Teec Nos Pos, AZ
Elevation: 5,323 ft.
Distance: 99.1 mi.
Odometer: 2,623.5 mi.
Leaving my RV park in the morning, a friendly dog decided I was the most interesting thing in the world and ran alongside me for the first 12 miles of the day. I was surprised it was even capable of going that far! Dogs are fast, but they usually tire a little more quickly. I didn't even mind that he wouldn't get out of the way for my border photo. He earned it.
Today started off with miserable knee pain. Bad enough that I considered going only to Kayenta, just 25 miles away, and taking the rest of the day off there. By the time I got to Kayenta though, my knee was feeling a lot better, so I pressed on. I guess I just needed to loosen it up or something.
I was now left with two options: Mexican Water or Teec Nos Pos. Mexican Water would be about a 70-mile day, Teec Nos Pos 100 miles. I figured I'd stop at Mexican Water since I should probably take it easy on a day when my knee hurts, I knew camping there would be possible, and also just for old time's sake. I got there at 12:30 PM and realized that I'd have way too much time to kill, so I pressed on once again. Mexican Water is a gas station, a diner, a laundromat, and that's the whole f'n thing. It fits in one photograph.
Today was mostly flat, hills at the beginning and end. Somehow I remember that last time I passed through here, I was going east-to-west and I had headwind. This time I went west-to-east and I had...headwind. Somehow that just doesn't seem fair. I feel like I earned it from last time.
I must've forgotten the magnitude of how bad the roads in Arizona are. Horrible horrible horrible!! I whined about the roads in Utah, especially the construction, but at least that's a sign they're improving the road. Arizona's got terrible paved surface, a two-inch crack every 15 feet, and a rumble strip that takes up the entire shoulder.
Just like last night, staying only a few miles from the state border, this time in the First Baptist Church. Shower! Thanks again to Pastor James and his wife Shelley for letting me stay here.
June
