Day 51

Slept like a log ... didn't realise I was as tired. No need to tell you that it's another blue sky day. Passing through a small range of hills outside Williams ... scrub and woodland all around ... very pretty and not like the desert at all. Wonder what's in store for me today? ... have to remind myself to take everything in as I'll never be passing this way again ... and then I start feeling emotional ... I just can't help it! Can you believe I've been on the road with a bicycle for over 50 days? Phew! Aagh! The saga with punctures never ends ... ready to step onto bike and I've another flat tyre ... Gee! I've no pump! As luck would have it there is an airline nearby at a garage and we manage to squeeze enough air in despite poor fitting connections ... surely enough to get me into town. I hammer on ... more uphills, now at 7000' and lovely wooded area, the Kaibab National Forest and eventually into Williams ... I'm safe! Now to find a bike shop? Everyone I talk to is a visitor ... they don't know ... pop into a grocery store ... no bike shop in town but ask for "Chad in the Coffee Shop" ... he repairs bikes. Looks good ... call in and ask Molly, his daughter, if Chad is about ... "No ... he's just left and won't be back till much later". Well to cut a long story short ... he hasn't any bicycle pumps but over the 'phone we are able to cannibalise bits and pieces, clean up a few mechanical fixtures and I made a pump!


Molly was a great help in getting me back on the road. I had an iced coffee and spent some time properly repairing 3 inside tubes, using the sink filled with water and my new improvised pump! Williams is a lovely little frontier town ... I'll get something to eat and move onto Spelgiman a bit later in the day, once I find out how to get onto the infamous historic route 66. Delighted that I've solved another silly problem and I'm good to go! While in the library, I ask this distinguished gentleman, Mike Moore is his name, for directions to route 66


After a few minutes chatting he offers to take me across the road to the "Red Raven" for lunch ... on him! Pure magic! This is what I love about bicycle touring. I'll fill you all in with the details later. The conversation went well and I spent an hour or so at his lovely holiday home overlooking the golf course in Williams. Mike is a fit looking retired advertising consultant from Phoenix. Thanks for your hospitality Mike ... hope we meet up again sometime. The sky is overcast so it's not too warm. I take the opportunity to head down to Ash Fork then continue on Route 66 to Spelgiman. I leave the land of the Ponderosa pine and descent rapidly into semi desert ... get caught in a heavy rain shower ... but that's not a problem. Notice that this area depends heavily on the legend of Route 66 and there is a lot of memorabilia about. It's an exciting and relatively quiet road. Reach Seligman, seek out a place to eat and start thinking about pitching a tent?


Is that Elvis in the car? Had a nice chicken Alfredo and a glass of milk in Lilo's, Seligman. Leaving it a bit late so I ask where the local playing fields are and head up there. Beautiful short lush grass ... check that there are no springless .... Hmmm don't see any. What do they look like? ... and pitch my tent. Nice and warm ... no flies nor mosquitoes ... clear sky now. Feels good. Just logged 59 miles and feeling satisfied with my day's work. Looking forward to a quiet night. Cheers.

Location:Williams, AZ