We Pass Through Joshua Tree

The companion was full of surprises last night. His internet card ended and he didn’t get a new one. Instead he packed up the entire contraption and watched TV. So this morning he didn’t have to do anything but wake up, shower, and go. We were on the road at 9:30.

Today we biked to Yucca Valley but we went through Joshua Tree. The companion was excited to see his first Joshua Tree. And he biked at a good pace so we could get there fast. Plus he wanted coffee, and from our hotel, in the direction of Yucca Valley, Joshua Tree was the first place for coffee that the companion liked.

Before we got to the coffee, we found this dinosaur statue. There was one on each corner of this property. No sign, nothing to tell us what it is. The companion was on the phone at the time doing an interview for a paper. But he stopped, took a picture and moved on. He later said, that’s just like the giant spider we saw.

Yes, exactly. Exactly like that VW bug car made into a spider.


Then suddenly there was a Circle K and I thought the companion was going to go crazy. Oh we are stopping for coffee. But we got more than coffee. We met Danielle, who was just so sweet to us. First the companion leaves me outside while he goes in and tells everyone: we are biking across the country. (I never brag). Danielle recognized him from the paper. Front page! And she gave him a copy. Then she came out to visit with me for a time, and they talked.

She advised him on a better route to get to Yucca Valley to stay out of crazy traffic. Thank you Danielle. She gave him a yellow caution vest to wear so we don’t blend in with the sand. Thank you! And she told us a little bit about the place.

Turtles migrate through Joshua tree! Who knew? I didn’t. But slow and steady wins the race, and I should know: Cause I’m winning.


Here is a Joshua Tree. The companion likes them, cause he likes plants. I think it is odd, but nice. They are all over the place here.

Now for a slight surprise. David from San Francisco is coming to spend a few days taken pictures of us. Should be fun!

And I would like to thank Denise from the basset rescue who has really gotten us some media attention!

29!

Today we are in 29 Palms. And the companion likes it. He things it’s a cute town. Well this is what I see.

It is nice this town. Lots of cute things on the walls. But the people are really better than the town looks. Everyone we’ve met has been really friendly! They all compliment me, and talk to the companion. Lots of smiling! I like that, smiling is my favorite. We stopped at a café and hand lunch. The server was really sweet!

But across the road from the café was a statue. Again there was some disappointment in the companion’s voice when he realized it wasn’t a Roadside Attraction. But he liked it anyway.

There is also a Marine base here. The companion loves all things military, and said: you got to love it when the Marines are around.

Do I?



We also had an interview with the paper here, and with the paper in our next town. Two in one! Thank Goodness. That means: no interviews for a few more days. Excellent. This picture was taken by the newspaper. I like it. Isn't the companion funny looking with his head turned like he is in thought! Oh dear!

Lovely town 29! Lovely!

The Final State!

Well look out world! We made it to California.

What a pleasant bike ride today too. We went through the Colorado Desert, or at least that is what the companion said was posted on a sign in the middle of it! I enjoyed it too. The sun was warm on and the wind cool.

We biked for several hours today. The companion said when we started out: pray we get a ride, I don't really want to camp in the desert. But for hours no one paid any attention to our sign asking for help to Twentynine Palms. And still he biked on.

After we climbed the mountian, the ground leveled off. But not completely flat. Dips. Dips in the road, ups and downs that were kind of fun. We made it to Vital Junction. And the companion talked with some people about how to get places. See this is where two roads intersect, and one of them was out. So no one could go north. People were looking at each other really confused. The companion was hoping for a ride from there. Instead he talked with a couple who are on a motorcycle. They were having trouble too with the wind.

But soon the road veered toward the sun more, and put the wind behind us. It may have disappeared all toegether, cause we didn't really feel it anymore. The companion was actually doing great on time! he was really moving.

There are few lonely roads, there is always traffic of some kind. But today after we left the junction, there was less.

We had quiet time. Just the sound of the tires to the road.

Finally, the companion thought it best to set up the tent. We had not received a ride and he didn't want to wait later, so he wouldn't have to put the tent up in the dark. We found a spot to hitch the tent. He starts to put it up but he can't get the stakes in the ground. They bend.

He looks at me and says: we will have to keep on biking, keep on walked, cause we can't put up the tent. And he quickly puts every thing into the contraption, and we get back on the road.

And within 15 minuets we get a ride!

This is a picture of me flying through the desert!

Radio

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/4242359

Today should have been a day off. It should have been a day for me to stay in bed. But the companion called KLPZ 1380 and got an interview in the afternoon. Yes I'm pleased that we finally got some media attention, but did we have to wake me for it? No.

Here is the link to the web cam of the show. You can't see me at all. I'm a bit upset about that. But you can see the companion, who by the way looks like he gained 30 pounds.

Even his mother commented on how big he looks. I don't think he has gained weight but he looks it.

Bicyclists, Help from Manuel

We got up and got moving from Salome to Parker. And it was not uneventful. The companion called this the worst day because of his mistakes. But that didn’t come out until later.

First we climbed a hill for about three miles or so. The companion noted that everyday starts up hill! Then we went down hill forever! It was a long down hill streach and we were moving! The companion as rearranged the contraption again, and suddenly, I’m all comfy! So the downhill we went, and met a bunch of bicyclist.

This time the companion got a photo. They all smiled and waved and said: OH look at the dog!

