Day 11 – Thank you to the sandwich truck man

4:42 and the wacky morning DJs start their obligatory schlock in Spanish followed by lots of Spanish music. From a dream of which I cannot recall, I arose to the one DJ saying, “Blah, blah, blah, manana.” I took this to mean, it's tomorrow and get up you tented slacker. The music was coming from the lunch truck of the local sandwich man. Ugh, time to make the donuts I thought.

At my disposal this AM was a hose, that the cafe keeper offered me to use last evening. I boiled water and feasted upon Louisiana red beans and rice after 13 minutes off steeping. In the meantime, I loaded up all of my gear and went to the market across the street. This was at roughly 5:00 AM when I attempted to get in the door of the market in Salome that was obviously open – paying patrons were inside and just across the street on the dusty corner of the intersection were patrons whom I had seen go in and come out with goods. What gives? I stared in the door's window, tapped on the window to gain the attention of the patron and said, “Abierto?” That's one of about a dozen words of Spanish I know. The gentleman inside pointed to the corner of the building. Oh, that door.

I grabbed provisions for the day and headed on my way by 5:30 after munching down half of the red beans and rice (it does say 2 servings on it!) By the time I was completed, the dusty corner of the road where many of the store's patrons stood was burgeoning with people and lots of Spanish being spoken. White school buses passed by the intersection and made its rounds through neighborhoods surrounding the Oasis Cafe, obviously picking up migrant farm workers. The dusty corner men were present until after I left on my ride into the pre-dawn morning.

That's a lot of pressure to pay attention for that long, I believe, but, OK.

I rode in the cool morning, sweating however from the Louisiana spiced red beans and rice. I made my way to Wenden, a town just 5 miles east of Salome. Upon reaching the main intersection of Wenden, there was a buzz of what to me seemed like excitement and anticipation. Upon approaching I saw a great sign for a restaurant. It's probably been done before, but I thought it funny. If you, my reader don't, tough! I photographed the sign and realized that in the predawn hours, using a flash with many migrant workers in the background could have posed a challenge or two due to the concern about an undercover INS worker. At the southeast corner of the intersection, I saw fresh fruit through a mass of men. I pulled my trusty steed through the crowd and parked against a post. Inside the stand was a shirtless, heavy set Hispanic man. I looked at the produce with saucered eyes. I chose a bag of green grapes (I prefer red, thank you) and two of the most fragrant oranges I've ever encountered. I wanted the $1.00 whole pineapple, but couldn't see myself hacking through it in prompt fashion to enjoy it properly. After paying, I mounted my steed and proceeded to Aguila.

Lousy food and bad service. How could anyone go wrong?

The ride still in the cool of the predawn hour was nice. But then the blazing orb shone over the mountains in the southeast. Heinous heated hydrogen behemoth! Worst thing about the ride today was the following. It was boring, boring, boring to get to Aguila. I thought at one point, it actually could be possible to die of boredom. There was a slight grade to Aguila and a strong headwind that comes from the persistent high pressure system that sits in Utah and rotates in a clockwise motion, bringing hot dry air into my lungs. Damn you coriolis effect! I don't even know if that is geologically and atmospherically correct, but heck, it sounded good.

Sunrise and sunbeams

Almost to Aguila

I stopped a few times to rest, stare at ant hills, and take a few pictures along the way. Off in the distance at one point I saw a green road sign. I thought to myself, that it would be ridiculously funny if the sign ahead said, “Yup, you're still in the desert dummy! Keep pedaling.”

Ant hole...one of thousands I saw along the way.

Along the way, and upon no map other than Google Maps as a dot is the haven of Gladden. I checked to see if there was a store to get some ice water. There was no store and just a small group of group of trailer homes and a pile of rotting honeydew melons. I didn't understand the pile. I turned around and continued to Aguila.

Finally, I arrived in Aguila and met some cyclists heading west. John and Liz were from Leistershire, England and they were delightful and helpful, sharing tire patches with me! We compared stories and I forewarned them about the coming 300 miles. We parted ways after exchanging blog information. John apologized that he was about 5 days behind in his blogging.

The metropolis of Aguila. 

I found my way to the Aguila Library! I was greeted by a sunbathing dog that I later found out is the hamlet's dog. He's a wanderer and a lover apparently. Food and water bowls are placed outside of the library by the head librarian throughout the day.

I made my way inside to find wireless internet in the library. The library also served as an ad hoc daycare center for the village; schools are on fall break.

While at the library, I was able to secure some CDs for “review” that my iPod like. The new songs will serve as the soundtrack for the next part of my journey: The Wickenburg Wander.

When I spun out to the Coyote West Cafe located just on the eastern outskirts of the dusty desolate town, I stopped by the post office to mail a map back home so it would be one less item to carry. I stopped by approximately at 1:15 PM – CLOSED. It was lunch hour. Gotta remember, everyone and every town doesn't work on my schedule.

Time to make the Wickenburg Wander and virtually nothing happened until about 7 miles from Wickenburg.  when a coyote ran across the road. Traveling at approximately 30 mph, I was less than composed and overlooked a large rock in the road and hit it, slightly bending the rim...oh well, I'll repair that in the morning!

I found this sign along the ride east. The Gloom family had then next section of roadway.

Finally!