Teec Nos Pos, Arizona to Kayenta, Arizona
Up at 6 AM. Time to fix the flat tire. I decide to make some hot tea since nothing will be open until 8 AM. So while the water is boiling, I’m taking the tube and tire off the wheel. Find the hole, patch it and put it all back together. A few minutes later I checked the tire again and it was not holding air. Shit! Took it apart and went into the bathroom. I pulled the trash liner out of the trash can and filled it with water. Submerged the tube and found 3 more tiny leaks! Turns out I ran over some goatheads. These spiny little creations of nature that resemble small, insulated electrical staples. Very sharp and they penetrate and break off. Problem now is I am down to my last 3 patches. I decide to cut one in half and keep at least a half for one more emergency. Finally, both tires are holding air and I can begin my 73 mile ride to Kayenta, AZ with all the trepidation that goes with riding a bike with less than proper equipment and with very little reserves, through God’s country. Fifteen miles at a time, I figure.
I say goodbye to John McCullough and thank him for being so nice to let me stay there. All the repairing I had to do would have been a lot more of a headache in the wilds. At least I had a reasonably comfortable place to work.
Left at 10:30 and an hour later I was in Red Mesa, AZ. So far so good. The tires are still inflated and the wheel did not fall off. I stopped to get some milk and a bite to eat. There was only one table inside and 3 people were occupying the 4 seats. I could tell that they had been thrown together, so I figured they wouldn’t mind if I sat there, too. A Navajo woman left pretty quickly but the other two were a couple touring the southwest. Stan and Caroline were from England and enjoying a circle tour from Denver to Monument Valley. About to celebrate their 40th (ruby) wedding anniversary, they told me about a Stagecoach Excursion they saw a brochure for, and that was to be how they were gonna do it. You know I get along well with anyone who appreciates the West!
Long way to Kayenta from Red Mesa. Two 15 mile jumps to Mexican Water and Tes Nos Iah and then 35 miles of just scenery. Could see Monument Valley faintly in the distance at one point. Many long sections of road to pedal through that would stretch 4 or 5 miles off into the distance. Kept drinking my blue Gatorade - something about that blue color makes me think of Windex every time I take a slug.
Rode many miles between the rumble strip and the dirt. A lot of broken pavement made for a bumpy ride. Kept looking down at the rear wheel, watching its eccentricities, and hoping it would not get worse. Today I feel like I spent too much time watching the road and not enough time enjoying the scenery. On the other hand, passing through here on a bike vs. a car makes the scenery last longer. The last 15 miles into Kayenta, I rode past a lot of formations that were reminiscent of Monument Valley. 8 miles out I took a picture.
First thing, when I got to Kayenta was to buy a tire patch kit! Oh, and a pen too. So much writing, I used up two entire pens already.
Totals for the day: 74.19 miles, 5 hrs. 50min., 2771.7 total miles.