RIGHT outside the Apache Reservation is truly impressive. Gold, silver and copper. Massive mines. Huge fortunes being made.
Where is that money going? (What corporation? I did see BHP Billiton on one sign. What country? Are the profits "off-shored"? Do they pay the same tax rate as Boeing, GE, etc?)
Who is getting it? (What are the relative pay rates of the guys working the mine? The accountants? The middle managers? The top 5 highest paid executives?)
What taxes and tax rates are being paid on it?
Is the damage done to the air, water, quiet, and roads being paid for, today, with profits from the mines? Will the local taxpayers be left with the clean up costs when the corporations (executives, in far off places, with 5 homes to go to) decide it is no longer profitable to remove the valuable material currently found here anymore?
And will there be a Leadville 100 type bike race to try to rejuvenate the local economy after it fails when the mine owners pull out, leaving the scarred mountains, the mine waste and the miners behind?
Saturday, April 13, 2013
There are a lot of "In memory" signs
Between Superior, AZ, and Globe, AZ - mining capital of I don't know what. But everywhere you turn there are mines, tailings, mining equipment, huge trucks -and one neighborhood up on the hill with huge houses - otherwise a lot of poor lookin' folks, working "shift work".
Tons of crosses on the side of the road; including several bike handlebars - but I am thinking they are meant to be motor bike handlebars, not pedal bike handlebars.
Nonetheless, definitely a dangerous place to NOT be in a big truck with a seatbelt and airbags.
If you are going to bike from Superior to Globe, bring your bright lights (front and rear), your climbing legs, and do it on a WEEKEND.
(We did, and it was still stressful)
Tons of crosses on the side of the road; including several bike handlebars - but I am thinking they are meant to be motor bike handlebars, not pedal bike handlebars.
Nonetheless, definitely a dangerous place to NOT be in a big truck with a seatbelt and airbags.
If you are going to bike from Superior to Globe, bring your bright lights (front and rear), your climbing legs, and do it on a WEEKEND.
(We did, and it was still stressful)
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The right choice!
Yesterday we decided to stop in Superior, AZ after only 30 miles into a planned 55 mile day. It was the right choice. The combination of biking over a pass, difficult riding, and weekend traffic (including a poker run) made today's ride to Globe stressful. Although only 25 miles, it was a lot better riding through with fresh legs and head first thing in the morning, than it would have been yesterday afternoon.
The RV park here in Globe is nice, but small with just an outhouse, no laundry or showers. So, instead of taking tomorrow off the bike, we will push through a 7th day and a long ride tomorrow (75 miles) to Thatcher and Safford for our rest day. Good thing we have two short days in our legs from yesterday's choice to stay in Superior. Tomorrow's ride is relatively flat and the forecast is for west winds, just what we'll be needing!
The RV park here in Globe is nice, but small with just an outhouse, no laundry or showers. So, instead of taking tomorrow off the bike, we will push through a 7th day and a long ride tomorrow (75 miles) to Thatcher and Safford for our rest day. Good thing we have two short days in our legs from yesterday's choice to stay in Superior. Tomorrow's ride is relatively flat and the forecast is for west winds, just what we'll be needing!
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