Woke up feeling much better and able to contemplate riding tomorrow. We left the rental after line drying a flannel comforter cover in less time than it takes to write this. That is dry heat baby.

Today we stay with M DN and Mme MN. At their house we had a nice meal during which M FW, a neighbor, gave some biking and camping suggestions along with rattlesnake and scorpion advice. The short of it is, like we know from California, rattlesnakes typically have to be provoked or startled to bite and the chances are low; basically don’t stick your hand where you can’t see. Scorpions shouldn’t / won’t kill, can be quite small and always use a flashlight at night when camping. He says, if putting on shoes which have been outside, to tap them toe up on the ground and reach in with your non dominant hand to make sure nothing remains. His sound advice: “you can always need to be able walk out.”

Most of the afternoon we all hung out by the pool. M ES elucidated on cooking meats and pizza while M RG provided counterpoint, waxing on about other uses. Apparently some love chomping of edibles delicious and others just want to be bit. It’s all about the give and take.

Mme Awesome dazzled the crowd with the hand operated food processor we carry and the ensuing delicious coleslaw. Everyone agreed she needs her own cooking show.

Then came some goodbyes and the few that remained hit the hay.