(Sun, 2/23/25; 39 miles, 490 feet of climb)
Today was another spectacular day for riding! I just can’t tell you how beautiful the weather is. Reminds me of a perfect sunny day in June in Wisconsin. Temperatures in the high 50s starting out, with a sweet smell in the air, then warming up into the 80s in the afternoon. I had a headwind most of the day, but it was very light and so hardly noticeable.
It helps that it was also a short day –– only 39 miles. This was unavoidable, because it was the only possible stop between Wellton and Gila Bend. But truth be told, I love days like this where I have a little extra down time and don’t have to be racing sunset.
This is the section of Arizona where there is not much on the map. Basically I’m riding for three days the 150 miles from Yuma to Gila Bend, with two strategic stops at towns big enough for an RV park. I don’t see much between the towns on Google maps or on the ACA route app.
Not long after leaving the hotel in Wellton, I found myself in the “town” of Asher. It wasn’t really a town, but rather just spec on the map. But I did get a screenshot of my blue dot on Google maps right in the town of Asher, and sent it to my grandson.
After only 8 miles, a train came at me very slowly. I couldn’t resist getting some drone videos. Normally I wait until the second half of the day to use my drone, because I need to take a break anyway, and it takes a lot of time and finagling to get it out and get it launched and get it landed, not to mention the filming part.
But I really wanted to get a video of me riding a bike alongside a train going the opposite direction. I think it turned out pretty well. By the way, I only post very small video snippets to Facebook, because it takes so long to upload with cell data. But I will be producing long-form hi-res 4K videos on YouTube, when I eventually have time to do the editing at home.
At mile 12, I stumbled upon an unexpected gas station in the small town of Tacna. I didn’t think there was one there, but I never pass the chance to take a break and buy something to drink if I’ve been biking for over an hour. So I bought a V-8 and a chocolate milk and a Ron Kind bar, and sat on the pavement in the shade of the propane tanks, eating and drinking and resting.
After sitting there for a while, another train came from behind me across the road, traveling my direction very slowly. I watched it for 10 minutes, then I had an idea: Could I beat the train?
So I got up, threw away my trash, put on my helmet and sunglasses and gloves, and mounted my trusty steed. Sure enough, I was able to overtake the train, very slowly. I found that I could pass about one car per minute. It must’ve been going about 10 or 11 mph.
Then I wondered how long I could ride alongside it. So I set my watch. Bottom line is that I was right alongside the train for a total of 23 minutes! Toward the end, it started speeding up. I topped out at about 15 mph, and it must’ve been going 20 or 25. So even though it was very long, and I was riding faster than usual, it eventually ran out of cars and left me in the dust. But it was a nice diversion for many miles.
I guess today is full of surprises! At mile 26, shortly after old US 80 merged with Interstate 8, I came across a modern highway rest area! I don’t see those on the map, but it was a welcome site for another break. I got to use a real bathroom, fill my water bottles with a fountain, and best of all, got to sit in the shade at an actual table. I charged my watch and phone with my USB battery packs, and washed down some Chex mix with a real live Coke (it’s the real thing) from a vending machine. (I hope Beth is not reading this.)
The miles flew by now that I was riding on the freeway. Sure, there’s traffic, but wow, are those shoulder surfaces smooth! Good thing it’s enjoyable, because the entire 50 miles tomorrow to Gila Bend are all on I-8.
I made it to Dateland by 4pm. This is not much of a town, but does have a huge travel center gas station. I checked at the gift shop, and they rented me a camping spot in the RV park for $14! With a shower!
Dateland is famous for “date shakes,” and they also have a little Pizza Hut counter service. More importantly, they have TABLES to sit it…and one of the tables has an electrical outlet nearby!
So my plan was set: Go to the RV park to set up my tent, come back here for pizza and date shake and charging and blogging until they close at 8pm, then bike back the half mile to the RV park where I can take a shower and go to bed. The perfect evening!
After setting up my tent, I met OTHER BIKERS for the first time on this trip! This father-son duo, Moss from Houston, TX, and Iden from Manchester, UK, are biking the entire Southern Tier Bike Route from San Diego to St. Augustine, Florida. It was great to talk to bikers for the first time on this trip, but unfortunately, I will not see them again, since they are taking a southern route through Tucson to avoid the hills I’ll be facing in a few days northeast of Phoenix.
But we did have dinner together. I was able to give them a glimpse of what they’d come seeing on the eastern half of this route, from Austin to St. Augustine, since I did that section last year.
Oh, Steve Russell and Kobi Shaw will be interested that Moss started his career with Barnum & Bailey Circus! First as a rigger, then in lighting. I probably won’t see the again on this trip, but we’re going to stay in touch.
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TRANSLATIONS/BACKGROUND: “CANTBIRD” = CA-AZ-NM-TX Bike Ride, my own nickname for the 1000 miles on the western half of the Southern Tier Bicycle Route, using maps from ACA (Adventure Cycling Association). (I did the 1500-mile eastern half in March 2024, which I called GUMBIRD [Gulf of Mexico Bike Ride].)
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LINKS:
Old-fashioned BLOG if you have friends who don’t use Facebook:
“Old Scouter” Facebook page if you want to follow big adventures with more pictures and video clips (but not unrelated personal posts):
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100066334039590
“Old Scouter” YouTube page (when I get time to edit after the trip):
It was definitely worth getting the drone footage if the train while you were riding. Very cool! Glad you are feeling better!