HI All,

Long and hot day but we are about out of the desert and will need to get our climbing Jerseys on.

First of all, I want to acknowledge and thank our crew Tracey, Tom, Carol, Robin and Rick who are absolutely fantastic. They are always ready with water, food, mist spray and encouragement to keep us moving. Special thanks today to Tom and Carol who helped me with my flats.

Wow – we crossed our first state line and California is history and now we are in Arizona! Around mile 80 there was a buzzard following me on the road. Sorry to disappoint him – he will have to look for a meal elsewhere. Both of my flats occurred within 25 miles of the end. Kind of disappointing to limp in like that but it happens. At times the heat felt oppressive, but I doubt that never more than a few minutes went by when I wasn’t drinking. I have 2 large water bottles and a camelback. They hold out between the SAG stops.

Chet told me that I ride pretty fats for a fat guy – he actually didn’t say fat , I think the words he used was “a little belly”. I hope to lose that by the end, but I eat a LOT.

This was one of those days that you have to take a mile at a time. Looking back it seems miraculous that we made it. However, think about all the pioneers who moved westward and their hardships and think about our soldiers who have given so much of themselves and it doesn’t really seem that much to endure. Barry from Canada has a Tee shirt that something like, “The pain that you endure now will seem like nothing when compared to the pain of quitting”

I also want to thank my sister, Kathy for all the help and encouragement she has given me on this ride. She has reached out to many old friends to let them know what is going on.

Thanks to everyone for their prayers and good wishes.

Love ya

Chuck