FROM THE SEA TO THE DESERT

Hello Family & Friends

The local sheriff warned us there was no place between Page Arizona and Cameron to bed down along the road and besides it was just plain not safe.  Laws are different on the reservations and besides we now have a mission..... the end to the bike trip is in sight.  
 

However,  we did enter the reservation and found our Navajo's a peaceful tribe when we joined them on a 'tour' from Page to the spectacular Antelope Canyon.
In a four wheel drive open vehicle we sunk deep into a very thick red dusty river bed to reach this famous slot canyon.
 

Walking inside the narrow passages we were mesmerized by the orange colored rolling walls of rock,

white sunlight beams shining down,

rivers of sand cascading off layers of glowing rock, orange, red, and deep hues of purple.  
 It was magic

  
Gary & Naylah from Oregon

This time, back at the campground, out from one of those big 'motor homes' comes a man and his wife, curious about our little Bike Fridays and how we could be traveling so compactly. 
Within hours we were 'inside' their very plush transport rolling down the hi-way in style.  We did not even have to ask,  we think sometimes people feel the need to 'rescue' us! 
 

GRAND  CANYON

 

The Grand Canyon....what can you say about this wonder of the world?  

We biked miles along the rim, watched the newly introduced condors soar overhead,

delighted in watching the Indian dance performances, nightly talks on history and geology,

and warmed up with big bowls of hot chili.....it is still down in the 20's at night.  

Like everywhere we met some fun and interesting people, here mostly hikers.  

There was Ray from New Orleans and 'ultra light' hiker. 

He made his stove from the bottom half of a coke can, surrounded by chicken wire and topped off with foil insulation.

Ray the 'ultra light' hiker

His tent was a tarp stretched over a rope on top of a thin sheet of Tervix used in new housing insulation.  The back of his backpack was a waffle insulating foam pad which doubled as his sleeping mat.  His molting jacket was actually an ultra light Frog Togg and he wore Croc's on his feet.  If he got any lighter he would probably be floating.  

 Then there was Patrick, recently retired from the movie and TV industry with loads of money, who was just realizing how much more fun it is to live simply.  He turned us on to an amazing link  http://www.thedashmovie.com/ & web site www.retireearlylifestyle.com    Jim the 'thrifty trikster'

She was in the rest room plucking duck feathers from her neatly coiffured hair do, by-product of the down comforter she had bought at the thrift store.   I did not have the heart to tell her about using a sleeping bag in a tent. 

I did tell her about Jim the Trikster, perhaps they will meet. 
 

 Then Gayla the 'Bikin Girl' meets the 'Hiken Girls' Judy and Connie. 

Their mission is to hike the Arizona Trail which runs the entire length of Arizona from Mexico to Utah.  They were almost done, just one last leg to complete, down the Kaibab trail into the Grand Canyon and up the North Rim. 

Their web site www.hikengirls.com tells tails of menopausal women out doing their own thing, while dealing with weirdo's on the trail and age related obstacles like forgetfulness.                                                                                   Bikin Girl meets Hiken Girls       

A $3.50 train ride then replaced a $20.00, full-day, jolting stagecoach ride.

 

   It was one of the most exciting adventures of our entire trip. 

As we click clacked down the track at a mere 40mph
we were suddenly aware of a pair of masked bandits on horseback galloping along side the train.....with GUNS!  

Soon they were bursting through the door demanding we unload all our valuables and money!   

Well......as it turns out it was all part of the fun when taking this train in an effort to re-enacting the old wild west.  What a HOOT!  

And what a way to end our trip.  

Well almost.

The family was surprised and thrilled we had made the effort to join the family and celebrate the graduation.


Our parting shot in our wild west adventure was setting off across the desert heading to Tucson, me squeezed in my sisters pick up truck with another niece and her two kids in car seats.  Steve ended up lying flat, wedged between all the luggage and Bike Fridays on his air mattress covered with a tarp in the  
BED OF THE TRUCK!  
                                                                                                              
                                                                                                          

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