When: May 18 & 19th
Where: Wickenberg to Havasu AZ
Miles: um, like 250 or something.
Sights of the Days: kid bartending and bats/owls in Bouse.

So leaving Wickenberg David from dinner before met me an rode with me out to Aguila, about 25 miles for breakfast. The entire Saturday ride was a consistent flat/downhill. Made it for lunch in Salome before dropping down a long decent through the set of 310 to Yuma to end up in Hope where I took a short break before switching to the 72 out to Parker but stopping at Bouse. I had a good bit of knee pain between Aguila & Salome so I (Smirnoff) iced it & took some ibuprofen. Amazeballs. No pain for the next three hours. I even could’ve made Parker but with a steady headwind & no shoulder it would’ve been slow dangerous rolling in at night so I gave up at Bouse. I hit the main bar in town to eat, ordered a Chili Size. Double Amazeballs! The eating part of riding is starting to kick in more & I started ordering larger meals. I passed on the beer cause the dry heat had murdered my throat, the child bartender told me to man up but I said no to peer pressure & rode a mile out to a community park to set up camp in the creepy dark camp where no one was except insects & swooping owls. Bathrooms full of Mantis’. No! Stop!

I woke at 5:30 & slowly picked up camp, packed up, had a wonderfully night-warmed breakfast flavor Clif bar, thanks Ma, & headed out before 7:00. Morning knee pain had me cursing the wind, I swear, semi’s bring with them like two solid minutes of wind. I kept good speed though & dropped 27 miles into Parker at about 9:00. Guys, guys, did you know, Taco Bell serves breakfast?!? I know right? Better than that they serve ice & water & power outlets so I took care o my business while getting my vitameens & manerals. I got to take the riverside road for about ten miles which was nice, then began the climb. Nothing too hard, 4, 5, & 6% grades, but in 112 heat it takes effect. The next part is more boring & repetitious than all the prior part so blah blah blah I’m in Havasu! Spring Break! Gotta go find a camping spot.

When: May 17
Where: Wickenberg
Miles: 150
Sight of the Day: a fire burning in the middle of the street in Glendale.

In Wickenberg I snagged a grass spot on the yard of an RV park host for $10. I got access to the spare room withthe bulls skull to charge any electronics. I headed into town for dinner & met David who bought me a beer while we talked about biking an such. He had embarked on a Trans-America ride last year but had to cut it short. After dinner at a Hogs Trough BBQ I headed across the street to see Iron Man 3 at the small theatre. On my way out an RV Park resident who looked a little like motorcycle Santa Claus recognized me as the guy with the bike an told me to follow him to the bars. Having based most of my moral decisions on Jim Carey movies (always tell the truth, wear green masks to get the ladies, ect) I said “Yes, man.”
Unfortunately it led to me buying both of our drinks. He was full of funny stories & seemed to be an original gold rusher come loose from time. Eventually I crawled into my sleeping bag & let the feral kittens fight/cry me to sleep amidst the aroma of trailer park weed.

Oh I’m in THAT part of America.

Today’s ride was an easy lazy 55 miles of slightly uphill. From Phoenix to Wickenberg. I made relatively good time despite horribly late departure, a flat tire, & an extended lunch. I’m crashing out so I’ll elaborate later.