Prescott, AZ to Cottonwood, AZ 45 miles and 2805 feet of climbing

This was our ride on Friday: 5-12-23: (posted a day late, sorry)

Today's ride featured a climb up Mingus Mountain, evidently named after the famous Jazz musician Charles Mingus. It's funny that you'd find that in Arizona, of all places, but who's to say. 

 Going up this 6-mile climb reminded me of something basketball great and cycling enthusiast Bill Walton said about himself going up a hill on a bike. "People are amazed that I can still remain upright on the bike while going so incredibly slow.", Walton said with a smile. Well, I'm right there with Bill Walton, I can assure you. Luckily, during today's climb, fellow rider Peter from the UK decided to strike up a conversation with me at the beginning of the climb. Perhaps he saw the pained look on my face and took pity on me. 

Peter is a dentist by training. He moved into teaching dentistry at university years ago, and I believe he was the dean of the school of dentistry at a university as well. He speaks in an English accent that one of the other Englishmen described as "posh." He is considered an expert on Public Healthcare. When he talks about his considerable accomplishments, he does not seem pretentious or braggadocious.  He has a son who plays bass in a heavy metal band that is currently touring the US. His wife is presently cycling in the Dolomites and camping. Peter is a very strong rider, and although I told him to go on ahead during our conversation, he said on these trips, he makes a point to meet and converse with the other riders. Our back and forth did make the miles go by faster. In fact, another strong rider from Indiana, Joel, admitted he found the conversation so interesting he just hung out behind us and listened. 

After taking pictures at the summit of Mingus Mountain, we enjoyed a long scenic descent, red rocks on either side, as the road wound down the mountain into the old mining town of Jerome, AZ.  It sits on the side of the mountain. We all had lunch at a place called The Haunted Hamburger. Evidently, the restaurant's building was originally the site of many mining casualties, so it is believed to be haunted. We then checked out what remains of the old mining site. A carved-out side of the mountain with long abandoned mining cranes and machinery rusting away.

Then it was a quick 10 miles down into the valley and our hotel. Tonight we are in the town of Cottonwood, AZ. It was refreshing to finish at an earlier hour today. At least we have time to relax a bit before dinner. And I don't have to deal with bike issues. Dinner was at the Brown Bear Diner across the street from our hotel. The turkey and gravy with mashed potatoes were passable and filled me up for about 2 hours until I had to go to the convenience store next door for some snacks. 

On to Flagstaff tomorrow and with a much-needed day off on Sunday.