Day 7

Prescott to Cottonwood - 48 miles. Today started out just like yesterday with the promise of being a beautiful, calm day of cycling in the high desert but one can be so wrong! However, before I start complaining about the wind (again), let me say that this day of cycling was a 15 on a scale of 10. We began by leaving Prescott and riding out of town to climb Mingus Mountain. Just like yesterday, the long supposedly FLAT road was, of course, a 4-5% grade and straight into a 25 mph headwind. So, long story short, it took us 2 hours to go about 15 miles. Once we began the ascent up the mountain, the roads turned to switchbacks and the mountain blocked the wind for the most part. The steeper climb was actually easier than the less steep approach! At the summit (7,023 ft.), we celebrated with snacks at the SAG truck, took a few pictures and began the descent which was SPECTACULAR! It mad e all the work leading up to it worthwhile. After going around a curve, a panoramic view unfolded unlike anything I'd ever seen before. The visibility was crystal clear and across an enormous valley we could see the red rocks that Sedona is so famous for and the snow-capped San Franscisco peaks behind them about 50 miles away. We descended into the historic hillside town of Jerome where we enjoyed one of the best cheeseburgers I've ever had at the Haunted Hamburger. A few of us took an optional loop to explore the Tuzigoot Indian Ruins which were very interesting. A short 5 miles later we arrived at the Best Western in the little town of Cottonwood where we are tonight. All in all, this day has been the best so far!!! Tomorrow we are off to Flagstaff which will be a very difficult climbing day, but I think my legs are finally getting used to the routine as it's actually becoming a little easier every day. A much anticipated day o ff awaits us on Sunday where this massage therapist will have a much-needed massage herself! After close to 600 miles in 7 days, I think I've deserved it.