Another cold start: there's a lot to be said for getting up early in the desert. The morning begins with a sustained climb, but it is easily accomplished and we drop down through pretty scenery into Wickenburg, apparently a very pleasant and clean town with a nicely preserved historic district. We fail to find out any information about accommodation in Phoenix so we continue on dropping into the "Valley of the Sun".
Tourist info in Wickenburg
Desert above the valley
We expect to see a built up area from a distance, but for a long time the cities remain hidden, even after we cross over what our map claims is the city line. Finally the desert scrub gives way to new construction, I'm sure the city will soon grow to encompass our route.
Buildings and traffic density increase gradually and we are glad to reach the Arizona Canal Bike Path, which basically wends it's way along a huge storm drain used for recreation in dry weather (most of the year!). Not being much used today though, we see very few people except when we leave the path for a drink (it's hot!) and to scout for hotels (we are obviously not looking in the right place). Back on the path we find the real canal which parallels the drain all the way through the city.
When our route leaves the bike path we zigzag along bike friendly residential streets, but still no hotels, and we cross into Tempe in increasing rush hour traffic and increasing fatigue. By now we'll take anything by way of hotels, luckily the first we find is great. The evening is spent on (more) Mexican food, this time in a city restaurant rather than small cafe, and making use of the hotel's hot tub, free cookies, coffee and of course the TV so Mark can see Survivor. By the end of the evening we are well recovered.
