Trial (and error) ride.

Day 1

50 mi

Avg Speed: 9.8 MPH

Riding Time: 5.5 hrs.
Resting Time: 3 hrs.

    The first day our goal was to get to tortilla flats from our home. We spent all of Saturday getting ready, and we still weren't ready. After all the packing, organizing, reorganizing, and last second grabbing of stuff we didn't end up leaving until 10 a.m. Our goal was to leave promptly at 8. Whoops. So we learned we need a bit more preparedness in order to leave on time. When we finally did leave, we ended up stopping every 500 yards to fix something or other. Getting used to the balance on loaded bikes was something of a chore as well. Riding fully loaded: a whole new ball game. Even if you are in shape (I am not apparently) Your butt will get handed to you by these bikes. 

Apache Junction

   We found a cool path along the western canal that goes from the eastern edge of Tempe all the way into Apache Junction. That was great, it made it so we could ride side by side and chat. A bit of it was dirt, a bit was sidewalk. There were horses, sheep, donkeys and goats that we got to see. It was pretty nice. 

    By the time we had gotten to apache junction, the heat and the bikes were definitely doing a number on us. But now we could see our goal! A giant mountain. Sweet. Riding these bikes up hill is one of the hardest things I think either of us has done. 

Love these mountains!

"Oh that doesn't look bad"

"I've done this/worse before"

ten minutes later...

"I'm dying. can we walk?"

   

We learned there is no shame in pushing these beasts up the hill. 

   I think the approximate time it took us to get up to the top was about 2 hours. Soaked in sweat, hungry, thirsty, and bloody hot. But we got an awesome view. There are always power lines in the way to ruin the view, but besides that... and the road, you get a great feel for how awesome this area is.
   After we got to the top, we got to charge down the hill at 35 mph. Woo! Is a 10 minute down hill worth the 2 hours it took to get there? Maybe. 

Overlooking Canyon Lake

   We got to soak in the cool waters of the lake. It was a nice recharge for our batteries. After about 45 minutes we started up another hill towards Tortilla Flats. 

   By this time we were dead. We got to the last stage coach stop left on the apache trail, and asked where we could camp. The answer: anywhere. Cool, now all we had to do was get somewhere where there wasn't a cliff on one side and a lake on the other. About 500 ft up another hill we found our spot. 

The View from our campsite

We set camp and took a nap in our lovely tent. Afterwards we went about making food. It was getting dark and the bugs came out. Right about this time we realized what one of the things we had forgotten was. Insect repellent. So we ate quick, and jumped in our tent, instantly passing out. 

Day 2

20 mi

Avg Speed: 7 mph

3 hrs ride time

5 hours beach time

The first day caught up with me more than steph on day 2. My muscles were weak and jello-y. Steph was a trooper though. Our goal today was to go to Apache lake. There was only one problem. Gravity. The hill was unrelenting. It was a solid 5 mile up hill, the worst was a 12.6% grade (according to google earth) and an average of 8%. We rode very little of this. A long push is what it was. But, because of our slow progress we were able to see this Horney Toad! I don't know how Steph saw it, but he was a pretty cool little dude. That was the first one I had ever seen. 

They look smaller in real life than I thought they would. 

    So we pushed  and pushed and rode and pushed up the calle de muerte. Looking back there was always a beautiful view. Looking forward, however, there was only a steep hill mocking us.
  We eventually got to the top... that's a lie. At one point the road turned into a gravel road that was pretty severely corrugated. My backpack set up was not good for this. They would rattle into the spokes, then into the de-railer. I had to stop pretty often, so we decided (with 10 miles left to go) to turn around. The ride back down the hill rocked. I think we almost hit 40 mph. 

A fake smile... neither of us was feeling that happy.

    We then hung out by the lake for a good long while. Alternately sunning, messaging, and dipping in the lake. It was amazing. If every ride ends in an ice cold lake in Africa, we're set. 

Canyon Lake

The view from our campsite

  After the lake, we rode a few more miles up the hill to get out of the canyon looking for a spot to camp. We found an amazing spot overlooking the whole canyon. 

Day 3

Avg Speed: 11.5 mph

45 mi

    We finally found a nice way to pack up, and it took us 1.5 hrs from wake up to breakfast to camped and ready to head out. We peddled out of the canyon with pretty good speed. The grades going this direction where nowhere near as bad as day 2. We followed the same route to get home as we did when we came out. All in all, a pretty comfortable day. 

  What did we learn? A lot. We need bug repellent. Bikes are heavy. Our legs are weak. Hills are stupid in one direction and amazing in another. I need new panniers (sad face). Don't ride in the hottest part of the day (duh). And don't race one another in the beginning of the day, because later in the day you'll regret it.

We also gave our steeds names. F@$! it, and son-of-a-b!%@. Optimism :)

   Most of all, we got a glimpse of what an adventure we will have! With challenges to be sure, but worth the effort. Our bodies will adapt, our plans will change, and our souls will grow. 

  

    I have to admit, I was initially a little disappointed by what we went through on this trip. There were some pretty brutal parts. But we got through it, and enjoyed much of it. We know our current limits, and won't get upset at slow progress in the beginning (or up mountains). Most of all, we worked together well as a team. Encouraging when needed, and shutting up when needed. It's going to be great as long as we can continue to work as a team.

11 days and our adventure really begins. And I absolutely cannot wait. 

Preparations

   Well, we have our tickets. I guess that means it is official. Here are our Itineraries. The part I am most nervous about are the flights. Well, really the luggage on the flights. I've had my bags lost a few times in the past, and this is one of those times where it would mess everything up. Not having the bikes would make this tough.

   So Steph and I also have somewhere to stay in Cape Town! Chris and Tamlyn have offered to host us via Couch Surfing. Chris is currently planning a trip from Cape Town to Dublin Ireland, so his knowledge and research will be very helpful for us. Especially because he is from africa, and can tell us a lot of stuff we can't really glean from the internet. Oh yeah, he is doing this trip on a scooter. It's almost a bicycle :P

   I really can't say enough about couchsurfing.org. A seriously cool site. It really makes it more affordable and enjoyable. We can't wait to meet all these new people, with completely different backgrounds and views. 

   Our first 4-6 days will be in Cape Town. We'll be getting the last minute supplies (bear mace, bike tubes, food etc.) and making last minute tweeks to our plan. We will also get to explore this cool city. That mountain in the center is called Table mountain. It is supposed to be a pretty cool hike. 

Cape Town, South Africa

   The first few weeks we plan on taking it at a pretty slow pace, until our bodies mold to the bicycles and we stop complaining about our butts, shoulders and so on. Or will that ever stop? Who knows. 

   We both stop working on Friday, and hopefully this weekend we will be off on our trial ride. As of right now, we are planning on circling the lake reservoir system (Roosevelt, Apache, Canyon lakes). This will help us "calibrate" so to speak. We'll get a good idea of how far we can pedal, using how much water in several different terrains. The weather for it will be in the high 90's low 100's, and therefore simulating the hottest temperatures we could encounter in africa during our trip.