Day 12 - The BIG Bonk

Safford to Lordsburg

84.8 miles 2,646 feet of climb

Today I “Bonked.” While I had been drinking regularly, bonking means I had insufficient electrolytes. It messes with you physically, because it feels like your legs have no power and affects your thinking because you develop a kind of myopia and loose concentration. With about 12 miles to get to Lordsburg, I was finding it very difficult to continue. Some of the group had stopped on the other side of the road, and I decided to join them. I pulled out from the shoulder of the road and attempted to cross. I because I wasn’t thinking clearly, I misjudged the distance of an oncoming car and the car got closer than I would have liked. Not a cool move, but I’ll own it. It never pays to let your guard down; there are too many things that can happen. Kids, don’t try this at home.

The group followed me in to be sure that nothing happened. They rode behind me and let me lead at my slow pace, Chuck yelling encouragement behind me. When things happen, we pull together. What a group of exceptional people.

The other thing that happened, was Shirley accidentally touched her husband’s (Dan) rear wheel with her front tire (more to the situation than that) and went down hard. She broke her elbow and will be having surgery. She didn’t want to, the Frye’s are an exceptional couple, but they are out of the ride. Disappointing to be sure. This is a couple that has biked all over the world, including riding from Cairo, Egypt all the way to Johannesburg, South Africa. They have also ridden the length if Indonesia, in the Pacific, along with East Timor.