Riding Day 6
This post will be short, because we mostly spent the day white-knuckled as our route took us from Buckeye, AZ through metropolitan Phoenix to Tempe along roads without shoulders, roads filled with driver angst, roads thick with trash and rocks and ruts and football sized potholes. There wasn’t time to snap photos or relax. It was more about survival. It was about the grit on the road and the grit within us. It was about keeping Hank’s tires within a 12” wide corridor to avoid being hit by vehicles of all shapes and sizes a few inches further to our left for mind-numbing stretches. It was about navigation, missed-marked trails and headwinds. It was also about Shamrock Shakes, Odie’s Zen, The Bob’s steadying presence, and maybe even a smidgeon of Divine Intervention. It was about wondering what the hell we were doing out there, all the while knowing exactly why we were out there and will remain out there until we reach Saint Augustine. Adversity is forever the birthplace of adventure, lest we forget…
Reliving my ride across the nation, hats off to the team here. My RPMS were significantly higher on a motorcycle so I cannot imagine the thrill, anguish and diversity in monotony on a bicycle. So impressed, enjoy those times of being zoned out and so deep in your own head that it all makes sense. Kick ass! Gary, glad to see your are well, so awesome the friendships that last a lifetime.
You guys are so brave. I’m so impressed with your adventure.