Frank’s Coast to Coast Ride for Justin – Day 10, May 6
Editors note: the following is shared from Frank Watson’s blog at: Frank’s Coast to Coast Ride for Justin
FLAGSTAFF, AZ – I guess that today’s ride was a payback by the bike gods for some of the brutal days I have endured thus far.
After standing in line at the starting gate for hotels “free continental breakfast” (these breakfasts are like shopping at a Walmart on Black Friday) After fending off elbows and body blocks I got my 50 cents worth of stale cereal and over ripen bananas. I really miss the Chatter Box restaurant back home.
The day started off with a temperature of 36 degrees with colbalt blue skies. I got on the road at 7 a.m. then worked my way through the very busy streets of Flagstaff. It was about 8 miles dodging the heavy morning traffic, and endless red lights.
At the city outskirts the road started a gradual descent that led into flat to rolling hills. A 30 mile per hour tailwind, combined with my loss of 10lbs of gear,a lack of mountains to climb and wide shoulders to ride on, combined to give me a ride of 83 miles in less than 5 hours. The first 72 miles were spent at a 19 mph. average!
To say that this was a great day would be an understatement. It was a real treat. This combined with stunning scenery made short day seem even shorter. I could have done an easy extra 30 -40 miles but unfortunately that would have left me in the middle of nowhere for the night. This is now Navajo & Ute Indian reservation land and is kinda rough. I ate at a McDonald’s tonite in Tuba City . They have a security guard on staff. Reservation life is tough and is home to some less than desirable types.
Given favorable weather I should make it to Colorado by Sunday night. The upside of this is that now instead of 70 – 100 miles between towns towns in Az, in Colorado towns are more frequent and for the first time in the trip you start heading due east instead of the wandering route ridden thus far.
No thought of the day today. Sorry but I was busy today just enjoying the day! Shoutout to the Canton Roadrunners Club, miss the Saturday morning breakfast run with ya!
Remember to say a prayer to Justin, & please take time to go to the bone marrow registry site & sign up! Deletebloodcancer.org
Follow this journey on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/frankscoast2coast4justin
And on Instagram at:
coast2coast4mayorkline
Donations may be made by visiting:
https://www.gofundme.com/rideforjustin
For more background information on this effort see our earlier story at: Canton Man Riding Coast-to-Coast for Justin Kline
