99 miles(82 actual, see below), 2303 feet climbed
Another day with healthy tailwinds. Due to the sparse services, Dennis wanted us to ride with at least a partner. All seven of us in the early to leave group rode together. About a mile before the second water/snack stop, my rear tire developed a slow leak. By using my frame pump twice during that final mile, I was able to limp to the stop. Replacing the tube didn’t solve the problem, however. Rather than delay the group, I rode in the van to the lunch stop, 17 miles later.
While waiting at the lunch stop, I gave the tire and wheel rim a thorough going over. I didn’t find a specific cause but a second new tube held air just fine. (When I accumulated 3 tubes that needed patching, I determined that the first new tube probably had a hole in it when it left the factory.)
We’re staying at the El Capitan Hotel, an oasis in a town that does not appear to be thriving.
I believe this marks the one-third point in our journey.
