Day 7 - Wenden to Wickenburg

Bob Plant from Wisconsin and I made dinner last night. Since we got to camp early in the afternoon, we were able to take our time while others had a beer and chips and offered to supervise. I made my mother-in-law's sweet chili while Bob made a large tossed salad. Ken (the other Wisconsonite) had asked for carrot cake, and Mitch picked up a nice one from a large grocery store yesterday. Since I'm from Chicago, we billed the meal as an Upper Midwest stick-to-your-ribs dinner. The second photo shows Linda helping Bob and me. Bob G. and Andre taste-tested the chili for spiciness. We really appreciated others pitching in to cook and clean up, as Bob and I are still learning the drill. Guess we did OK - see the photo of the nearly-empty pots.
The next two photos show a typical dinner scene with (left to right) Jerry, Flynn, Rhodri, Dick, Julie, Mitch, Bob P., Carol, Andre, Bob Plante (in background), Terry, Bob G. and Linda.
Right after dinner Mitch and Julie held the daily map meeting, where they reviewed the next day's route and our destination campground. Today and tomorrow are easy: follow U.S. 60.
(Today) We rode 54 miles and gained 875 feet. The start was cool with a slight ascent into Aguila. Soon after, Rhodri flatted from retread wire on the shoulder (see photo of Rhodri, Dick, Bob G, Bob P, Andre and Terry). Across the street in the middle of nowhere was a sign for 430th St., so 429 more blocks to Phoenix?
The last 10 miles were a delight, rolling downhill at 20+ mph on smooth pavement. After we entered Wickenburg, Bob G and I passed a sign for the Vulture Mine, a former major gold producer here. We stopped at the Desert Caballeros Western Museum, founded by area gentlemen horsemen who still hold an annual week-long trail ride. Museum highlights include original Frederick Remington "Mountain Man" and "The Rattlesnake" bronzes, Hopi pottery and basketry, and local cowboy gear. Crafts like spur-making were taught in Arizona prisons. Since Mitch and Julie use the orange triangles to mark significant turns, Bob G hung a triangle on the horse outside the museum to alert other riders (see photo).
A mile past town we stopped at the Horsepitality Camp for the night, an upscale RV park that is jammed. The photo shows Andre, Carol, Flynn, Bob G, Jerry, Bob P, Dick and Terry enjoying a cold brew under the canopy. Now a cutthroat game of horseshoes is under way (Ken shows his form in the photo).
Bruce