{"id":19377,"date":"2016-04-30T18:07:34","date_gmt":"2016-04-30T22:07:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tourdebocrie.com\/?p=19377"},"modified":"2016-04-30T18:07:34","modified_gmt":"2016-04-30T22:07:34","slug":"day-7-friday-april-29-wickenburg-to-tempe-arizona","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tourdebocrie.com\/?p=19377","title":{"rendered":"Day 7. Friday, April 29 – Wickenburg to Tempe, Arizona"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pulled out of our delightful little cowboy town \"DSCN0366\"<\/a>to a cool, 59\u00b0, no wind morning. \u00a0The charming town of Wickenburg would be worth a longer visit, but definitely off<\/em> season. \u00a0Saloons and restaurants had a warm\u00a0local feel; but during the high\/winter season it is filled with cowboys (three roping arenas) and RV’s. \"DSCN0369\"<\/a>\u00a0In fact the last three days we’ve ridden by ghost towns that come alive in the winter, as the RV-driving snow birds flock in.<\/p>\n

Crossed the very dry Hassayampa River\"DSCN0368\"<\/a> into the\u00a0uninhabited Arizona countryside.\"DSCN0377\"<\/a> \u00a0The word desert \"DSCN0384\"<\/a>does not seem applicable to such pretty surroundings;\"DSCN0383\"<\/a>flowers were blooming\"IMG_1941\"<\/a> and even the roads wore a smile.\"DSCN0389\"<\/a> \u00a0White fluffy clouds obscured the sun from heating the morning and a breeze had begun to kiss our shoulder, so our slight downhill ride remained cool and comfortable.\"IMG_1943\"<\/a> \u00a0 It was two hours before we saw civilization, \"DSCN0399\"<\/a>as we entered Surprise (yes, that is a town name) and another hour later before our course\u00a0became a busier roadway.\"DSCN0400\"<\/a> \u00a0Shortly thereafter, our map\u00a0directed us through quiet neighborhoods\"DSCN0418\"<\/a> where golf carts were the preferred mode of transportation;\"DSCN0408\"<\/a> it was a delightful ride. \"DSCN0420\"<\/a>\u00a0By 11:00 with\u00a040 miles under our belt, we\u00a0took a rest stop at a local park and enjoyed an orange. \u00a0This was the beginning of our Greenway Channel Trail, a paved path along the overflow canal \"DSCN0425\"<\/a>and Phoenix water supply canal. \"DSCN0444\"<\/a>\u00a0The canal wound through the backyards of neighborhoods and parks\"DSCN0441\"<\/a> avoiding busy roads. \u00a0With the day still cool, we enjoyed the quiet and scenery\"DSCN0445\"<\/a> this path provided. \u00a0The downfall of neighborhoods was no places to eat and we were getting low on energy. \u00a0After five hours of biking and 56 miles, we finally found the perfect place; a bike store and cafe.\"DSCN0448\"<\/a> \u00a0The hour rest\u00a0was not only delicious,\"DSCN0449\"<\/a> but informative. \u00a0Suggestions abound for\u00a0the perfect route\u00a0to get us to the end of the day. \u00a0Instead of traversing roads as our map directed, we were told of more canal routes; we were in! \u00a0This new route was filled with a variety not seen from a car. \"DSCN0460\"<\/a>\u00a0We biked past the front door of the Arizona Biltmore\"DSCN0453\"<\/a> and Country Club,\"DSCN0457\"<\/a>\u00a0and the backdoor of Scottsdale neighborhoods. \u00a0Our ride\u00a0through Papago\u00a0Park took us through the Desert Botanical Garden and past the Red Mountain\"DSCN0474\"<\/a> and Phoenix Zoo. The scenery was stellar. \"DSCN0461\"<\/a>By 3:30, we crossed the Gila River\"DSCN0477\"<\/a> into Tempe and our hotel on the edge\u00a0of the Arizona State University campus. \u00a0It had been a cool, downhill, Gorgeous\u00a0ride; we actually felt pretty good having polished off 70 miles. \u00a0But we had promised ourselves a day off and we knew the following week was going to be grueling, so rest was in order, but so was dinner.\"DSCN0492\"<\/a>Now we are ready for bed.<\/p>\n\n\t\t