It's Thursday evening and we're getting the bikes and the gear together for an early departure tomorrow morning at 6:30 a.m.
The CycleQuest cycling team, which rides to raise awareness about ovarian cancer, hits the road tomorrow, November 16th, for a 360 mile ride down to Tucson, Arizona.
Bob Lewis, a frequent cycling buddy who rode the Heartland ride with me this past summer, will again be along for this latest adventure.
The first 125 miles will be through Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, Florence, Catalina, and finally Tucson. Now, for those of you unfamiliar with the territory, the road between the communities of Florence and Catalina is referred to as the "Tom Mix Highway."
Mix was a cowboy movie star - a big one - who appeared in more than 300 Westerns. He lived the life of a bon vivant, and by the early 1920s the former Texas Ranger was earning the remarkable sum of $10,000 a week. And, he even got to keep the big cowboy hat!
Sadly, Tom died in 1940 in a weird automobile accident near Florence, when the back of his head was walloped by a suitcase that flew off the rear shelf of his single-seat roadster in the remote area. It was October 12, 1940 and Tom Mix died alone in a dry wash. He'd apparently ignored warnings about a gully bridge being out due to road work. Let that be a warning motorists!
"The Tom Mix Death Site Marker -- a black iron silhouette of a riderless bronco -- stands roughly 17 miles south of Florence. The road where Tom drove to his end is long, flat, straight -- surrounded by desert scrub and the occasional giant cactus. The gully into which his 1937 Cord plunged has been renamed Tom Mix Wash," according to Roadsideamerica.com, a great historical resource for travelers.
Bob calls this area simply “The Wilderness." We'll zip right through it on Friday, because Saturday we're riding in the 25th anniversary El Tour De Tucson. 10,000 - 11,000 cyclists are expected for the fun. Bob and I will ride the 109-mile leg, then try to find a Pizza Hut to refortify ourselves. (To fully appreciate the "humor" foreshadowing intended, please read the summer Heartland Tour entries.)
Then, on Sunday, we'll simply point the bikes north and ride 125 miles back home.
Please alert your friends to this latest CycleQuest ride. Encourage them to read the continually updated CycleQuest blog, and understand the signs of ovarian cancer. As always, we ride in memory of Susan and the other women who have died too soon because of this "silent killer."
CycleQuest Arizona beckons! For this ride, we're proud to be wearing the new cycling jerseys for our Banner Children's Hospital cycling team!
More from the road on Friday!
Brad (and Bob!)
5 comments:
Gosh time has gotten away from me and here you are eating a taco getting ready to ride away tomorrow. It comes with mixed emotions this latest entry. I laughed (sorry Tom bout the suitcase) and then tears of pride to you guys in honor of Susan. May this lead to a "Susan E. DeFrank-Wingate Foundation and walk along side of Susan B. Coleman.
Brad and Bob, may God be with you, and protect you from injury, and BLESS you with safety, and His PRESENCE throughout your ride. THINK PIZZA!!!! My prayers and support are with you !!!
...throw another chicken breast in the bag too! That should tie you over from one Pizza Hut to the next!
In all seriousness, WE ALL are praying for good weather, safe peddling, another great adventure and effort to continue to raise awareness and educate men and women about ovarian cancer.
We are there on the sidelines in spirit cheering you both along!
Up Up and AWAY........I am thinking "PIZZA HUT" visualize it and put a picture of a pizza in front attached to the helmet and that will sprint you on......Hey how bout a Chicken Breast Pizza...umm. I'm calling ahead to the pizza huts and if you see a big truck passing it's them reloading for your arrival.......LOVE YOU GUYS....watch out for the gravel and God has his arms around you for protection.
Hi my name is Kristin. I found your blog when I was searching for a fundraiser of some kind for ovarian cancer. My mother has ovarian cancer for the 3rd time in 4 years. All I have found in Arizona are walks for breast cancer but not ovarian cancer. Would you be able to help me? I would greatly appreciate it.
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