Day #7... Nothing Happenin Here...: Counting Ceiling Tiles in Safford, AZ

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Wednesday April 2, 2008, 77 miles (124 km) - Total so far: 591 miles (952 km)

Today was just an uneventful day in almost all regards. No major highs, no major lows. So I'll just tell a few brief stories and leave it at that. Nick says it's probably a good thing that there were no major events, but I pointed out that it would be nice to have had a bunch of cool stuff happen too. I did see two things I had not seen in weeks.. thick clouds and snow. One of the mountains I passed had some snow at the top, and I was riding into a pretty thick area of clouds but it either fell apart or moved further east.

I left Globe, AZ today and got into a grove, only stopped once to take a few self-pics and pics of flowers along the way. I then made it to Peridot, AZ around mile 18, which is part of an indian reservation, and got a sandwich at the grocery store. I went another 25 miles before I stopped again and that was just to get a gatorade. Another 25 miles or so later I made it to Pima, AZ home to the enticing "Taylor Freeze" ice cream store. Along the road starting about 5 miles out of town they must have had 8 or 9 signs teasing you with all the goodness that lay ahead. Bannanna Splits, Root Beer Floats, Milkshakes, etc. The "Little Joey" within me couldn't resist another strawberry milkshake, so I stopped and got one. And it was good. I then rolled another easy 10 miles into Safford, where I'll be staying tonight, only to discover that out of the dozen hotels, all but two were booked solid, with exception to a B&B with shared everything, and a dive-motel. I chose the later and got the last room. I asked some of the hotel clerks why every hotel was booked solid and they informed me that there is a brand new copper mine opening near town here, and there's hundreds of contractors working here to get things going, so their companies just block out a group of rooms all the time and there's nothing ever available! Luckily I am ok and don't need to get creative (sleeping on a display bed at the 24-hr walmart was one idea).

I saw two other eastbounders and briefly said hello, but they were going about 12mph on flat smooth pavement I was cruising 22-23mph on and didn't really want to slow down to hang out. I think they may have been suprised when I told them I was going to FL too. I guess I must look like a nut carrying no gear with me. But that's ok.

Today would be a good day to talk about my cool Alaska Jersey, since nothing notable happened.
Everywhere I stop, at least half the time, someone will comment about the jersey if I've got it on (the other is a plain, bright yellow jersey with no markings)
The most common question is a variation of this, "Sooo... are you going TO Alaska or coming FROM Alaska?" When I say "neither" they look confused, and then ask where I'm going. When I say Florida, they seem shocked. As if that was further than Alaska or something. I've also had dissapointed responses when I answer that question, as if they were really hoping I was going to or from Alaska, and that going to Florida is lame. A lot of times they also think that I'm lying or are just in shock. One guy at a gas station asked me 5 times if I was BS'ing him. "Really?".. "yeah" ... "For real??" .."yeah, for real" "come on, you're kidding!" .. "nope, not kidding, really going to florida!" pause. pause. pause. "ok, so you're serious." "Yep, serious."
That was my favorite.

I also had another guy tell me what I was doing was dangerous. When I pointed out that there's many other people doing more dangerous things, he confirmed for himself my point by saying, "well, I guess that's true. I was a firefighter for 20 years." I suggested that he probably was in danger more often than I have been on the bike. He agreed.
I also seem to run into a lot of folks that used to live in or live in Alaska part-time. There are a lot of old guys here that spent some time there in the 70's doing pipeline work. Another guy at the hotel I was at last night lives their in the summer and does drilling work for mine and oil companies.

A lot of people also seem to think it's impossible to do a trip like this. I guess it is pretty hard work, but I think the hardest part is finding the time, and then having the mental strength to get through the trying times. I think there's more people out there who can handle it, physically, than many realize.

Anyway, that's it for today!
I'm at the Safford Library so I'll add some pics next from Days 5-7.