Mark and I left Tucson well fed and rejuvenated. We stayed two nights near the city, one with a Warm Showers host, and another with a close friend’s parents. We enjoyed delicious home cooked meals and lots of interesting conversation.
We rode out past the town of Sells on the Tohono O’odham reservation. We cruised miles as we enjoyed a gentle downhill and a wide shoulder. When we called the local police department to get info about camping on the reservation they told us we could camp alongside the roadway, but it was illegal to camp on their land. They thanked us for calling and took down our info in case anyone reported us. So when the time came to find camp, we pulled off the road into a thick grove of desert shrubbery and enjoyed our surprisingly secluded campsite.
The next day was Mark’s birthday and we celebrated by ending our day a little early when we got to Ajo in the blazing heat of the day. We were impressed by the architecture, and excited to find a cold beverage.
At the visitor center, we were recommended to the local pizza shop, where we found great pizza, and enjoyed a few minutes talking to the owners. After eating our fill and resting in the a/c, we headed to a grocery store and then a local RV park, where we showered, made ourself a salad and drank a delicious beer from a Tucson brewery.
We slept great at the quiet RV park and rolled out early the next morning. We didn’t have an agenda for the day, but ended up moving surprisingly quickly. A tailwind, a slight downhill and a stretch of country with little character saw us through our highest mileage day yet, despite the 105 degree heat. We traveled 120 miles before making camp in a hot breeze that wafted the stench of a feedlot over us all night long.
We woke up to the respite of cool morning air, and rode our bike into Wellton, where we found the biggest breakfast burrito (for only $8) I have ever seen. We sipped delicious coffee and ate our fill before heading the 30 miles into Yuma.
The burritos kept us full through the afternoon, but we payed the price as we fought acid reflux and the feeling that our stomachs were laden with rocks as we climbed over Telegraph pass into Yuma valley.
The heat of the day was in full swing when we got to town, and we sweltered as we ran errands, to the post office where some of Mark’s friends mailed him birthday cards, to a local bike shop, the grocery store, and a fedex store to make copies of our passport.
Finding all the RV parks in the area unaccommodating to tent camping, we decided to splurge on a hotel room and enjoy a night in the a/c as we prepared to finally cross the. Order into Mexico.
We slept in and ate a quick breakfast, but as we started packing up our bike, I realized that I had left my passport in the copier at the FedEx! With all the FedEx shops closed today (Sunday) we realized we would not be leaving the country just yet. Instead, Mark and I will be staying another night in Yuma, catching up on rest and crossing a few more things off our to do lists: researching the route ahead, cleaning our clothes and updating our media.
Thanks for reading! I look forward to writing from Mexico soon! -Nic