ConversationsCoasttoCoast

Day 6 Bellemonte, AZ - Holbrook, AZ (through the Navajo Reservation)
Miles today - 101
Total number of Tumble weeds found in the middle of the highway - 1Well we had a little pep talk from Paul as he was leaving on Saturday to return back to Dallas and he wanted to give us some encouragement to keep the faith and some pointers on how to help the bikers each day. We needed to work a little harder since we were loosing 2 folks and gaining 1. We talked about some difficult situations that had to be resolved and that it was important that we keep to a prompt morning start time. Paul was Paul.

Glenn left at 5am to drive Paul, John and Joy out to the Flagstaff airport and he was back at the hotel room by 5:35am. I was helping him load up the gear. I also got him breakfast as he was loading stuff up.

The plan was to all drive to the bike shop where Neil had his flat tire repaired and leave from there. Neil did have a conversation with Sahsa, one of the employees at the hotel. After his 20 minute interview and conversation, we quickly helped Jon and James load up the Pathfinder with all the camera equipment. We were down the road not too late.

Once we arrived at the Absolute Bike Shop, he photographers did a shot of Caroline, Wes and Neil. And off they went.

When we started off in Flagstaff it was gorgeous. Pine trees and a snowcap mountain in the back ground. The weather was cool. A one point, Caroline had to stop and adjust her seat. Then about 10 miles east of Flagstaff, it suddenly turned desert. Long straight road. Hot Hot Hot.

They did not want to travel the popular road of I40 which is also Route 66, so Wes and Jeff looked at an alternate route which took them up through a Navajo Indian Reservations. We made a "pit stop" and the bicyclists continued on. They stumbled on a "Flea-Market".

We were at the Flea-Market for a good 2 hours. Here we made a picnic sandwich. WE really have to eat on the fly and in a hurry. Sometimes the cyclists will sit inside the air-conditioned van to cool off. After a quick lunch, Neil struck up a conversation with several folks. One couple, the wife didn't want to be on camera, but her husband spoke. He shared about life on the reservations. Neil had a conversation with another gentleman who son has served 2 terms in Iraq. I know. Neil had another conversation, but I'm not aware of the details. For a hot, sunny and windy day, it was good to even meet up with these folks on the reservation. Wes, Caroline and Neil continued on. I mean it was hot. Very Windy.

Around 5pm, Neil and Wes finished after going 102 miles for the day. The back drop was beautiful with a brown red mountain. I would say they traveled up hill and into the wind most of the day. Right at the end, we put the bikes on the back of the van and rode into Holbrook where we are staying. KOA.

Yes, KOA. I have never been at a KOA! The configuration here is 2 cabins that have 4 bed and 1 cabin that has 3 bed. The ladies are together and the men are devided.

Neil and Wes were starving, so we quickly unloaded the gear into the cabin so we could go to the Cowboy Chuckwagon where they serve hamburgers, steak, chicken. It was very good. Glenn and I split a chicken meal. While we were eating we all sat around the picnic table and discussed about the day. Neil asks us three Questions. What Inspired you? (Now I can't remember the other 2 questions, something along this line). My thought for the day, was summarized in how the scenery had changed as we putt putted across the barren land. We started off with pine trees and slightly rolling hills and then it dropped off into the baron land, and hot hot hot. We crossed the Navajo reservation where we saw lots of red rocks, and then ended up here in Holbrook off of I40 where there was color and green. We are near the Petrified forest.

After dinner while walking back to the "Girl's cabin", I bought 2 ice cream bars for dessert. After some more "cleaning out the Van", Glenn and I visited with Una while she was organizing the food boxes.

It was a long hot day. We have a new driver, as Una is driving the camera car and Jeff is sitting co-pilot. And I moved up to "first class", no just the passenger up front and Vela has the 2nd seat to herself.

#ConversationsCoasttoCoastRead more

Day 7 KOA Holbrook, AZ - Broken Arrow Bible Ranch (near the Petrified Forest)
Miles rides - 103 (Caroline did her first 100)
Ants killed in the Van - 34

Our accommodations at the KOA were surprisingly nice. I had always thought KOA were for just tents and stuff. I tried to get on the internet but was unsuccessful. While the team went to the Chuckwagon for breakfast, I stayed by the Van to watch the gear and the bicycles. We never go anywhere unless the bicycles are locked in a room, or someone is watching them on the back of the Van. Neil did another video conversation with a couple that had an RV just begin the girls' cabin. And then he had another conversation with a couple at the Pancake breakfast event.

Glenn filled up with gasoline as we pulled out of town. We needed to make sure we had a full take of gas because of the roads we were traveling. The cyclists were doing great. I think they stopped two times before we had lunch. We found the only restaurant opened in town. The Village Cafe. We tried to call ahead but no answer. Once we pulled over, I went into this small cafe and looked for a table. None. There was this one lady and her two daughters that offered their table to us. At this point, Neil was already engaging in a conversation, so Neil, the guy and the camera crew came inside and out fo the heat. Man was it hot. I told Uma our sandwich order that Glenn and I share, then we drove back 3 blocks to get some ice and bottles of water for the cooler. Once we returned, Glenn and I sat down to eat lunch. This was a long break. It is just hard. to have. a quick "pit-stop" when you are going to have conversations with people.

While Glenn was moving stuff around in the Van, I stood outside and were talking with the lady and her 2 daughters that gave up her table for us. She was so excited when I told her what the #conversationsCoasttoCoast was all about. She voiced that she started going to a local Community church and was really involved in it. She said she use to go to the Catholic Church but has really felt lead to go to this non-denomination church. She called up her pastor, Tim, came to the Village Cafe to meet Neil for a few minutes. He even prayed for Neil. It was exciting to encourage Monica to share her faith.

As we were leaving, and the camera crew were setting up a shot for Neil with the drone however he started having a conversation with an itinerate. Glenn was busy rearranging the back seats and securing the cold water bottles and all. I did not hear this conversation, but this is what I saw. Jeff, who is on the team, ask if he could use my to-go box and then he poor some water in the square container and walked up the itinerate man and his dog. I asked him what he was going to do with that water, and he exclaimed it was for the thirsty dog.

The scenery was just beautiful. Tall brown mountains that jutted up over the landscape. At one point, I exclaimed "Wow" as we turned the corner, then following right behind, Wes exclaimed "Wow" through the walkie-talkies!

We drove through the Indian town of Zuni and then on to Broken Arrow Bible Ranch. I called Alfie P. who recommended this location for our team to stay, and he was so excited to hear that these accommodations worked out. Also the camp did not charge us anything at all to stay and eat the dinner meal.

Our accommodations were very rustic to say the least. We each had our own cabin that had 8 other bunkbeds. And the shower and toilets were just around a few trees and down a gravel pathway. As Glenn was unpacking, we couldn't locate the Tomba's sleeping bags. We gave them our sleeping bags and we used the sheet and Bolivian blanket that we had stored under neath the seat - for just like a need like this. I was very happy to sleep under the wam blanket. We arrived well after the campers had their meals, however, we saw around the table and talked with Lois and her daughter and their experiences living in NM. This was not recorded or film, however it was a conversation where we learned more. They sang a Christian song in their native Indian language.

Everyone settled in and so did we. I was so tired, that I just plopped myself down on the bed, and I had Glenn cover me up and I was sound asleep - even in my clothes. Fortunately I did not wake up at all during the night. Someone from the team said they didn't mind waking up, cause they could see the beautiful night sky and stars. That's a good way to look at it.

Pictures are not in order...but were for Day 7Read more