We then turned off that road and on the road to Parker, AZ. The turn was in Hope, AZ. This is the back of the welcome sign. Foreshadowing the day.

We turned and hit a headwind, and that wind didn’t stop for the rest of the day. It hit and hit and hit. Not really strong, about 9 miles per hour. But remember the companion only goes 8 miles per hour. He walked a lot, he rested a few times. But kept moving.

He said: we are going to be late, I’m worried.
I told him to calm down, and not worry. Rely on yourself, you can get us there, even if it is dark we’ll be ok.

He liked that, and kept moving. But the problem wasn’t the head wind, or how tired he was. The problem was he was out of food. All he had in the contraption was dry cereal. He taught he could make it to the store, in Hope. But the store was closed. And it was 15 miles to the next store. He was suffering.


Finally we found a store and had some lunch. And he felt good so we biked some more. We had 25 miles to go. But he kept going. Luckly, Manuel saw us and picked us up and drove us the last 15 miles to Parker. And this time, the companion asked his name!

Thank you Manuel!

We Bike Again, Run for Liberty

We biked from Wickenburg to Salome, in a semi uneventful way. We saw this wagon, which the companion was excited about, but less as excited as he gets when he sees those “roadside attractions.” The road took us to a hill, but the companion didn’t complain. Then it leveled off, and he biked well. Although kind of slow.

I was concentrating on the smells of the area, while he was talking on the phone. Modern things really make this journey not be one of solitude or isolation. He talked with his parents; he talked with Katherine. It was talk talk talk.

Early that morning we saw our first bicyclist since Oklahoma. The guy was in shorts and had a back pack. Clearly doing something similar to us. I wanted the companion to get a photo, but he was awestruck.

While he was on the phone with his dad, the companion noticed a hitchhiker. The man was just standing in the middle of the high desert. The man asked for water, and the companion gave him some. I was kind of proud of the companion for just doing it without thought. He later confessed that in Biblical times the golden rule was the rule, and you helped like that because it could easily be you stuck without water in a desert

I was concentrating on the smells of the area, while he was talking on the phone. Modern things really make this journey not be one of solitude or isolation. He talked with his parents; he talked with Katherine. It was talk talk talk.

Early that morning we saw our first bicyclist since Oklahoma. The guy was in shorts and had a back pack. Clearly doing something similar to us. I wanted the companion to get a photo, but he was awestruck.

While he was on the phone with his dad, the companion noticed a hitchhiker. The man was just standing in the middle of the high desert. The man asked for water, and the companion gave him some. I was kind of proud of the companion for just doing it without thought. He later confessed that in Biblical times the golden rule was the rule, and you helped like that because it could easily be you stuck without water in a desert.

We moved on. Sunny skies, lovely views. The road is in a valley, flat but on both sides two mountain ranges.

As dusk was approaching, we saw two men ahead of us. One was on a bike, one was not. It turns out that these men are doing what we are doing: crossing the country from California to New York (I think it must be a longer distance than ours). Chris, on the left, bikes and films, Paul, on the right, runs. They cross 25 miles a day. They are calling their tour: Run for Liberty, and you can find them on Facebook under that name. They were not only fun to talk with, but they filmed us and talked to us about our journey, but they also drove us to Salome.


We had to pass one town before Salome called Wenden. Wended was flooded with the rains we had. So it was a good think the companion stayed put in Wickenburg.

Good Luck to Chris and Paul!

Log Wagon, The Ting Tings

This is the Log Wagon Inn in Wickenburg, AZ. We have stayed here far to long, but the weather was cold and wet. So I’m not mad. But I fear the sitting around will get to the companion. He doesn’t do well when he has little to do. He tends to not do anything. More on that later. First the Inn.

The Log Wagon is all we need. Microwave and refrigerator. There is a TV so the companion can relax. The bed is nice and the room is good. They didn’t charge for me because I’m so sweet. The price is affordable and nice. We’ve had nice time I the hotel.

I enjoyed the screen door. The companion opens the door and I can lay on the floor and feel the fresh air, and just let the smells come up to me. Nice!

But what has caught my ears is the song “We Walk” by the Ting Tings. This is a fun group, that plays fun music and the Companion loves their stuff. If he is at the gym, he will watch their videos and not lift until it’s over. They are fun. I like them. And its so funny that the Companion likes them cause he mostly loves chamber music or choral music. Music for the companion reaches into him, and it causes things to happen to him that I pick up on.

Music will return him to a time, or recall memories for him. But he never sees the memory in his mind’s eye. If he did I would know what he was remembering. But he feels it. Music brings back the feelings of times gone by.

If the Companion listens to The Go! Team, then he starts to feel happy again. And sometimes dances around like a crazy man. It’s fun. He always says: Come on Antigone Dance with me! I never do such common things as dance.

But when the Ting Tings comes one with “We Walk” it means something else. It means he is remember The Overnight. It means he is remembering the depression. It means he may start writing. The Ting Tings sing this fun song with the lyrics “When it all goes wrong, we walk….Nothing makes you feel good.”

I think the song helps him. He is going to listen to that song repeatedly, then he’ll jump up and we will go for a walk.

But then he will write. I hope so. The companion’s joblessness is something that is odd to me. Because he is without work, I get to see more of him. And that I like. But when it goes on too long, the companion changes some, and I get worried.