Pedal for Peace 2008

We don’t have much time for a post today, the library closes in 8 minutes so just a stolen write up from Pete’s e-mail to people!

After crossing the Colorado river today from Cali into Zona - Patch and I pedaled our ankles off to get to this library in quite possibly the dryest and hottest town in all of the USA. Quartsite, AZ!

We spent the last 3 days pedaling through the desert of Cali. We camped on the tops of some hills where I had my water bottle mouthpiece nibbled off by some thirsty desert rodent. Getting up at 4:30 to get as many miles as possible before the heat hits is getting easier, but the “heat of the day” starts around 8 am and stops around 7 pm. At every chance we get - we get water and AC and the locals look at us and all say the same thing. “You guys are crazy, nuts, loco, ridiculous, sweating,…” and whatever else spills out of their mouths, when they see me standing next to my bike.

2 nights ago we coasted into a tiny desert town called Seeley CA where the center of town consisted of a market and a bar. Fortunately for me, the bar was playing the Celts game. So I sat in that tiny air condidtioned paradise watching the celts trounce the lakers. All of the mexican locals (did I mention that our path graced the mexican border?) were cheering against me, but they were amazingly friendly. The bartender asked me not to pay for my for two 7-ups (with tons of ice) and wished me a happy travel! I will never forget that night where I sat proudly with the only non-bike riding shirt I brought on this trip… My Kevin Garnett jersey!

As we came through the desert yesterday we rode up through the most amazing set of sand dunes I have ever seen. It was just lush sand as far as you could see. Nothing growing, no rocks, nothing… just 2 ridiculous white boys pedaling through it with more water than Sea World attached to the bikes!!!

Well, I hope you are all enjoying your summer… you know I am. I thrive on the challenge of this stuff. If you want to know how I really am doing, please don’t ask my dad.. \He tends to get down on the negative aspects of the trip!!! What is wrong with some delays and unexpected expenses?… that is why I worked 5 jobs all year!!!!

Well… I’ll shout a big Hi to all the cactuses for you all!
Much Love and happiness.. the librarian is breathing down my neck…

keep the emails coming!!!

thank you kurt, kendra, graham, danna, and tope for all your help!

108 in the Shade!  (At 10am!)

Shade comes in the form of a palm tree?!

Welcome to the Dunes!!!!

And now we’re riding through ‘em!

Can you feel the Ocean breeze?!??

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 19th, 2008 at 7:53 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.