It makes no difference how many spectacular things we have seen during our many road trips, on our hikes, and by cycling across this wonderful country that we live in. It seems that every day we are amazed and in awe of all the natural beauty that surrounds us.
This morning we cycled together on the Mogollon Rim through a maze of old forgotten dirt roads. Look at what we saw….
All this excitement, fun, and beauty in just one morning, in one little section of this 1,856,038 acre national forest!
And we didn’t see a single other person….we were embraced by nature.
We will never have enough time in our life to explore all the hundreds of miles of road and trails that are in our backyard in the Tonto and Coconino National Forests. This is a very wonderful thought!
Addendum by Dan: One aspect of experiencing this beauty is that the cycling is frequently quite challenging. The above photos do not do justice to how difficult some parts of these roads are. They are rocky and steep in places, but usually not as pretty in those spots so we don't stop to take photos. At times we simply have to turn back on rarely-used side roads, as we have learned where falls are likely to occur. These are 85-pound bikes, and hitting a rock at the wrong angle can cause a tumble. Also, at times, we get off the bikes and huff and puff as we walk them up steep, rocky stretches.
We are always pedaling. The electric assist is necessary on uphill stretches, but the motor is not the main source of movement. It is our legs.
My point is that part of the experience of enjoyment of these outdoor areas is that we have to work for them.
As I ride along on these roads, looking at Vicky ahead of me, I frequently ask myself: "Who is this 72-year-old grandma whose back was severely damaged 27 years ago when her car was rear ended and who still wakes up every night in pain from that, yet who is out here in the middle of nowhere doing this difficult and challenging cycling, and enjoying every minute and all she is seeing? 72 years old?"
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