Flagstaff AZ to Holbrook AZ 97 miles

 Yesterday, Sunday, May 14, was a rest day in Flagstaff. In the morning, I walked downtown along with three of my fellow riders, Mark and Peter, both from the UK and Vincenzo from Italy. We walked around a street fair that was going on and then settled in for some cold brew at a local coffee shop. Flagstaff is a college town, so the vibe was very young and laid back. After a bit, I walked back to our hotel to watch the Celtics- Sixers basketball playoff game in my room. 

Of course, the famous Route 66 goes through Flagstaff, so there are some restored buildings and hotels.

It seems like a very nice town, and the landscape kind of reminds me of Lake Tahoe, with mountains and trees all around. 

This morning we set out for Holbrook, AZ, 97 miles away. Most of the riding today was on Interstate 40. It is a less busy highway than the previous interstates we have ridden on. This made for a much more satisfying ride. As I did on my last cross-country ride, I kept my SAG stops brief. I drink lots of water, refill my water bottles, perhaps eat a little something, and then I'm off again. It was mostly all flat riding today. I don't seem to get bored cruising down the highway and looking at the vast Arizona landscape. I have always loved the wide-open spaces of the American West. It has a calming effect on me for some reason. 

In the middle of the day, the road passes through Winslow, Arizona, the town made famous in the Eagle's song Take It Easy. I can now brag that I have, indeed, stood on the corner in Winslow, AZ., with a statue of Jackson Browne. Yes, Jackson Browne, not Don Henley, like I thought. Evidently, it was Jackson Browne whose car broke down in Winslow, AZ, and who subsequently wrote the tune. Don't quote me on that, I just rode close to 100 miles today, and I may not be thinking straight. Tell you what, I'll fact-check that and get back to you tomorrow. 

Upon arriving in Holbrook, I went to McDonald's for a small burger and fries. I like to eat healthy on these rides......rimshot. But, seriously, folks, it is important to eat something right after a long ride so your body can begin to recover. I also had chocolate milk, the go-to recovery drink for many cyclists. Evidently, chocolate milk has a high protein and carbohydrate content, almost identical to the 4:1 carbohydrate-to-protein ratio used in most recovery drinks but without the hype. Protein is vital for muscle repair, and carbohydrates for energy replacement. I am not sure what the sports dietitians say about the McDouble with cheese and the french fries. 

Dinner tonight was at a local family-owned restaurant. I thought the chicken parmesan was very good, although that crazy Italian Vincenzo could not help himself. He had to chime in.

 "Howa isa the pasta? Ita no looka so good", he said with a smile. 

I paused for a moment and looked up.

"This is THE best pasta I think I've tasted in years! It is Magnifico! Better than the pasta I had in that big city in Italy last fall; what was the name of that city? Let me think....oh, Roma!", I shouted.

It was all I could do to not get a doggie bag of pasta and leave it by his hotel room door. I might just go down there now and start singing, Arrivederci Roma. 

What a wonderful guy Vincenzo is. He always seems to have a smile on his face and he has a great sense of humor.

One night I was ranting about the lack of help from the tour company when my bike malfunctioned, and he said, "Youa are getting a too hot. Calma downa. Itsa gonna work outa."

Vincenzo, my new friend from Italy.

Mark from the UK just posted the Relive link below of today's ride.

https://www.relive.cc/view/vxOQQBgezMO

Tomorrow we ride to Gallop, New Mexico.