated through the night. Since then, I wake up, thinking I’m on a boat.
We ride a maze of fire roads through the Coconino National Forest. The ponderosas filter the wind gusts. Ice and snow cover the road in some spots.
We talk about being around a warm fire with family and friends. The mud bogs down my tires and my emotions. It’s a slippery slope, a rabbit hole.
Everything feels off today. It feels like day one all over again. What are these bicycles? Where are we going? What are we doing?
A thicket at the bottom of a wash provides protection from the wind. We’re down at 4,500′, and it’s slightly warmer here. I set up the tent and we crawl inside. In this moment, I am home.
You going to mainland MX or Baja? We’re be riding into Baja sometime around Dec 5.
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Baja. Looking at crossing the border later this week. Where are you aiming for?
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Flying into San Diego, crossing at Tecate, eventually we’ll ride through San Felipe and Puertecitos.
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Liz and Tyndall–Stay warm and keep moving, the snow won’t last forever.
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And to think we loved living in Flagstaff. Looks pretty grim on your ride in that area. How about the red rocks down around that 4000 ft area?
Mary Swanson
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Missed the red rock as we headed west before going south to avoid some bad roads.
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Thank you for the photos and information. Love, Mom
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