Tuesday Morning, Day 82, Aug 8th

Up early yesterday at the Oxbow Estates RV Park in Payson, Arizona. On arrival the night before, the owner volunteered my stay gratis. I accepted feeling so grateful. There are wonderful people to meet and this person's generosity continues to resonate with me.

Up early because I knew there was no shoulder for the next 3 miles. Goal was to slip through without going over a steep embankment (cliff into the abyss) or nailed by a car, truck or even a motorcycle. Some bikers own the lane... I did slip through safely, timing was good. Traveled a total of 62 miles. Upon arrival to Foundation Hills the temperature reached 107°. I climbed a serious mountainous area on the way. The power consumption in the heat was enormous. The motor ceased 4 times while ascending. I made sure my feet were not locked in when the risk for this was high for motor ceasure. Received about 4 friendly honks of the horn by passersby travelers which were encouraging, especially during climbs! I brought 2 gallons of water and drank all but a half gallon. Sun was strong. I had to apply sun block a second time. Eating a can of minestrone soup and a can of beans and 2 peaches helped. Resting while waiting for the motor to cool was a good way to take care of me while incidentaly going along with the limits of the machine. If potential sun stroke became an issue I could camp with a sun reflector emergency mylar "blanket" set up with use of the bike frame to provide shade. There was always waving down passerbys or calling 911 if necessary - I don't think an Uber driver would take a request from 50 miles in the desert seriously... My margins were safe but I was tired when I rolled into Fountain Hills. I stopped at the first open place approached. A donut shop. At the register there was a note from the owner asking for support. He has blood cancer. So no complaints about the heat from me in reading the note.

I booked my stay at the hotel 3 miles down the road after a salad dinner at Wendy's. Got my laundry done and shaved and slept. The continental breakfast had great selection and the coffee was very good. 👍 No shaving cream for sale at the front desk last night, but the manager gave me hair conditioner. It worked better than shaving cream! I heard President Biden will be in Phoenix today. That could potentially affect my route. May only ride to the westerly side of the city or city limits and spend more time calculating the heat factor into daily travel. So far the path to San Diego looks good. Turtle mode is working well for me. I can look up what town it was earlier in the trip when I rescued a good sized turtle 🐢 from becoming road kill. He/she was entering the roadway, well within the bounds of traffic. I tried picking my friend up but that created chaos. Diverting and chasing my friend back to the grass a good distance from the road worked. I feel like my friend is looking after me! Sometimes when one befriends, it does not feel friendly, by the befriended. Possibly, later, to learn of the gift.

The photo to this post was my company during lunch on the way to Phoenix on 87 South in the middle of nowhere... but, in thinking about it, nowhere can be somewhere.