day 6 & 7, I think

10.13.17, Friday

Although I slept well, I'm finding the going hard today. The difference between today and the past few days is that it is hot, mid-90's, and peddling in the direct sun in the AZ desert on pavement is taking it out of me. I did 15 miles by 10:30 but ran out of gas. I thought it might be that I was not eating enough, but after a hardy breakfast at a small place along the way and another few miles I was still feeling low energy. I found the Ramblin' Roads RV Resort in exactly the right spot. The women at the front desk said I could use the community center so I'm sitting--connected to good wifi--with my shoes off, in front of a fan, with all my electronic items charging, and catching up on computer work. It is now 1 pm and I'm still not sure if I'm going to spend the night or go on. 

This photo is from the BLM dunes camp area, when I almost ran out of water.
Robert took the photo with his camera on a tripod: 

10.12.17, Thursday

I stopped at a bookstore in Quartzsite AZ. A place that one resident described as the largest truck stop in the world. In the winter it is a landing spot for thousands of RV's and rock hounds. Here is a photo of the bookstore: 

Here is a photo of the book I got. I heard of it years ago but never got around to reading it. So far it is really good.  

Here is a photo of Paul, the owner of the bookstore. The photo was taken during normal business hours. In case you are wondering, there is nothing covering his backside: 

I biked most of the day on I 10 because there are no other roads going in this direction. Be sure to view the I 10 treasure photos below. I left the items on the roadway if you see something that you just have to have. The ride was mostly up hill but the highway is graded so well it was fairly easy biking. 

As I got off of I 10 onto route 60 I stopped at the Buckaroo's Country Store, "cold drinks, friendly service", both of which are true, outside of Brenda AZ.  The women at the store, when asked if there was a camping area near by, offered a site on the side of the store which had water, at no cost. I set up quickly and sat down to read my new book. A light almost silky breeze was coming off the desert as the sun was setting and I thought to myself, "the desert in AZ smells better than the desert in CA". Although I have no idea why. 

I did 37 miles, much of it up hill. You are allowed to ride on I 10 because there are no other options in this area. If you took away the thousands of cars and truck screaming past at 75 mph, it would be a great route: the grading makes the climbs easy, the shoulder is wide, and because most of the highway is raised, the views are great. 

Near my Buckaroo camp was a barber who lived behind his shop. We spoke a bit in the evening and the next morning I asked for a trim. He opened his shop early, did a nice job cutting my hair and would not take any money. He said "it's a trim for the road".  

I 10 treasures: 

Cinderella's slipper was the best find of the day. 

There are enough black bungee cords on the
side of the road to weave a trampoline.
I must have seen 50.  

Looking west on I 10, I had just biked through the gap in the hill.