Day 8 – Home Sweet Home

Miles completed: 71.2

Cumulative miles: 449.5

Miles to St Augustine: 2650

Today we rode a gradual descent from Wickenburg to Phoenix. The Adventure Cycling tour had two options for this ride. One came straight down the busy Highway 60 into the northwest suburbs. The alternative route took Highway 74 that was further north past Quintero Golf Club and also close to Lake Pleasant and then entered the Phoenix area further north. A few weeks before we started I rode portions of each route. I preferred the alternate route even though it was about 8 miles longer, because there was better scenery, less traffic, better bike lanes and paths, and it stayed off the dreaded Bell Road which is one of the busiest roads in the northwest suburbs. The group agreed so we took the alternate route and it was a good choice.

As we were getting ready to start the ride in the morning, I noticed my rear wheel was low on air. This made me nervous but I pumped it up and away we went.

I enjoy the rolling hills on Highway 74 with Saguaro cacti and Cholla cacti among others. If you like the desert, it’s a great ride.

At about the 50 mile mark, Margaret and friends and relatives and Lambeau came out to greet me and the other riders at Rio Vista Park in Peoria. It was a great spot for a break and I was happy to see everyone. I took a long break there to talk to everyone, and to enjoy two pudding shots which is a tradition with our “Bocce and Boozze” bocce ball team at Pebble Creek.

Also at the break, I checked my rear tire and it was still low. I tried pumping it up, but it was not holding air well. I decided to go for the last 20 miles with low tire pressure. Well, I made it to the hostel in Phoenix on a bad tire, so I had a sigh of relief.

Margaret picked me up at the hostel and as we were driving home I called my local bike shop to see if they could look at it on Saturday. They said they would be very busy, so I rushed over there on Friday before they closed. After they looked at the tire, I agreed to get a new one and they mounted it for me in about 10 minutes. I now felt comfortable again for the next week of riding.

Margaret and I joined a large group of friends at our Clubhouse tavern and enjoyed a great evening and a big meal. I’m grateful for my PebbleCreek friends.

Sleeping in my own bed and using my big, beautiful, clean shower were luxuries I appreciated more than ever!