27th April 2016 Holbrook, Az to Chambers, Az 76.8 kms - 47.7 miles Up = 477m - Down = 310m
7th April 2016 - Holbrook to Chambers
It was a beautiful clear morning - crisp and cool - but wonderful clear blue skies!! The ritual of a weather report check was performed and while it was 40F here at the moment - so somewhat nippy, it was predicted to a very pleasant 70F!! After yesterday's 140+ km ride - todays was half of that so we opted for a 9:00 am start hoping it would be a bit warmer by then. It will be an interesting stop tonight - there doesn't seem to be anything atChambers besides a Mobil Service Station and Days Inn!!
It was another good ride today with nice wide shoulders - a few climbs, but they weren't too long or too steep. A little tricky spot at roadworks where despite HUGE slow down signs for miles before the actual works - the traffic still seems to thunder along. Suddenly the 2-lanes of traffic were channelled into the shoulder that we were on - and a rude car and trailer certainly did not give us the 5' clearance they are supposed to!! Next was an extremely courteous BIG truck who slowed right down and followed us. Where the actual "works" started we switched to behind the witch's hats so the traffic could get moving - the truck waved and continued - the car immediately behind him gave a very angry long blast on the horn!! First case of anything untoward in driver behaviour. Big thanks to the truck driver for his patience!
We stopped at the Painted Desert Indian Center and bought some little trinkets, looked at the outdoor exhibits and pieces of petrified wood. Most of the roadside "scenery" today was pretty barren - but at the same time intriguing with the huge vista's and various rocky outcrops. We continued on to the Navajo Travel Centre and Subway for lunch as we had seen big roadside signs well in advance informing us that this place was here. There was nothing else in between.
We were thinking that we weren't seeing many animals - but Annie and Don spotted (and woke up) a herd of antelope. Weather was cloudy and it is cool in the wind - which wasn't really a tail one today, but more of a side one. Again, if you find a sheltered spot it is warm enough, but out in the wind it is pretty cold!!
Only 12 kms after we had stopped for lunch - we arrived at Chambers - and it was nice to get in early - 2:00 pm!! The population is listed as 10!! There is a Mobil Service Station and a Days Inn here - but nothing else! It does sit on the junction of Highway 191 north, and the Days Inn Manager told us that come 6:00 pm there will be an influx of travellers calling it a day here!
We are congratulating ourselves for all making it through 77 kms today with NO punctures!!! Hopefully things are looking up!!