Last night was the windiest I believe I’ve ever experienced outside the hurricane in North Carolina on our one year anniversary. Thank you Mme DC for being such an excellent card dealer so long ago!

Today the DMV had no line and happily we passed our test with flying colors.

The most surprising thing about Needles was that both places offering pedicures were booked for several days out!

Real Route 66 flair in Needles.

Following a fill up and tire pressure check, we headed off to Prescott where 3 nights of a roof, running water and, most importantly, a washing machine awaited.

On the way, at a rest stop and first time ever, we horsed around on our bikes. It was great to get my blood flowing. Our second stop was on the road to a cemetery where we toasted bread and made PB & J with almond butter YUM.

Regarding water….. The desert makes plain its power. One of the trails I rode in LV includes a section under a freeway via a “drainage” – which is made up of three, 8′ x 8′ tunnels. There must simply be a phenomenal amount of water which comes through and, without all that capacity, perhaps the road would wash out.

The uber rocky mountains that are so awesomely craggy and jagged no doubt come from zero top soil which comes from plants which, of course, need water. As we drove further from such extreme conditions, the mountains softened, grasses appeared and trees sprung up. While no rain forest, we are clearly in an environment more conducive to a variety of life.

A photo of our things exploding in the house.