By Pam Cullop, Ride Organizer
Spend Memorial Day Weekend cycling a moderately difficult ride on some of the
least traveled roads in the cool mountains of Eastern Arizona and Western New
Mexico!
Day 1: 48 Miles: Springerville, AZ to Quemado, NM
Only Pre Registered Riders will begin “Check In” at 8 AM (not earlier).
Those riders who wait to sign up on the Day of the Event, will not start the
“Check-in” process until after the pre-registered group is nearly completed; a
good reason to sign up early!
Come to the Safeway parking lot (East side of Mountain). Find Check-in tables on
the North side of China Garden. Park your vehicle for the weekend in the lot
closest to our set up location. The lunch stop (SAG 2) is located just before a
cyclist’s dream: an 8-mile fast descent into Quemado! Camping and showers are
located at Quemado High School (follow GABA signs to the back of the school
lot). An optional group dinner on Saturday evening and Sunday’s optional group
breakfast will be served by the members of the girls’ volleyball team in the new
cafeteria located in the back of the school. Both meals must be prepaid, and
included in your ride fee total.
(The Volleyball Team fundraises for 80% of the monies it needs to: assist needy
members attend VB Camp, pay for tournament achievement awards, and to pay for
tournament rooms, travel and food. Ordering your meals at the school is a great
way to help support these girls in achieving their goal.)
Day 2: 55 Miles: Quemado, NM to Reserve, NM
Pedal on lightly traveled roads through the Gallo Mountains. The morning
stop (SAG 1) is at the top of the climb. Then, be prepared for a thrilling
descent into Apache Corners for lunch (SAG 2)! Continue on to Reserve, our
destination for the day.
THE OPTIONAL SIDE TRIP (28 ROUND-TRIP MILES) TO THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE IS NOT
OFFICIALLY PART OF THE ROUTE. YOU ARE REQUIRED TO ENTER YOUR NAME ON THE
"SIGN-UP" SHEET PROVIDED AT SAG #2, AND YOU MUST DEPART SAG #2 FOR THIS SIDE
TRIP NO LATER THAN NOON.
Campers will stay at the Village Park, which is across from the high school, on
San Francisco St. Two portable toilets will be in place between the firehouse
and the park, and showers will be at the Rode Inn. Optional group dinner on
Saturday evening, and Sunday morning will be served in the Community Center,
located across the street from the high school, just down the road a bit from
the park. Both meals must be prepaid, and included in your ride fee total.
(Gourmet meals catered by The Adobe Café & Bakery are simply “to die for”, and
well worth the price!)
Day 3: 63 Miles: Reserve, NM to Springerville, AZ
Most challenging day! After the day’s major climb, relax and enjoy the view
from Luna Summit at SAG 1! With a bit more climbing to after you get back ‘on
the saddle’ – you are on your way to the AZ/NM border via spectacular vistas.
Lunch (SAG 2) is located off the main highway at the Luna Lake picnic grounds.
For those who need to refuel (light food) or re-hydrate (water & Gatorade),
there will be a 3rd SAG stop near the base of the last climb of the day, located
at the boat ramp of Luna Lake dam. Ride back to your car, and drive over to the
Rode Inn & Suites in Springerville, if you’d like to clean up before driving
back home that afternoon; two “shower rooms” have been reserved for this
purpose.
Fee Includes:
Luggage transport for 3 days; 2 SAG stops w/food & water on each day; a 3rd
SAG stop added on Day 3; Camping & Showers at Quemado High School on Saturday;
Showers at Rode Inn Motel, with Camping at the Village Park in Reserve on
Sunday; a Sweep vehicle help throughout the course for all 3 days; and
end-of-the-ride showers on Monday at the Rode Inn back in Springerville.
Register as soon as possible to assist us in preparing a well-supported ride. We
must give our meal hosts a “head count” 2-weeks in advance of the ride for meal
preparations. Wait too late to register and you may not be able to purchase a
meal!
Additionally, please make motel and camping reservations right away in
Springerville, as they will be celebrating John Wayne’s 100 “birth” day! I am
told that they anticipate a huge crowds, and filled-to-capacity motel
situations! You may need to check in local towns or forest campgrounds this year
for your pre-ride overnight stay.
Ride Leader: for info, call Pam Cullop, (520) 290-4321 (H); (520)
271-6678 (M), or socialdirector@bikegaba.org.
PRE-REGISTRATION FEE:
GABA/ABC Members: $85 Non-Members: $100
DAY-OF-EVENT FEE:
GABA/ABC Members: $100 Non-Members: $115
OPTIONAL MEALS MUST BE PREPAID WITH RIDE FEE
Dinner in Quemado: $9.50 Breakfast in Quemado: $7.50
Dinner in Reserve: $12.00 Breakfast in Reserve: $10.00
Prepay for both Reserve meals & save $1.
Combined meals in Reserve: $21.00
LUNA LAKE BIKE TOUR MOTEL LIST:
Springerville:
Rode Inn: 877-220-6553
Super 8: 800-800-8000
Quemado:
Allison: 505-773-4550
Largo: 505-773-4686
Allegre 505-773-4520
Reserve:
Rode Inn: 505-533-6661
Village Motel: 505-533-6600
Hidden Springs Inn 505-533-6146 or www.thehiddenspringsinn.com
(Hidden Springs Inn will provide shuttle transportation for you and your
luggage, to & from Reserve. Ask about those arrangements when making your
reservations.)
Menus for the meals in Quemado:
Saturday, May 26
Dinner: 4:30 to 6:30 PM
Spaghetti w/meatballs on the side;
Salad & Rolls;
Ice tea & Lemonade;
Cherry & Apple Cobbler.
$9.50 Per Person
Sunday, May 27
Breakfast: 6-7:30 AM
Scrambled eggs, Bacon & Toast;
Cereal, Oatmeal (raisins/nuts optional);
Juice, Milk;
Coffee, Tea (regular or decaf).
$7.50 Per Person
Menus for the meals in Reserve:
Sunday, May 27
Dinner: 4-6 PM
Scaloppine di Pollo (& w/o Pollo);
Greek & Green Salads;
Foccacia & Baked Italian Breads;
Assorted Cheesecakes & Chocolate Cake;
Raspberry & Regular Teas;
Sodas & Fresh Lemonade.
$12 Per Person
Monday, May 28
Breakfast: 6-7:30 AM
Garden egg Frittata w/veggies & feta;
Grilled turkey sausage;
Potatoes O’Brien with grilled peppers & onions;
Baked Danish & Sweet Rolls;
Fresh fruit platter;
Excellent Coffee, Juice & Herbal Tea.
$10 Per Person
(Pay for both Reserve meals and pay only $21)