Today is the day I have been waiting for..........reaching Phoenix (actually Mesa), and a couple of days' rest. From Tolleson all the way to Mesa (26 miles), it is almost all industrial.....the farms have been left behind. Today I passed thru Tolleson, Phoenix, Tempe, and Mesa, and it's hard to tell where one ends and the other begins. The good part of this is, sidewalks almost the entire route, which allows me to get out of traffic. The bad news is, very little scenery.
When entering Phoenix, I stopped to ask directions at a business named "Forklift Exchange, Inc." Met 3 nice guys who were interested in our walk. They gave me water, printed a map to get me to Mesa, and wished me well. Bob Cannady, VP of Sales, gave me his card and said if there's anything we need while in AZ (not Phoenix, but the whole rest of the state), to give him a call. How 'bout that?
So, off to Mesa. One thing I see here and also saw in CA is date palms. Large bunches of dates, hanging much like bananas from the tops of the palms. A few had fallen on the ground and I searched for one that looked ripe, and took a bite. It was soooo good and sweet. Unfortunately, there were very few I could find in the same state of ripeness. Someone in CA told me that dates from the palms are hard to harvest because the whole bunch does not ripen at one time.
Around lunchtime I found a laundry and decided to wash some clothes and grab a burger. So, loaded up the washing machine and crossed to road to McDonalds for lunch. It's always nice to wear clean clothes, but that doesn't happen too often on the road. Then headed out for the final few miles to Mesa. Along the way, I stopped at a convenience store for a soda. The guy working in the store started asking questions about the walk, and told me: "you need to be drinking water, not soda!" Can you believe that? Even the convenience store guys won't leave me alone.
After a long walk, finally reached the Hampton Inn in Mesa......what a wonderful sight. Just up the street from the motel, I noticed the Mesa high school football field, and there was a game this evening. Alan has never seen high school football, so we decided to walk there and watch the game. Mesa Jackrabbits vs. Red Mountain Lions......Red Mountain won. The stands were packed, and loads of enthusiasm. Alan could not believe so many people would come out to watch kids play a game.
On the walk back to the motel after the game, we stopped at a convenience store to pick up a few things. While there, a young couple came in, the woman dressed in what appeared to be a prom or wedding dress. I asked what was the occasion, and they had just been married and leaving on their honeymoon. Nothing like a 52oz. Big Gulp to get a honeymoon off on the right track! Only in America...........
Sweet dreams tonight, and no walking for 2 days.......it's not all bad out here.
About our schedule: based on walking 15 miles per day, we had planned to be in Phoenix around Oct 1. So, we're about 1 week ahead of schedule. Barring unforeseen problems, I expect our daily average to be between 18-20 miles for the remainder of the trip. With the weather starting to cool over the next few weeks, the walking should take less of a toll on our bodies.
When entering Phoenix, I stopped to ask directions at a business named "Forklift Exchange, Inc." Met 3 nice guys who were interested in our walk. They gave me water, printed a map to get me to Mesa, and wished me well. Bob Cannady, VP of Sales, gave me his card and said if there's anything we need while in AZ (not Phoenix, but the whole rest of the state), to give him a call. How 'bout that?
So, off to Mesa. One thing I see here and also saw in CA is date palms. Large bunches of dates, hanging much like bananas from the tops of the palms. A few had fallen on the ground and I searched for one that looked ripe, and took a bite. It was soooo good and sweet. Unfortunately, there were very few I could find in the same state of ripeness. Someone in CA told me that dates from the palms are hard to harvest because the whole bunch does not ripen at one time.
Around lunchtime I found a laundry and decided to wash some clothes and grab a burger. So, loaded up the washing machine and crossed to road to McDonalds for lunch. It's always nice to wear clean clothes, but that doesn't happen too often on the road. Then headed out for the final few miles to Mesa. Along the way, I stopped at a convenience store for a soda. The guy working in the store started asking questions about the walk, and told me: "you need to be drinking water, not soda!" Can you believe that? Even the convenience store guys won't leave me alone.
After a long walk, finally reached the Hampton Inn in Mesa......what a wonderful sight. Just up the street from the motel, I noticed the Mesa high school football field, and there was a game this evening. Alan has never seen high school football, so we decided to walk there and watch the game. Mesa Jackrabbits vs. Red Mountain Lions......Red Mountain won. The stands were packed, and loads of enthusiasm. Alan could not believe so many people would come out to watch kids play a game.
On the walk back to the motel after the game, we stopped at a convenience store to pick up a few things. While there, a young couple came in, the woman dressed in what appeared to be a prom or wedding dress. I asked what was the occasion, and they had just been married and leaving on their honeymoon. Nothing like a 52oz. Big Gulp to get a honeymoon off on the right track! Only in America...........
Sweet dreams tonight, and no walking for 2 days.......it's not all bad out here.
About our schedule: based on walking 15 miles per day, we had planned to be in Phoenix around Oct 1. So, we're about 1 week ahead of schedule. Barring unforeseen problems, I expect our daily average to be between 18-20 miles for the remainder of the trip. With the weather starting to cool over the next few weeks, the walking should take less of a toll on our bodies.
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