Today, I set out from Salome at 8:30 this morning to allow more riding and resting time. There were two category 4 hills ahead of me and a headwind in me face. I rode 55.7 miles and ended up in Wickenburg, AZ. My friend Jayne mentioned the big Nascar race this weekend in Phoenix, which is nearby (if you’re driving). Then I started worrying about being able to get a hotel room. My cell phone still didn’t work, but I lucked out when another cyclist happened by and called and made reservations here at the Los Viajeros Inn. Nice place, but the only restaurant nearby was Denny’s, so I had to reward my weary bones with a fruit punch instead of a couple of beers or margaritas. My legs are now thinking this is all big fun and don’t complain, but my feet and hands are numb at the end of the day. Tomorrow, I’m only going to ride around 30 miles and stay with a warm showers host in Surprise, AZ.

Here’s the ride today and the pictures:

 

Here’s the adventure cycling guys packing up after most of the cyclists left. I missed them by sleeping in. They leave early and usually cover big miles. Today, though, they ended up in Wickenburg too.

I saw this guy walking along the rode. He looked like he would be either interesting or dangerous, so I stopped to talk to him. He calls himself Michael the Manasaur. I thought he looked more like Crazy Chester, but anyway, he said he’s been walking all over the country for 8 years. He said he wants to discover his true potential as a human being and all that new age stuff. He was nice though and we commiserated on sore toenails. His right shoe had a big hole cut out of the top because he had to  yank his big toenail clean off.

Now back to our regularly scheduled mountains.

and roads.

Maricopa county where the sheriff is nuts and the prisoners wear pink uniforms.

 

 

I saw these signs every day, but I’ve yet to see any animals other than birds, dogs and cows. Here’s an irrigation pump running like mad.

A little cafe called Coyote Flats. Good lunch fare. Teeny post office.

 

An historical marker for 7 settlers massacred by indians. Didn’t see any markers for the tens of thousands of indians massacred by the white folks though. This is your land, now get off it!

Downtown historical Wickenburg.

Any guesses?

A cactus proud of his limbs.

 

 

Tomorrow, another day, another mountain or two.

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