Day 10: Apache Jct-Globe

Today was to be a challenging but satisfying day. Having our stay in Apache Jct placed us 15 mi closer to today's destination so we had only 22 mi out before the climbing began instead of 37 mi. We had an initial climb of 1,000' to Superior at mi 35 where we had an early lunch in a colorful restaurant with a lot of motorcyclists with their colorful garb. I headed out after 11:15 and the serious climbing began. It was a bit intimidating as there was no shoulder and fairly busy traffic. 1 1/2 mi out I rode over a tall arched bridge spanning Queen Creek gorge and then traversed a 1,000' tunnel before exiting into relatively safer visibility. The ascent continued to mi 45 at 3-5% and occasionally 7% grade until it leveled out then began a long 6% downhill made hazzardous by road construction and a blasting zone, At times, there was no shoulder with concrete barriers immediately to the right of the white line. It was a nerveracking descent but I continued without incident arriving in Globe at the Methodist Church before 2:00. I was sad to learn that one of our riders on that hazzardous descent had been clipped by a pop-up camper, hooking the rider's handlebar dragging the rider some distance until the front wheel came off, twisting the handlebar out of it's grip and the rider fell, fracturing the rider's left wrist and though it is in good alignment, it was only spinted and the rider will be driven tonight to Safford, our next destination to see an orthopedist in the am. Ironically, Pastor Burke of the Baptist Church where we are to stay tommorrow joined us for the 2 day ride from Apache Jct and called his wife. As I blog, the rider is having a late supper in our church tonight feeling thankful for a 'miracle' before driven to Safford 80 mi distant where she will sleep in a bed in the manse. This reminds us that such an indeavor as this has it's risks. I felt it was a miracle that I could get back on a bike, missing only one day in '99, but I did not have as hazzardous an accident, landing on a road. Our rider is a real hero. For those so inclined, we ask for your continued prayers for safety.