600 km brevet to Tombstone, April 23-24 2005
by Marc Witkes

Memorable moments during the 600K? Well, I have several. The ride was 35 hours or so!

1. I stopped at a convenience store early in the ride and was so excited to drink my 64-ounce Hawaiian Punch. On my way out the door, some fat lady bumped my arm, my thumb punctured the cup and the drink spilled everywhere. I went back in the store and begged the shopkeeper for another drink.

2. Around 5 a.m., Sunday, Gerry Goode and I stopped at another convenience store. I went to the bathroom to relieve myself for quite a while. The storekeeper thought I was doing something illegal and started knocking on the door asking me to leave. "Just as soon as I'm finished," I replied.

3. Gerry and I stood under the shelter of yet, another convenience store Sunday at about 2 a.m. waiting for the sleet to let down a little. We were cold and tired and Gerry considered asking the night maintenance man to let us in for a while so we could warm up but decided not to do so.

4. Gerry says I eat a lot. Hmm...I had fried chicken, pasta and meat sauce, three burritos, two muffins, two Krispy Kremes, two Pemmican bars, a granola bar and a McDonalds bacon, egg and cheese McGriddle. Seemed just like the right amount to get me through the ride.

5. Gerry caught me making a wrong turn early Sunday morning. Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you.

6. After reaching the hostel around 5 p.m. Sat. night, I called my wife and told her I was trying to decide if I should go on or not. She called me a big baby and told me to get going and that I would be sorry if I didn't finish the ride in one big push.

7. I practically fell asleep in my breakfast at IHOP in Casa Grande on Sunday morning after the ride.

8. During the last 30 miles of the ride, Gerry told me not to get up and down so much while riding. Well, it eased the saddle sore pain on my right cheek.

9. The tailwind from Sonoita to Tombstone was amazing. The headwind from Tombstone to Sonoita was brutal.

10. Thanks to Susan, Robin, Val, Gerry and all the rest who made the Arizona Brevet rides in 2005 memorable.