Day 7 - Lost Boys

Day 7 started off well, but there are surprises around every bend and not always good surprises. After riding out of Wickenburg on Rt. 60 we encountered a slight downhill for about 19 miles and there we entered Surprise AZ where our first rest stop was located. There things began to change. The road became more like McKnight Road. Hundreds and hundreds of stores and outlets lined the road. We had to dodge cars coming in and out of the numerous parking lots. We we're so glad to finally get off Rt. 60 and onto some backstreets that were leading to a canal bike path. We had no trouble following our map to that point and we thought that once on the bike path we'd blaze towards Tempe. It was a nice paved smooth path that followed a dry river bed. However, it was poorly marked and we missed a turn. We were, at this point, to start riding along an irrigation canal but we didn't know there were two canals. We somehow got on southern canal which took us to Glendale AZ, about ten miles off course. I was riding with Dick and James and we decided to make the most of a less than ideal situation. We used GPS to work our way back but of course it lead us to a few dead ends. James took over the controls and we gradually got back on course. 

(This is what a long day on a bike looks like. The temperature was around 100 and James had the right idea by taking a break.)

The tour leaders were worried about us but we assure them that if it got too bad we knew various ways that we could end our lives. Of course, we were the last ones in and had to take a little ribbing from the others. We didn't make it to the party on time but we made it and it only took us 11 hours. Beer and food never tasted so good. 

Tomorrow is a day off.