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On the road at about 8am. Nice riding conditions to BLYTHE, CA (20 miles on 78). Bought some supplies like defense spray, rear view mirror, and some foodstuffs. Have a great opportunity to connect myself to the internet in town, so here i am taking a break after lunch to update the website! What a GREAT day. Can you tell that i am in good spirits and that i am enjoying the ride? I only wish that i had more company. I have met some outstanding people on the road, at rest stops, RV parks,and the quick hellos and salutes from construction workers, drivers,and kids in the field. A few scary dogs chasing me while i rode past their land...otherwise i am keeping at about 10 miles per hour on the flat roads. Got up to 15 when the big dog chased me for about a football field. I will continue on to Arizona today. Cannot wait to take a photo at the border! Final Destination today in Quartzsite, AZ...some 25 miles....Arrived safe and EXHAUSTED to Desert Gardens RV park, exit 17.

Mileage 234miles. Good morning from Quartzsite, AZ! Just met a fellow east coast cyclist named Jim who rode with me to the public library where i am now online. Looks like a great day for a bike ride. Not exactly sure of the mileage ahead of me to Tonopah, AZ but the 'Hot Springs' next to the town name may make it worthwhile to bike the extra distance today. Had trouble sleeping last night probably because the air is so dry. We are an hour ahead from California, another surprise that i was not fully aware of until late last night. Took the Interstate 10 all the way to Tonopah, some 85 miles from Quartzsite. I followed the sign to the Hot Springs of El Dorado and was treated to a 'soak' in a private hot spring area and gifted a campsite AND a precious stone by the friendly manager Marsh, who by the way is interested in applying to the Peace Corps. What a diamond in the dust, I slept extremely well without rain shield on the tent. Fabulous salad bar at the Trucker stop down the road. The hot spring and friendly folks in Tonopah helped revive this weary rider.

Mileage 318 miles. I can hardly believe it myself but i am now in Phoenix, AZ. The tourist office is helping me out with bike accessible road information. I am armed with far too many maps and phone numbers but i am quite convinced that there are answers in this pile of information. Luckily I have two contacts to follow up on here in Phoenix. Today was a light day at just over 50 miles. (never thought i would say THAT!) Many many thanks to Nancy and Norman of Phoenix, AZ who won Outstanding Host Award for the Southern USA. I even had my own apartment across the street from their home. Dinner and stories over a campfire in the backyard. To top it off, i washed all my clothes in a washing machine. I should be good for another week of hand washing and drying by the campfire...

Mileage 377 miles. Fond farewells to my new Arizona friends and an early start to a long day of riding. Took Broadway East until Tempe where i turned in to explore the SunDevil University, Arizona State. The old stomping ground of my dear sister Jennifer and good friend Amy. Took some photos while i had jenn on the cell phone to guide me (sort of, she was still half asleep). Continued East on University Drive until Apache Jct, some 50 miles. I am stopped at the public libtrary for some R&R, fill up the water bottles, get directions for the (60) where i hope to climb a thousand ft. before calling it a day. I feel a bit tired, but motivated enough to continue on. Had some great phone chats while riding with the headset conencted to my cell phone with some VIPs. What a beautiful view of mountains ahead of me, seemingly close enough to touch. Followed the 'Old West Highway' (60) to Florence Junction where i stopped for a Gatorade break and met the Harley Davidson version of Santa Claus. Though dressed in well-worn leather, he had rosey cheeks, a bit of a belly and laughed like it came from deep within. Fascintated with my bike gear and plans...he asked..."What is Peace Corps?" We talked for a long while, providing me with both good company and a welcome respite. Just 13 miles up the road is the next town called Superior. Indeed he assured me that i could make it and that there was a campground. Furthermore he invited me for a meal in his hometown Superior....'if I made it.' So i climbed a hill, then another and another and wound up biking in the dark for about 15 minutes or so. A bit unsettling especially when the side of the highway is decorated with white crosses. Indeed i found the campsite, cell phone not working at all, too late and tired to accept the dinner invite. Just at my most exhausted state....a fellow cyclist approached me in the dark and invited me to pitch my tent near his. One cyclist ,Stephen, and one support driver, Rhonda, cycling for a cause. Check out their website at http://www.rideacrossamerica.org.

Mileage 445 miles. Leaving the unexplored town of Superior. Farewells from Biker Santa Claus as he waved me hello as i was just beginning my exit. TOUGH CLIMB. Steep 7% grade for the first 3 miles straight. What does this mean? It is steep enough to mandate a runoff ramp for truckers, steep enough to suggest truckers use their lowest gears, steep enough to knock this 'expereinced' rider off her saddle a good couple dozen times. Fantastic views. Good excuse to take photos, or at least to make it appear that i stopped my cycle for the photo op, not to recuperate from the previuos 400 ft. Overall an intense climb all 27 miles to Globe, AZ. Found an RV park that had no facilities, but allowed me (for a small fee) to pitch my tent next to the batting cage after 6pm. Though i desperately needed a shower, i was pleased enough with the accommodations and accepted with a smile. Met a peculiar young boy who lives at the RV park, is home schooled and has lived all over the country for any length of time. Never knows when he and mom will pick up and move. Reminded me of the movie Chocolat, only unfortunately there was no chocolate shop. Perhaps he will make Globe, AZ permanent...

Mileage 472 miles. Altitude in Globe, AZ is 3541 ft. Cold enough to see my breath and damp enough to mandate drying my tent in the sun. Had a hot breakfast inside the tent on my little campstove of leftover beans and macaroni. Mmmmm. Fuel. Decided to stock up on some foodstuffs at the local Safeway where i met a concerned citizen of Globe who mentioned that he and his wife would take a drive today to check up on me. This put my worries to rest and i felt instantly guided. I climbed and climbed some 14 miles before Ben & Lois Albert, like angels from the heavens, checked up on me. I was feeling strong and thought that receiving assistance would be unecessary, but Ben encouraged me to accept help...and i allowed it...to Salt River Canyon. Switch backs all the way down and all the way up...unbelievabe views, a hidden treasure, indeed! i was dropped with hugs and good wishes at the top of the canyon. Thanks to the Alberts...I will survive!!!!!
Still continued some 20+ miles to the Carrizo Indian Reservation Store where i decided to stay for the night. The clerks in the store said that other cyclists had stayed overnight historically. "Watch out for bears," they said. After about half a dozen folks said this to me, I realized that they were not kidding. "And mountain lions and coyotes." GULP...every scratch of the tent or wind that sounded the least bit different CONVINCED me that i would be eaten by Smokey the Bear. It certainly did not help my fears to have my cell phone battery die...I couldn't even phone 911 to say..."HELP, A BEAR!!! A BEAR!"