Bikers on a Quest [news]

the Payson Roundup
 

From Maine to San Diego, Clint Valentine, front, and Paul Dorr pedal their way into history in the Susan G. Koman cause of fighting breast cancer. -Andy Towle
 

Biking across the country, Paul and Clint stopped by our offices (Payson Roundup) on a deadline day, (not the best time) but I talked with them and set up a place along the highway where I could get a good shot of them whizzing past on their way to Phoenix. Once they zipped passed me, I jumped in my car to catch up with them and possibly get another shot or two.

They had stopped and were waiting for me  to catch up. I pulled over and we talked about their trip. Being from 'back east', way back East, like the East Coast of Maine, the conversation was a might short as they were conservative with words.

Perhaps it was because they were nearing their goal with a focus on San Diego, CA. No doubt they were eager to reach their destination and were tired of focusing on where they been.

Paul volunteered most of their information, but Clint said a few words and mentioned his run-in with a baby snake.

Clint had played with a baby rattlesnake not too long ago, which gave me a start as I had learned several summers ago, that baby rattlers release all of their venom when they bite you and are more dangerous than adults in that respect. But he seemed none the worse for the experience except, that he probably wouldn't be doing that again.

It appeared that the long trip had seasoned them into solitary travelers who had a great love of the outdoors and like mountain men before them they were set apart from others.

An economy of words is a sign of a solitary existence lived with confidence, and knowledge that whatever comes along would be dealt with successfully. Another case of lemons into lemonade.

Being from 'back east' myself (Wis.), I was surprised by the things I have learned and engaged them with before they left.

I knew by going down into the desert they were going to need a few words about the heat, the dryness and the sun.

For instance, before your mouth gets too dry, it is a good idea to find a clean small pebble or a button and suck on it, to keep your mouth from drying out. Always wear a hat. Rest often. Keep water handy and drink it in small doses.

I wished them a safe and speedy journey and we each went our separate ways.

I must apologize for my inhospitality at being irked on a deadline day. It is because one gets into a routine and then when an adventure comes along one doesn't recognize it for the opportunity it presents.

Be well, Paul and Clint. Be safe and may you enjoy many more adventures.

For more information go to www.teambowditch.com

Happy Birthday Paul Dorr! [news]

Let it be known that today is officially Paul W. Dorr's birthday and his first birthday spent in Arizona. We awoke after battling a 50 mph headwind the previous day to a snow storm which accumulated up to three inches in some drifts. We pedaled through the last 10% of the snow and into clear skies with Springerville in the valley before us. There we reside, celebrating Paul's 49^th birhday here in winter wonderland Arizona.

Mojave Rattlesnake [news]

This snake, a part of the Pit Viper family, was found in Box Canyon 10 miles west of Socorro, NM. Although this little guy is only three to four inches in length he will grow up to be over three feet in length. The first snake Paul & I have seen since we started this trip, along with the first stretch of beautiful mild desert weather. We were lucky to have spotted this small creature as he is the most venomous snake in the entire continental United States and quite possibly the most aggressive. Paul & I recently purchased the National Audubon Society's Field Guide to the Southwestern States and profiled this very snake before handling it. With Jeff Corwin resemblance I carefully plucked this snake from his ditch with a stick and hoped not to anger it.

Socorro, NM [news]

Paul & I had just bought a dozen doughnuts at a local grocery store when we found the location of a café adjacent to a bike shop. Truly a marvel of zoning. We setup our computer to upload photos and toured the local shop, Spoke-n-Word Cycles. I had some work done on my bike, all for around $0 total and was pleased with the modern upgrade they bestowed upon my drive train. Paul purchased two magazines, The Rocky Mountain Cyclist, and we had intentions of making it a few thousand feet in elevation before the sun set that afternoon.

Riding West on route 60 (We were happy to be done with the 500 or so miles of route 380) we immediately noticed a change in environment as the rock cuts on either side of the highway showed beautiful marvels of stone and dirt, in brilliant earthy pastel tones. As the sun set over the snow speckled peaks ahead of us we looked back and up at the towering walls of the box canyon, title Box by the local Bureau of Land Management. Paul and I felt a slight tinge of remorse at our lack of climbing gear. We instead opted to take a peek into some of the lower level caves and enjoy the pitted and potted surfaces of the granite-like formations.

The tube to my B.O.B. Trailer seemed to have more holes than a cheese grater. I had no intentions of wasting many of my valuable patches to fix it so I called the bike shop up and called in a favor. Gratefully, through a few acts of 'Paying it Forward' and relative kindness through those in the biking community, a tube was hand delivered to us at our place of encampment. The mechanic stayed until dark. We enjoyed the personal touch and the chance to experience situations out of the norm.

We started up a fire with relative ease and enjoyed a treat of spicy sausage in our Ramen noodle dish. We woke up to our first morning without frozen water and moisture and improved circulation in our hands as the desert started to warm up to a pleasant temperature of around 40º F. Only a few days away would be the Continental Divide and another milestone behind us.