Rapha Continental -The Navajo Nation Ride by Dave Wyman
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  2. Rapha Continental -The Navajo Nation RideRapha Continental -The Navajo Nation Ride


It was my privilege to serve as the "host" for the Rapha Continental ride, which wound its way around, through, up and down Navajo country, in North Eastern Arizona.


The route began from the parking lot of the Thunderbird Lodge, at the mouth of Canyon de Chelly National Monument. We rode through colorful red rock country, past a variety of Navajo communities, including Chinle, Many Farms, Round Rock, Tasile, and Lukachukai.


Much thanks to Jean Ray, who both drove much of the way to and from Arizona, and who served as the support vehicle/photography vehicle driver.


Technical Note: All photographs made with a Panasonic Lumix TZ5 digicam, which was compact and offered a terrific zoom range, from wide to telephoto.


Hahn

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Daniel

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Kansas Attacks a Navajo Taco

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Navajo Chef

A beautiful, young Navajo woman, Roberta Nez, prepared our lunch.
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Navajo Food Stand Just Below Buffalo Pass (8,400 Feet)

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Lunch Break

After gaining the summer, which included views out into New Mexico, we dropped own several tight turns to a Navajo food stand.
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Pines Instead of Sagebrush

The terrain began to change rapidly, the landscape losing it desert sage, but gaining pinyon pines and then ponderosa pines. Eventually we broke through the phalanx of sandstone monoliths, and climbed onto the pine-covered slopes of the Chuska Mountains. Pierre was in front, the rest not far behind him, and I trailed in the rear, keeping my own pace, keeping the cadence going while listening to music on my mp3 player.
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More Locals in the Chuska Mountains

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Beginning the Climb to Buffalo Pass

We began the second half-century; the start of the climb led through a series of massive sandstone monoliths.
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Departing Lukachukai

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Pierre

Pierre was King of the Mountain, the first to summit Buffalo Pass.
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Dave

The videographer took a break with the rest of the group.
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I Am Revivified with a Navajo Pickle

Rarely have I been as tired on a long ride as I was when I rolled into Lukachukai. With my legs feeling like blocks of wood, and the climb to Buffalo Pass just ahead - 2,000 feet or so with a series of grades that reached at least 16% - I wondered if I'd have to accept a ride in the van. (I also wonder why I'm willing to show this photograph, made, I believe, by Kansas).

However, chomping down a violently salty Navajo pickle, downing half a bottle of Gatorade, resting 15 minutes or so, and ingesting two electrolyte tablets, compliments of Dominick, brought me back from the edge.
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In the Tatsoh Trading Post, Lukachukai

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Approaching Lukachukai

Kansas leads the van into the community of Lukachukai (in English,"Many White Reeds"), at the 50 mile mark - about halfway - into the ride. I was glad for the break, as my legs had been cramping, on and off, for the past several miles.
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