Month: May 2008

Luna Lakes 2008: Reserve to Springerville

Posted on by

Monday May 26 – We decided to leave earlier this morning, but I guess everyone else had the same idea.  We enjoyed a breakfast of eggs, bacon, and sausage, and an interesting pumpkin streudel with a tasty topping.  I had a rare cup of coffee that gave me a good morning jolt.  After stowing our stuff for the truck, we found ourselves again the last riders on the course. Monday’s route started directly into a 14-mile climb from 5770 feet in Reserve up US180 (the Colorado Trail Scenic Road) to the Luna summit at 8000 feet in the San Francisco

Continue reading

Luna Lakes 2008: Quemado to Reserve

Posted on by

Sunday May 25 – Electing not to use an alarm, Mary Ellen and I awoke about 6:20AM the next morning.  Unfortunately, our pre-paid breakfast was 5 – 6:30AM at the high school, nearly a ½ mile walk from the hotel.  We dressed in a flash and practically ran there, arriving about 1 minute late, then grinned and pleaded our case for service.   I was happy to see cold cereal and milk, my favorite, and downed several bowls.  They also served leftover chocolate cake, which Mary Ellen started with, then added 2 pancakes on top of that. On our walk back

Continue reading

Luna Lakes 2008: Springerville to Quemado

Posted on by

Saturday May 24 – We arose to temperatures in the low 30s and spitting skies. Riders met in the Safeway parking lot, tossed luggage into a truck, and we were basically ready to go. I took observation of riders’ cold-and-rain clothing, which ranged from full head-body-and-shoe rain gear to poncho and jeans tucked inside knee socks. I wore all of my new purchases, with several layers inside the rain jacket. The route headed due east on US60, with temps in the low 30s, and skies heavily overcast. Mary Ellen and I made two small climbs to reach the New Mexico

Continue reading

Luna Lakes 2008: Preface

Posted on by

I’ve been riding with the PMBC for a couple months off and on, and I’ve started to meet other riders, particularly those who ride about the same speed I do. We call ourselves “tweeners” since we can’t quite keep up with the fast group, but always pull away from the slower group. One is Mary Ellen, a device manager who works for Medtronics. On our Saturday rides, she is a popular and sociable member of the club, and a strong rider. In April, she mentioned the Luna Lakes Tour, a GABA sponsored ride out of the Tucson chapter. I was

Continue reading