We're Still Alive!!!

We’ve had close to zero WiFi, but we’ve been keeping great journal notes about our travels so far!  So even though these are a bit late, hopefully the next few blogs will fill you in on what we’ve been up to the past two weeks ... and we PROMISE, we’ll be better about future posts!!!

Athen Sinodinos
Story time

When Rick and I were on Highway 60 going through Salome (before we hit Tempe), there was probably about one house in a 10-mile range. And then out of NOWHERE, this little chihuahua crossed the street and chased us for a half a mile!  I swear, we were both scared!  It was nipping at our heels so we booked it!

Jack Sinodinos
5/25/2011

Today marks day seven of our trip.  We’ve been a little MIA on blogging since we’ve lost one of the group and gained another, but we’re still on track!

On day five, we arrived in Tempe, Arizona around noon as planned.  Our map of the first part of our trip ended here, and it dumped us off right next to the Arizona State Sun Devils Stadium. 

We had some time to kill before my dad, Bill Sinodinos, and my uncle, Tom Markou, were to meet up with us to pick up Jim to take him back to the Bay Area.  When they got here we were planning on switching the RV with my dad’s Denali.  The RV has been giving us mechanical issues up until this point, and it’s been guzzling gas like it ain’t no thang.

My dad and my uncle arrived in Tempe at 8 p.m.  It was nice to hang out and rest up until they met up with us.  They finally talked us into keeping the RV, as it would be better for the trip (sleeping, eating, resting, hanging out and the overall feel of the journey).  I’m glad we all agreed!

It’s a real bummer to see Jim go.  We’re going to miss him on the rest of the trip. His motivation and positive words really helped us get started and will help to keep us going.

With Jim’s departure, we snagged another companion for the road.  My uncle Tom has decided to stay with us for a week or so as we leave Arizona, and make our way into New Mexico.

Athen Sinodinos

On day six, we woke up a little late.  We joke about having a “Tempe Hangover;” we definitely overindulged on civilization for a day and a half, and it took us some time to get back into the swing of things and to hit the road.

Before we took off, Tom took us to Costco to buy groceries (fresh fruit, salad, and protein).  He has us on a strict diet!  We’re not allowed to eat any more processed food (no more baked beans and top ramen!). 

We only rode about 40 miles to Superior, where we stayed, since we had taken off later in the day.  The roads were TERRIBLE.  There was absolutely no shoulder on Highway 50.  We were riding next to semi-trucks!

If you remember this part from one of our earlier entries (Tom hadn’t read the blog yet), you’ll get a kick out of this story: When we got to Superior, where Tom was waiting for us with the RV, he had been cutting up some fresh fruit.  And what did he hand Ricky?  A handful of cold grapes!!  Rick doesn’t have to make up cold fruit fantasies to get him through his rides anymore!

Notable point, we ate at Los Hermanos when we were in Superior.  It was the BEST Mexican food we’ve ever had, arguably better than El Patio.

We stayed at a rest stop that night.  We weren’t too sure if we were able to park there and stay for the night, but there were semi-trucks too, so we figured it was okay.  We thought wrong… We woke up to a crazy old lady yelling at Tom about moving the RV, and how we weren’t allowed to be there.  She wouldn’t even let Tom use the restroom… she was a character to say the least.

So this morning, we hopped on Highway 60.  Again, absolutely no shoulder.  We rode 10 miles uphill next to semis, from an elevation of 2,500 feet to 4,600 feet.  Then we hit a fast decline of about 6 percent for 12 miles, which brought us into Miami, New Mexico.  We’ve done more than 20 miles so far today, and have another 45 or so.

Ricky Rodriguez

Ten miles into our ride today, for some reason, I really wasn’t keeping up with Athen.  I was exhausted and mentally out of it.  All of a sudden, I see this pink bandana lying on the floor.  I stopped and picked it up, and I knew it was a sign for me to keep going, and that I’m working this hard, and pushing myself this far for a reason.  I’m going to keep it with me for the rest of the trip as a reminder.

For those of you from Fremont, I’m going back to what Athen said about Los Hermanos.  It was FOR SURE better than El Patio.  I’ll go so far as to say it was mind-blowing!  Okay I think we made our point.

So, this far into the trip, our bodies are slowly but surely adjusting to the heat.  We now know how to plan our days as to avoid the hottest hours so we can take advantage of the day, and get as much riding in.  Our bodies are for sure letting us know what we can handle.  Right now, we seem to be alternating between three 24-mile shifts, with two riders in each shift.  And now that we’ve been on the “Tom’s Diet,” eating better, and no preservatives, our bodies our whipping into shape!  And thanks for waking us up at the butt crack of dawn, Tom!