Day 6 - 88.58 miles - Surprise, AZ

I was treated with a cool morning today. You would think at 4:30am it would be cool, but it hasn't been. This morning it was only in the mid 50's. I think the elevation of 2,000 feet had something to do with that. I'll take it. It felt strange that I needed a long sleeve shirt to stay warm as apposed to needing a long sleeve shirt to block the sun. I have been biking since day one looking like some kind of a sheik from an Arab village. It's either that or get brunt to a crisp and I know Bonnie would not like that. Bonnie is always reminding me how important it is to cover up or use sunscreen, and she's right. The scenery doesn't seem to change all that much. Then again, traveling at 12 to 15 mph you don't get very far per day. There is always a mountain range in the distance, always a cactus within sight, and a railroad by my side. I stopped for a break in the town of Aguila, AZ when Jeff and John rode in. These are the two brothers I meet yesterday at our motel in Salome, AZ. They have road bikes and very little gear so after break I knew I wouldn't see them again. They are from Buffalo, NY on a 2 week tour before they return to their jobs. It was nice talking to these two northeast guys. My plan was to stop in Wickenburg, AZ for the night. That would leave me 80 miles to do tomorrow to meet my friends Rick and Denise, in Chandler, AZ where they live. I got to Wickenburg earlier then I thought so I pulled out the maps and decided on doing another 30 miles today and make tomorrow an easier day. I am so happy I decided on doing this. I found a nice place to stay in Surprise, AZ. Then I got a message from Bob Babbitt saying that our interview was online. That made me even happier!

Photos: Sunrise - Cactus in the Harquahala Mountains - Taking a break - Black Mountain - John and Jeff from Buffalo, NY - Farming in the Valley - Turtleback Wash near Wickenburg, AZ