A lot of people have told me that I may become sad/depressed once my trip is over. I have been peddling pretty long days thinking that I may be cutting it close to meeting Margo when she flys in on the 26th. I have talked to her every day on the road and I am so excited that she is going to be there at the finish line.
Saw this guy in New Mexico
Here I am. Just over 200 miles until my finish. I now have 11 days to make it there when I could be there in 4 days. So the next week I am going to take short days and savor every moment left through California until I jump into the cold Pacific.
New Mexico-California.
I rode into Silver City late in the evening after climbing over Emory Pass. It was getting cold and I was trying to find somewhere to camp. I called the local bike shop and they gave me a number of a guy to call. William called me back and said I could crash at his house.
William had an awesome place in Silver City. He allowed travelers to stay at his 'life sanctuary' for free. He was a really laid back and easy to talk to. He may come off as a big hippie, but he had it all together and had a solid perspective things that most people would overlook these days.
He allowed me to stay in this house (which I had to myself) for 2 nights. He had a really nice piece of property. This was his greenhouse that we shared with 13 other people.
Also a good looking solar panel. Doesn't rain much here, so the sun dominates.
A tree in his backyard was the first sign of fall I have seen. I miss the Virginia fall Season. Not a lot of trees in the desert either.
William does a lot of bike touring too. He sets out on week long trips in the area to just wonder and camp. He had a nice setup
A picture of William I saw on the wall
I had a great conversation with William. It seems that I meet the coolest people when I don't know where my final destination is going to be. Sometimes we
Have to stop trying to control every little thing on journeys and just see where the adventure takes you. Fear and control go hand in hand. We just have to find a way to sometimes let go of that control in our lives and just roll with whatever.
On a lighter note- I saw these in a store display! Will someone please admit that they used these??!
After a solid rest day, I set off to cross into Arizona. Some good climbing up to the continental divide.
2 miles after, it was a solid 15 miles downhill into an entirely different landscape. Very memorable.
This made the day that much better
I stayed in the small town of Duncan. Deb and her husband owned a small bed and breakfast in town. They allowed bikers to stay in a small trailer in their back yard.
They had a goat named 'Pepper' that would stick his head in the door to say hello.
The next day I rode to meet my Dad in Safford. A shorter ride. He flew into Tucson the day before and was going to hang out for a couple of nights.
On the way I ran into Chance. He was walking across the US to raise money against Human trafficking. He had been in the road 8 weeks and had only covered about 700 miles. I can't imagine.
My dad and I dove around and explored Arizona (and New Mexico) for a couple of days. It was great to see him and relax in a hotel.
We drove out to the old western cowboy town of Tombstone. Touristy, but cool to see.
Some of the landscape.
I met these guys going opposite ways the next day heading towards Globe. They were from the UK and this was his retirement trip.
Passed through a lot of Indian reservations that day. A lot of history around these parts.
I don't know if it was where I was, but I've never seen so many beer bottles along this stretch of highway. Not to mention, a cross where someone had died along the road every 5 minutes. You do the math
Globe was a cool small town. I camped out in a small RV park complete with batting cage and cold water hose shower (that the manager let me use)
On the wall of the batting cage
Peanut butter,honey and tortillas are quickly becoming my favorite go to meal.
Sock dryer. I'm going to be rich
A shady spot by the river.
I've been keeping up with another cyclist that was trailing me since Austin. Turns out we finally ran into each other leaving Globe. Joe and I rode together to the East side of Phoenix that day.
Joe started in upstate New York and was headed to San Diego and then towards Seattle. He was pulling a trailer behind his bike. A cool dude. We exchanged stories of our trip and realized we had met a lot of the same people on the road the past month.
Reminders of the finish line.
Sadly, no hot springs.
Joe waking up
Arizona sunrise.
He past few days have been hot. 90 degrees. The sun really wears down on you.
Straight desert.
Keeping it light. Don't run me over.
Breakfast of Champions-Carl's jr (Hardee's up north). Where you can get tons on good food for cheap. Sometimes one meal just isn't enough when you are riding.
And then this. The last state line into this great state
Joe and I stayed in Blythe, CA for a couple of days. This guy Wayne allowed us to camp out behind his bait and tackle shop.
Wayne was incredibly generous. All the beer and hot pockets you could want here.
Cats wonder on rooftops.
They had a small pond where you could fish. As much as they told me it was just for the kids, I gave it a try and caught one small fish.
The ducks were friendly too.
I asked Wayne if he had any work I could do. He told me to talk to his business partner, Mark. I was able to make 50 bucks helping clear a small lot beside their recycling business. California has a higher payout for recycled goods than most states.
Mark on the forklift.
I worked with a guy named Mike. He had fallen on hear times and was helping out to get by.
It was hard work out in the hot Sun. Reminded me that I'm not ready to go back to work just yet.
No rain=tons of dust in your face.
Shadow selfie
View from the back of the shop on the canal.
Joe rode out early this morning. It was good having he company for a few days. He is going to so some longer days to make some distance to San Diego and then North to Seattle. Good luck buddy.
Today I am going to ride a short day. A lot more desert to conquer. The end is in sight and I am going to enjoy each day until the end. I haven't seen Margo in 2 months. Not only the end of an adventure, but getting to see someone that has been incredible supportive of me and someone that I've really missed.
My next post may be the last one. But until then, the journey continues.
-David.
