Day 8 - Arizona!

To recap, yesterday we arrived in Parker, Arizona late last night. The motel stay was much needed. We even slept in a little today (5:30am, oh my). Then we were off and running again. We decided to have a short day - 35 miles today - since we did 50 yesterday. We are still in the desert, if you will, and will be for some time. The last few days we were in a potion of it where there was no "services" (food, water, gas, cell coverage, or anything, really). Not even power lines, fences or people living out there. Very desolate. Now, it's still desert......just towns here and there to get food and drink from. And that's a wonderful thing! We will have one more stretch here in Arizona where by it will be around 90 miles without services. Note: I've never gone days without washing my hands like that. Nurses just don't do that.
Today was a "easy" day. No real climbs, no complications (police stopping us....again), no carrying 3 gallons of water, just taking our time. Stopping when we want. I quit taking pictures because they all look the same as the last 150 miles. Don't get me wrong, it's very lovely, there's just a lot of it! I did notice the mountains in Arizona are a bit different than in California. They are lower and kinda flat on top. There's probably a name for them. I just don't know it.
We are camping out tonight. Not even sure what tomorrow will bring yet, but we'll wait and see.

Fun facts after my first week:
1) Many California people have see my white hiney on the side of the road. I'm so sorry.
2) I have not cried.......yet
3) I take far less ibuprofen than when we first started.
4) I've never had sunburned knuckles before like I do now.
5) RV drivers should be trained further on how to operate their vehicles.
On a scale of 1-10, it goes like this:
18-wheeler drivers get a 10. Good job, guys! You make a hard job look easy.
RV drivers get a  -1. They think they can handle it, but I now know better.
6) The one thing that makes me smile is when my front tire on my stroller is aligned straight.

Lastly, Hygiene Report:
Sadly, no shower tonight. And I'm not even brushing my teeth either. (I did this morning though, if that counts). My feet are holding up pretty well. Reflexology is in my future. Far off future.

Happy Hump Day! Which reminds me, I find I don't keep up with the days of the week well. Kinda like retirement......every day is Saturday, except for Sunday, of course.

See you tomorrow!
Cyndi
Who has her mace beside her tonight. When I pottied earlier, I looked down and noticed some tracks that looked iffy.

Night 7 - Out of the desert

Good morning! We made it into Parker, Arizona last night, and it was worth the extra miles to get to a motel. I felt like I needed to put my whole cart, supplies and all, into a huge washing machine!! I was in luck, because the motel had a washer and dryer (one) for customers. I was so excited, got all my dirty stuff together, and took it to the washer. Surprise! It was being used. Whoop whomp. Back to my room, and it would be another clothes washing in the shower tonight. That's okay! I get it done pretty quick. So I've got all clean clothes this morning. Yay!!!!

The time in the desert was wonderful. The beauty of it is constant. Seeing the sunrise and sunset each day, sleeping under the stars, and the quiet of it is priceless. We will get to do this again coming up. But today, we will begin from Parker, and start moving across Arizona. 

The way into Parker last night was a bit precarious. The shoulder was about 6 inches, and there was a thousand 18-wheelers going by. I'm sure everyone of them thought I was crazy. Even I thought I was crazy. 

The motel was wonderful. I slept well! Now it's time to start my day. 

Thanks again for all your kind words and support. It warms my heart. 

Hygiene Report: 

I, of course, showered for about an hour. My fingernails are now clean again. Teeth brushed (in a sink), and clothes washed in the shower with me. All's well. Who could ask for more?!

Gotta run,

Cyndi

Day 5, 6, 7 - Desert

Hi! Hope your week has been off to a good start!

I will be making my way out of the desert, around late this evening. We'll be making our way to Parker. I'll be in Arizona before too long!!

As we left  29 Palms, we had gathered at least 3 gallons of water (1 gallon = 8 lbs), plus other fluids. Purchased food  that is sealed - so that critters in the desert don't visit me while I sleep in their territory. (Yes, I use my flashlight before I pick my sleeping spot. I make sure there are no snake holes or ant beds too close!). So with my food and drink in my cart, we head out to cover the approx 100 miles on our own. We did pass the 29 Palms airport, and were able to stop there for a break. It's small, but they had a picnic table under an awning, that had shade. Shade would be a rarity for awhile! 

We moved about 40 miles (includes getting out of Yucca Valley, to 29 Palms, and into the desert - a little ways), and decided to camp. This would be my first time to sleep out in the desert. I was nervous. And after dragging my far-to-heavy cart through the sand about 40 ft from the road (in the dark), I picked a spot, set up my sleeping bag/bivy and tarp. (I'll post a pic of that on Instagram. It's lovely). Needless to say, I did not sleep well. The wind picked up, and blew my tarp around. I was trying to decide if it was a bobcat trying to get me, or a rattlesnake stuck in it?!? In the end, it was only my tarp, making noise, and everything was fine. I awoke the next morning, not very rested. I'll do better, Night 2, in the desert. 

So, the next day was spent making our way (running, run/walk or walking) across the desert. It's beautiful!!! I'm trying to enjoy each moment. It was tough, yet the memories last a lifetime. 

Night 2 in the desert. Okay, I've got this! 42 miles and I'm ready to sleep! Since the wind picked up, I will not be putting that tarp up! Sleeping bag, under the stars. Thousands of stars! I laid there  thinking: How is it, I'm laying in the middle of the desert, under the stars? Wow! Then I feel asleep, and slept like a baby. 

