May 21,
670 bike miles so far. We're staying in Monument Valley after a 58 mile ride mostly downhill and with the wind from Navajo National Monument to here. We got here in record time, almost beat our support team again! We rode our alternate bikes because in sections the shoulder on U.S. 160 east from Tuba City to Kayenta is pretty rough, with gravel, ruts and bad rumble strips that seem to compress your spine when you have to go over them. Just like yesterday, the roads were far from the remote Wild West of my imagination. Now it's the Winnebago West. There are caravans of Dutch tourists each with their mini RV's following each other around. It's the European's dream vacation. But I shouldn't talk, we're in an RV too. The road into Monument Valley doesn't have a shoulder and we were riding the white line with 75 mph traffic whizzing by - not a lot of fun. Took a 2 hr tour of Monument Valley with a local in an open-air pickup-wish those pics could load! It is a spectacular place. Towards the end of our ride and during our tour the wind picked up from the southwest and now it's a veritable sandstorm, we can't venture outside this evening. Tomorrow we are taking a break and driving to Canyon de Chelly for some more tourism. Probably no internet for a couple days.

Entering Monument Valley

One of many scenes from Monument Valley, too numerous to upload 'em all!

The dreaded rumble strips

May 20. 72 mile ride from Page AZ to somewhere on U.S. route 160 to the southeast. The plan was for our support team to pass us with water refills, travel ahead to Navajo National Monument, set up camp then come back to get us at the junction. This would have been 78 miles for us. We almost beat them to the junction - so got in where they passed us. Good thing we weren't perishing from thirst. I carry a little over 4 liters in my bottle holder and panniers, and Carrie carries a little over 3. Just as well they picked us up, 160 is a lousy road for cycling with bad shoulders and heavy traffic. In fact, the whole route today on a map looks to be through the middle of nowhere, but had a lot of traffic and a lot of big trucks. We climbed almost 4000 ft today summitting out twice at 6800 ft. Really another great day for cycling, in the mid 70's in the high desert with a brisk tailwind. Some good scenery, but mostly high desert sagebrush. Our camp at Navajo National Monument is a remote, beautiful, primitive camping area in the pinyon/juniper forest at 7400 ft -great views of rugged canyons, the best place we've stayed at all trip, and it's free! We had to rig up a shower by hanging a water bag from a juniper and using a tarp for a privacy screen, but it worked out just fine.

At camp in Navajo National Monument

A well deserved cold one after the toughest ride of the trip, from Page to Navajo National Monument.