Day 8 - Early to bed, early to rise?

With my alarm set the prior night, I hoped to arise at 5:30 and take advantage of the cool morning air to ride to Blythe (just a hop, skip and a pedal from the Colorado River and the Arizona state line). Oops, I turned off my phone. So, at 6:30, I awoke with the sun streaming. I hustled to break camp and head onto the road. I finally left town after a few sightseeing minutes.

Digital sign at the Lagoon Lodge in Palo Verde, indicated October 11, 7:23 AM and 55 delightful degrees. (I added the delightful)

Next county

As I was leaving Palo Verde, young school children were awaiting their school bus, that I later saw driving to pick them up, were dancing with their shadows. It felt, like a piece of me was with them at that moment. Then just a few minutes later, I looked to the west and saw myself with the children. So as I rode, I pulled out my camera from the bag on my top tube bag and snapped a couple of photographs to assure I was still a child.

At precisely 7:42 AM (according to my odometer that stopped working because the magnet on the spoke fell off - the device doesn't need the magnet for the time, however), The Heat Miser relinquished his heat. It felt like he added an additional 10 degrees.

That additional 10 degrees made me think about cremation. At this time, I must pause from my journey and thank both of my parents for deciding to be cremated when they die. Embalming, caskets, etc - what a racket and wasteful. Mom wants her ashes to be strewn into the ocean because she loves the beach and Dad wants  his ashes to be strewn across a path that lead to his favorite hunting area. 

I've always wanted to be cremated. At the time of the writing of this blog, I would most definitely want my ashes spread on the four corners of the Hilltown, PA municipal soccer field. I was never a great soccer player. I was one to count on. If you needed me I would be there (other than injury, I believe I missed one game in 9 years). As for the game, I couldn't score very often and would get stuck in the corners and need to pass the ball for others to score. Additionally, at the end of my playing career, I played a lot of goalkeeper. As a goalkeeper, if the opposition was coming to my end of the field I preferred they stay in the corners. Hence, my desire for my ashes to be spread in the corners.  However, that may all change on my journey. I may determine that I would like my ashes spread somewhere else. Finally, I want AC/DC's entire Back In Black album played in it's entirety at my memorial service on a loop. Not quietly either. It was never intended to be played quietly. 

Ripley. Well, that's about all there is to Ripley. Not really, but close. I noted what I believe to be an unusual sociological statement that is made in Ripley. The individual with the most junked cars on their lot was king of the community. I could be wrong.

Upon departing Ripley, I was pursued by what looked like a chihuahua and Jack Russell terrier mixed dog. Once I had passed his fencing, his pursuit subsided as the danger had fled. Sadly, his canine companion didn't feel the same way. While pursuing me inside the fence this rottweiler-sized dog barked ferociously. However, upon passing the fence, it began to whine and cry wanting me to stay and play I could only suppose.

Just a road sign

I stopped at a Valero gas station to grab some shade and met the station cat. Me-at, me-at, me-at, me-ow. No thank you kitty. I'm allergic. Just then a woman who pulled into get gasoline. I couldn't help but stare at her - almost in an uncomfortable way. Unbelievable!!!! I was just caught ogling a woman who looks uncannily  like Maxine, the crabby cartoon woman found on Hallmark cards.

Finally, I ended up in Blythe searching for a Starbucks and a clean bathroom (usually the latter is found in the former). I was told by my new friend Chalise that this was not always the case for this specific Starbucks. As a frequent traveler from Long Beach, CA to Phoenix, she indicated that this Starbucks used to be nasty! She advised that she was happy now because it appeared new management took over and clean bathrooms resulted.

I asked Chalise if her name was a family name. She smirked and said, "Definitely not." She explained that her parents worked in a carpet factory together many years ago. One parent worked in the dyeing department. She advised that her parents worked with some less than literate folks. They pronounced the color "Silver Chalice" as "Silver Shalise." We both laughed aloud and shared stories about our travels. After discussion, she said, "I'm inspired to ride my bike again."

So now I sit staring at a laundromat that is calling my name. If I get arrested for indecent exposure in Blythe, CA for sitting in clean underwear in a laundromat, anyone reading this willing to post bail?

Happy Monday.