The Descent
I slept in this morning as I had yesterday. The good time I made on days 2 and 3 really allowed me to take my time these last two days. I left Payson at 11:30 a.m. to head the rest of the way down the mountain to Phoenix -- a 2 hour ride. This was by far the best combination of scenery and riding conditions yet. The weather was perfect -- no wind! There weren't many places to pull off, so the picture posted here doesn't really do justice. I figured I would just enjoy the ride rather than worry about documenting it. (I may be able to get some better shots on the way back up the mountain with the fam.)

The mountains and valleys at times reminded me of the those in the northeast, though they seemed more dramatic. By that I mean every ridge, gully, peak and outcropping stands out boldly here, whereas in the northeast the complete blanket of greenery smoothes over all the fine details of the topography. In Pennsylvania, that drama is only apparent in the winter, when the trees lay down their guard and reveal the harsh reality of the weathered land they cling to for life.

The vegetation changed pretty quickly as I dropped in altitude. It seemed like I went from Ponderosa pines to saguaro cacti in a matter of minutes. (Remembering yesterday: the change was just as quick when climbing up the other side of the mountain range.) Then a half-hour of riding through the desert to Phoenix. Actually, to The Greater Phoenix Area. Tempe, Mesa, Scottsdale, Glendale, et. al., adjoin Phoenix to make one uber-city. So my saying that my destination was Phoenix is true in the same way that Sweetie grew up in St. Louis even though she really grew up in Bellefountaine Neighbors. Or that Blossoms says she is from Delaware when she is really from the Greater New Jersey Area. (I was going to also make fun of Cornbread, but I can't think of any "Greater Area" that Monroe City would be a part of.)

TGPA seems like a pretty cool place. Mill Street near the ASU campus seems like the happening spot. Like South Street in Philly, 6th Street in Austin, 9th Street in CoMo (I know, I know... it's a stretch). I was told that all of Mill St. downtown is WiFi-ified, as is the entire ASU campus. (McDonald's even has WiFi.) There are lots of bars, shops, cafes, bookstores; you know... the whole college-town-main-drag situation. The place I tried is the Coffee Plantation. It's okay. The atmosphere is better than the selection.

Some of my family arrived in town this evening: my brother Ojo and his family Moe, Poe, and Goe; and my mom, Ruthless. Ojo and family went straight to see some other relatives, so we'll meet up with them sometime tomorrow. Ruthless and I got caught up over a beverage at the Sheraton lounge. Tomorrow the rest of the clan arrives. Tonight I rest.