Day #43: Casa Grande, AZ- Gila Bend, AZ 58.2 Miles

The breakfast selection at the Best Western wasn't impressive, but we found some stuff to take with us. The heat quickly engulfed the desert, and it was 99 degrees before 10AM. It feels a bit crazy biking through the desert in August, but we are drinking a lot and enjoying the unique scenery.  As we rode, we passed huge cactus, and cool rock  formations. About 20 miles into the ride we found a place to fill our water bottles and get ice cream sandwiches.  At that convenience store we saw a sign listing prices for water in quantities between 500 and 2000 gallons.  We asked the person what this was about.  The woman told us that many people who live in the area don't have water wells on their property.  So they bring a large tank to the store and fill it up from their well.  Around 15 miles outside of Gila Bend, a white truck pulled onto the shoulder a few hundred yards ahead of us. A man got out, and as we got closer it looked like he was holding up his hands asking us to stop.  As we slowed down we could see he was holding 2 ice cold water bottles! He told us his name was Jim (picture below). We quickly drank the water bottles he gave us, and he got more from the cooler in his truck. Although we probably had enough water to get us to Gila Bend, we were extremely grateful to have COLD water to drink - thanks Jim! We made it to Gila Bend, ate lunch, and checked into the America's Choice Inn. The room is clean, and the pool was refreshing. We met a nice couple from Germany in the pool, who told us this is their 15th trip to America (their 5th visit to this area).  We got dinner and watched some episodes of "30 Rock." We are going to wake up very early tomorrow (5am) to try to avoid biking in the extreme heat again (it felt like we were baking in a convection oven). At 8pm its still 104 degrees.  Today we saw our first sign for San Diego, but we still have miles and miles to go before we sleep. 


Thanks for coming along for the ride!


Check out our route at the link below:
Casa Grande, AZ- Gila Bend, AZ