The riding conditions were almost perfect today, with temps ranging from the high 40s in the morning to the mid-60s in the afternoon, and the breeze was mostly from behind.
I had a huge, leisurely breakfast at the Butcher’s Hook in Tonto Basin, where I enjoyed chatting with the unofficial mayor of Punkin Center ( like right out of Schitts Creek), who volunteered to take me bass fishing in Lake Roosevelt if I returned to the area.
Today’s highlight for me was a side trip cycling up a steep, mile-long road to the Tonto National Monument visitor center, followed by a mile-long hike to visit the Salado cliff dwelling ruins there. This is a very beautiful park, and well worth a visit.
I found the monument’s picnic area, overlooking the Roosevelt lake (formerly the Salt River), impossible to resist. So I stopped and had a lunch of peanut butter and bananas on whole wheat tortillas.
Even with a gentle tailwind, the 5.5-mile, 2,000-plus-foot climb out of Tonto Basin was brutal.
I was originally planning to camp tonight 10 miles further down the highway, at the San Carlos reservation casino RV park.
But it was rush hour on the shoulder-less Hwy 60 in Globe AZ when I arrived. It was just too dangerous to proceed. So I got a room at a Travelodge on the westernmost edge of town and called it a day.
DM: 51.7; TM: 622.6; 6.58 hrs rdg; 3,726 ft climbing
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