Day 2: Happy Easter

It's 5 a.m., Sunday, March 31st. I'm sitting in the lobby of the Kingman, Arizona Quality Inn




. Breakfast starts at 6:30. Tina, the desk attendant, thankfully has already made the coffee. I'm on my second cup. Against her bosses orders, she has allowed me to have a banana before the dining room opens. Tina's customer-first attitude is greatly appreciated. She is the best.
Tina is a middle aged woman, who, after spending her entire life in Salt Lake City, just relocated to Kingman. Like LouAnn, the attendant from last night, she is struggling to make her rent payments. Arizona is still economically depressed. "Space for Lease" signs litter the windows downtown. I'm amazed how how resilient and spirited Tina and LouAnn are. They say they are biding their time and that good times are around the corner. May they be especially blessed on this Easter Sunday.
Arizona, Tina tells me, does not recognize Daylight Savings Time. It messes her up when she's watching tv. For the next six months she is on California time and has to watch the news an hour earlier. Life has its inconveniences. Tina just told me about a spot on the hill to watch the sunrise. I'm there...
I just returned from seeing the sunrise. Gorgeous. I wish Margot and the kids were here to see it too. Just as the sun began to peak over the mountains, a train emerged from the pass just in front of me (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWupJPoOc1M ). Im told that trains rumble through this town every 30 minutes or so. The trains are extraordinary; tractor trailers, many double-stacked, rolling on for as long as the eye can see. Last night, as I waited at the local Mexican restaurant for a Eric who was making a KMart run, I asked the waitress where the trains were going. The young server, maybe seven months pregnant, emptily responded, "I have no idea". It could have been mars as far as she was concerned. Wherever it was going, whatever it was carrying, she had no dreams of ever enjoying them. She would benefit from some time with Tina and LouAnn.
We didn't ride for as much as we had hoped yesterday, 130 miles tops. We had a slow morning. We got up early, 7 a.m., and went to the fitness center. We figured on a Saturday morning at a Vegas hotel that we would have the place to ourselves. No such luck. Dozens of people riding stationary bikes and elipticals, lifting weights, stretching, etc. We stayed for 30 minutes or so trying to get our blood going and hopefully burning a few calories. Eric has impressively lost 10 pounds in the last month and hopes to lose more. Maybe I can learn a few things from him.
Last week I started a new physical therapy regiment at the NE Baptist Spine Center. I should have waited until after the trip; lots of discomfort and stiffness over the past few days. Eric has been helping me tie my boots




and thankfully, I have a low suspension bike that allows me to easily get my leg up and over chassis.
Speaking of bikes, we both have brand new 2012 dual-sport BMW R1200GS's. Best bike I have ever ridden; 500 pounds, 105 horsepower, ABS brakes, heated grips and much more. Riding on the freeways, even in the gusty winds, feels much more comfortable.
After spending a couple of hours at the dealer, getting directions, signing paperwork, getting dressed and packing we set off on highway 215 towards Boulder City and Hoover Dam. The sky's were clear and the temperatures in the low 80's. Beautiful. We got to Hoover Dam about an hour later. Surprisingly, the tourist traffic was heavy. To get past security and to park our bikes took nearly another hour. By then the temperatures had climbed to near 90. That can be tough when you are in all of that bike gear and you're not moving.
The dam itself was stunning. As impressive an engineering marvel as you will ever see. We opted out of a tour but stayed long enough to soak in the awe-inspiring site.
We plan to make it to the Grand Canyon by mid afternoon. I can't wait.
Some words from Eric; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUzIabXqr74
Later.
G.

Location:Kingman, Arizona