Against The Wind

Increments of Ten

Riding Day 10

Today was interesting. We got up around 6:30, drank coffee and had Cream of Wheat for breakfast, then broke camp and headed out to the starting point about 13 miles east of Safford, AZ. About six miles into the drive the “Check Engine” and “VSC” lights came on again, the same two pesky lights that caused our 3-day delay in Phoenix and had the OREM spend three days at a Toyota dealer getting repaired. The team was flummoxed, and we decided to just keep going for the time being. Perhaps we were in denial.

It was cold, and it was forecast to be a headwind the entire day. After 10 miles, Odie and I took a break and sat inside the OREM with The Bob. We contemplated our next move reference the desire not to break down in the middle of the desert because those damn dashboard lights had gotten into our heads. I had heard that a faulty gas cap can sometimes cause erroneous lights, so the decision was made to backtrack to Safford and buy a new gas cap. Surely that would fix the problem!

We found an Auto Zone along Safford’s main drag and went inside, totally believing our salvation was finally at hand. The store manager, Robert, listened to the details of our dilemma, and then brought out a diagnostic device and hooked it up to the OREM’s computer. It told him that the catalytic converter was bad. I told him that had just been replaced, and he smiled and asked, “do you have a computer at home?” Of course, I said. “Well you know how sometimes it just needs to be rebooted, and you fix it by simply turning it off for a minute and then turn it back on?” Yes I said, I’ve done that many times. “You might try disconnecting the negative battery terminal, wait 30 seconds, and then reconnect it, which might reset the lights.” Okay, I replied. And of course he was right, because that’s how the universe often works. The lights went away and they haven’t come back on…Thank you Robert!

About 1pm we got back on Hank and once more threw ourselves against the hills and relentless stiff winds, winds that increased in ferocity the further east we traveled. And after another 10 miles we were gassed and took another break. As we approached the OREM for much-needed rest, we saw that our new friends from the day before, Ana & Dustin were already there talking to The Bob. We dismounted and joined the conversation, which was mostly about the winds. We all agreed it was a tough day to be on a bike. After 15 minutes we reluctantly got back on our bikes, perhaps finding enough comfort in our shared misery to persevere for a few more miles. By the end of the day’s ride, we had only covered 33.13 miles, well below our desired 60 miles per day average, but a comparatively monumental amount relative to the days challenges.

Tonight we are again camping out in the middle of the desert, just east of the New Mexico-Arizona border. The wind continues to howl, it’s very cold, and tomorrow is projected to be a Déjà Vu day weather wise. We’ll once again get up, drink coffee, eat breakfast and then ride as far as we can before crying uncle. Riding one’s bike from one coast to the other isn’t rocket science, you simply have to make the pedals go round no matter what the day might throw at you.