Southern Arizona to Pacific Ocean

The final stretch of our journey had us riding through true Southwest America Landscapes! We had much warmer weather overall making for really enjoyable riding. We also encountered some wild weather, winds kicking up to the ~80mph before the biggest continuous climb over Anza-Borrego State Park as we crossed into our final state...California, home sweet home! A natural ending to the ride at the Pacific Ocean was perfect...a dive in the cool salty sea refreshed our souls and welcomed us back to West Coast life.

Waking up in Santa Cruz County...yeeeha, let's go surf?!

 

Shoots! No waves in Santa Cruz, Az...I'm taking my wetsuit off!

 Arrived at Matt's parents house in Rio Rico, Az. We received warm meals and warm showers during our stay at the Titre household. 

  

 

 Mrs. Titre's 3rd grade class receives a presentation about the Missouri river watershed and the OnTheRiver adventure. Thanks for following our journey.

  As always, how many 3rd graders fit into a 2-person tent?

 Beautiful Southwest Sunsets!

 As well as Sunrise! Near Sierra Vista, AZ.

 Getting off the paved road and into some deep sand...

Joining the lizards for rush hour :)

  Thanks Aunt Susan for the tour of Yuma and fantastic game of cribbage! I deal first next time.

 

 Wind came in crazy strong and this restroom was gonna be our refuge. Darn motion sensing lights/fan...I can solve this!

 No lets move into the private shower stalls...I got right, you take left!?!

Back to some sweet outdoor digs near Borrego Springs. Kicked off a beautiful long climb and decent through Anza-Borrego State Park.

 

One more dirt section en route to the ocean...so close (~5mi), hang in there bikes! You can do it!

 

Yar, we be back to the mighty Pacific! Beautiful spot at the South Carlsbad State Park.

 

So awesome to share the many joys and challenges of a journey with a friend...even if they smell a little funky! Time for a swim in the saltwater.

 

Ahhh an ocean sunset...no we did not ride off into it! Like the sunset though this journey fades...leaving sparks to ignite the next one!?!

We have enjoyed sharing our experience with you as it happened. Keep the stoke high and hope to catch you on the road, river, trail, surf soon.

The End

High Desert Crossing

 Wild Winter Southwest film shoot

 Cornudas! Oasis in the desert

 Desert camping!

 Hay, we slept here

 Filled up on water...onward into blue skies, yeah!

 Crossing into new watersheds!

 Southwest colorful camp

 Grand Canyon state, are you ready for this?

 Cycling requires fuel.....oh wait not that kind

 Bisbee, AZ we had fun

 Thanks Bisbee tour guide

 Puncture. I got screwed...literally!

 Italian Matteo, finally a cyclist with more junk than us!!

Sunrise, the last day before reaching Nogales, AZ.

The National Park shuffle

Rise, Shine, Rock and Dance...then Roll

Rolled up to the mouth of the Carlsbad Cavern

Wild caverns!

Stalactites...

Wild shapes on a grand scale

Found Patrick,another rider, in the cave depths...let's play some wiffle ball

Beautiful sunscapes across the desert at sunset

Just a quick hop from Carlsbad Cavern National Park

Up, up and away

Welcome to Mckittrick Canyon

Nutrient rich Water rising up from the rock...

River time fun...

Texas Madrone

Beautiful Rock peaks sprung up as we went deeper into the canyon

Rock erosion took on wild shapes...Tell us what you see!?! 

Was a long climb but northwest Texas/New Mexico was an awesome high country spur ride. Perhaps our most scenic detour to was visiting Carlsbad Caverns and Guadalupe Mountains National Parks. Highly recommended. 

Austin to Carlsbad, New Mexico

Riding into Texas

Riding Austin

 

Texas was full of great people, and we where shown excellent hospitality. Starting off with my cousin Chris who we stayed with in Austin. We had to buy some tires and pedals so we want to thank and recommend CyclEast and Mellow Johnny's cycle shops in Austin; you rock! Leaving the city of Austin a fellow cyclist; Pat; saw us looking at maps by the roadside and next thing we had sandwiches in hand and a "pilot" car navigating us to safe roads. What a send off! Much thanks Austin.

Temp's started dropping and fires started rocking...

Camp Spots Abound...

and those temp's just kept dropping...Cold morning start from Enchanted Rock State Park.

Yar!

Granite Rock

Explorations

The road goes on forever and the party never ends...

 Fredricksburg, TX to glue a tooth back in...were is that dentist office

Friends made over a Pint...Cheers Ladies!

 

Those ladies should be joining us any moment now right!?!

 Yes, we ran out of fuel, or should we say, Wal-Mart needs to pay full-time staff to better restock shelves.

 Cold Starts...Yeeeeha!

 I found myself in Texas!

Campfire boogy

Office Meeting

 Crossing into New Mexico

Warmshowers delivers again!

We have now landed in Carlsbad...Thanks so much to the Leak family for hosting us! This is roughly our half way point of this inspiring journey. We are looking to explore the Carlsbad Caverns and Guadalupe National Parks then continue on through the badlands of the southwest. Riding has been smooth for much and a true challenge through some...great to have a friend to commiserate with over a well deserved beer. Much Love and may your explorations take you to some place wonderfully unexpected!