Day 5 - Prescott to Flagstaff, AZ
Happenings
After packing up the tent this morning, we ate cinnamon roles that tasted like biscuits and headed toward Flagstaff, 91 miles away. The 91 miles were littered with heavy climbing and intense heat. We're beginning to notice a pattern and we are not particularly amused.
Packing up the Stealth Tent
After two big inclines and one terrific decline just after a perfect little town called Jerome, AZ (google it) with the most breath-taking view, we arrived at a Safeway in Sedona, 60 miles away from Flagstaff.
Caution: Horse and Buggy...so quaint.
The spectacular view from Jerome
It was there that we ate some humble pie, along with our bananas and corn, and realized that with respect to today's ride, we bit off more than we could chew and were discouraged. Then
Aaron prayed for provision. Then an extremely generous couple - complete strangers until tonight - telephoned from Flagstaff (in response to a warmshowers.org request, we posted just this morning, as a long shot). They offered to come pick us up, 30 miles away and drive us back to their home (which is beautiful, even though it was being remodeled. *that was for you, Ann*). We accepted and got a warm shower and delicious Mexican food. Our hats off to Brian on the restaurant selection.
Realizations
This trip never was about the bike ride. This trip was and is about the adventure and the journey. We are seeing these 40 days as a retreat and a mission to get from coast to coast. Our bicycles are merely the vehicles we have chosen to accomplish that end. Therefore, we have no regrets about not hitting 100 miles each day, as planned. We are getting across the country, by golly, and if our mileage fall short of our deadlines, we will feel no remorse in taking a bus the rest of the way. *That was very therapeutic. Thank you.*
Loher Nicke, a German tourist, barely understandable, but funny.
Plans
Tomorrow, we head out again into the unknown. Well, okay, we know it's Arizona. We know it's Indian reservation territory. We know it is going to be hot. We known we are going to drink a lot of water and be incredibly safe and prepared. But we do not know when the next time we will see a human being will be, let alone a Starbucks. Yes, that's right, we are venturing into the land beyond corporate America. Among other things, that likely means we will not be able to update the blog for a few days. Hang on though, for we will return, with a full catalog of these next few mysterious days in the middle of nowhere.
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6 comments:
hey i just want you guys too know that i havent takent the yellow shirt off since i got it on sat, so im sacrificing my style and general hygene for you guys! if you guys have to suffer then so will i.....
you guys have been riding for almost a week straight now...
I rode my bike (or really carls bike) to school again this morning in some 90 odd degrees and it was just hot. I can't imagine what its like to ride in some couple hundred degrees is like.
Carl is not wearing his yellow shirt. I hope the spandex are fitting well
Is it just me, or do I actually see a pink flamingo in the "The spectacular view from Jerome" picture?
(waaaaaaaay over to the right...)
shoot! if i would have known or thought to think about the fact that you guys were going through Prescott and Flagstaff I would have totally told you that I have relatives in both cities. Dang. Will it sounds like you made it just fine none the les. (sorry for the pun)
"cinnamon roles that tasted like biscuits".....that's a win/win situation.
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