And Day 7 began. Time to leave the desert, until we do this again, in Arizona. We won't be out of it til later, but the desert has taken pity on me, and gave me a tail wind, and partly cloudy day, for my last day here. Thank you! It's about 10am, and are moving toward Vidal junction. 

Hygiene Report:

I'm dirty, my fingernails are full of something that resembles dirt? Day old sunscreen still there. I've not taken my socks off in 3 days. Blisters are covered, and doing well! No feet issues for now. I'm afraid to take my socks off. I have brushed my teeth, each morning, using my much-valued water. 

Will close, and get moving. A motel in Parker is in my future, if we can do about 43-45 miles today. Can do. 

Happy Tuesday!

Cyndi

Day 5 - Signing off

Heading into the desert, and expect to have little to no cell service.

I have water and food for three days in my cart.

If I can, I may be able to Instagram on occasion.

Have a good start of the week, and will talk to you after the desert crossing.

Here we go.......Cyndi

Night 4 - Yucca Valley

Happy Easter! I hope things are well with everyone. I awoke early this morning, and look forward to seeing Joshua Tree later today. We left out of Morongo Valley last evening,  made it to Yucca Valley last night. (About 10 miles apart). As soon as we made it into town, there was a Travelodge right there! We stayed there last night, as we know the next 3 nights will most likely be camping in the desert. We weren't yet ready to settle for the night yesterday in the "wind farm", as we were feeling good to continue. (We can make decent time when the "ball of fire" begins to set). The turbines make a calming, swooshing sound, so it would have been a good place to sleep. The locals mentioned to us to be mindful of the rattlesnakes, though. They are prevalent out there. As we traveled on the jeep roads (dirt), we were watchful.
As I had mentioned, we are now on CA 62, and the shoulder is quite generous. We go against traffic, and take safety precautions, such as red blinking lights on us, and the cart, as well as staying close to the side of the road. I can't say for sure, maybe there are more mountains to go through today for awhile, but then desert will begin. Time will tell. Hard to believe it will be desert-flat, after being so mountain-like for so long. The beauty of it makes me smile, as I travel down the road.
We will be heading down US62 to Joshua Tree, in the city of Twentynine Palms. This is in the southern Mojave Desert. We will stock up on supplies, before making our trek there. Once we get there, there should be abundant availability for addt supplies, for the long stretch of 80-90 miles in the desert, without the ability to get food or water. I'll outline what our plan will be later on that. Today, we will eventually get to more supplies (much later on). Yay! I'm nervous about the 2-3 day, with no civilization-thing. That will be new to me.
Hygiene Report:
I am happy to report after being on dirt trails and highway yesterday, I DID shower last night. Teeth brushing and AC were side benefits. The one thing now posing a challenge, is the foot situation. I have a few areas of rubbing and blistering. I did some management on them yesterday. The preventive maintenance I was doing helped, but the heat and hot pavement is hard to fight against. My goal today will be to not develop any further issues. The time has come to juggle this problem, as it will be on-going from here out. Body glide is my friend, but does not come near helping after awhile. Blister band aids, and being mindful of developing "hot spots" is key right now.
Oh yeah! I bet your thinking.....what about her dirty clothes? Well, they shower with me every time I do. I have fabrics that are quick drying, so by the morning, they are fresh and dry.

Thanks for listening, and I wish you a nice Sunday. I hear it may rain in the Dallas area?

I want to congratulate Sheryl, Gene and Matt on their amazing Half Marathon finish on Saturday!!!!! You guys rocked it - and I'm so proud of y'all!!!

I look forward to seeing the desert up close, and personal. Got my hat and sunscreen ready to go!

Missing everyone,
Cyndi

Day 4 - And it's not over yet !

How many cool things can I see in a day? It seems so long ago, this morning, when I changed both tires and tubes on two of my tires. The road is not kind to my stroller.

I digress. Cool things.....yes, I cannot put into words what I did today. It started out early on a dirt trail. Which took us from Banning, towards our next destination. I was concerned about pushing that cart through a dirt/rock path, in the dark.....but somehow I did it. Turns out, that was only a taste of what was to come. We ended up traveling much of the way on dirt roads. It took us through wind farms filled with thousands of turbines. Truly amazing!!! Up a mountain we would go, then down. It's so breathtaking, I can't even put it in words, to do it justice.
Then, after trail blazing, we came to CA 62 (which we will stay on until Arizona). This highway took us up a mountain, then led us to Monrongo Valley. I've never climbed mountains like this, and I loved it, no matter how tough it was.
The rest of the evening is up in the air. It's 10.8 miles to Yucca Valley. I bet we start that way, and then "wild camp" (new term for me) when we are ready to sleep. I'm looking forward to the sleeping bag thing again. I kinda like doing that.
I don't know what the rest of today will bring, but I'm ready for whatever it might be. Every day is new and different. It's just like a adventure every day. I'm beginning to forget what day of the week it is.
Better go stock up on some supplies. I've got to be ready for whatever is ahead!

More later,
Cyndi

Night 3 - Perfecton

What a great night! All the conveniences of showering and sleeping indoors. It was a nice break!

We are on the road again. Not much to report yet. We've run about 6 miles so far. Many to go. The skies are clear, mountains all around, and the weather is crisp.

I meant to tell you all, I won't be using Twitter after all. I'm just not good at that!

As I type this, I see many turbines (is that what they are called?) ....generating energy for something?!
I will seeing a ga-zillion of them today, from what I understand. They look like art.

Hygiene Report:
Showered! That says it all.

Have a wonderful Saturday!!
Cyndi