Phoenix – Wickenburg - 103km
We left Phoenix via the Arizona Canal cycleway on a beautiful, sunny
day. What a pleasant and relaxing way to leave a busy city. The
following day, we learned a body was found in the canal. Eish, it's a
good thing I didn’t see that. Once the path ended, a cyclist out on his
daily exercise offered to show us a more pleasant route to the
highway. He accompanied us, which took him way off his original
course—how kind of him?
Later, and after a gradual uphill slog, an RV campsite in Wickenburg
signalled the end of the day’s ride. True to this area’s small towns,
Wickenburg resembled an old Wild West town sporting a historical
centre. Old-fashioned-looking shops and inns lined the streets and
the lifelike displays resembled a movie set. The Americans were
super friendly, and the campsite owner was no exception. We had a
long chat, after which he offered us beer and the use of the electrical
plug in his office.
Wickenburg – Peeples Valley - 50km
The wintry conditions made for a slow start, and it took forever to
defrost, pack up and get going. A steady climb led out of Wickenburg,
and the going was slower than usual. The area was vast and
desolate, dotted with hamlets and interesting people. At the tiny
settlement of Congress, one of the old-timers, Dave, gave us the
history and told us about the many Snowbirds still prospecting gold in
the valley. There’s still gold in them hills, they say.