March 13, 2016, Mesa Arizona to sunflower Arizona 35 miles 537 miles from the Pacific Ocean. The day started out great. Had breakfast with my friend Jim and his wife Trish who were kind to hosted me the last couple days. Horse is back in running order after a trip to the bike shop for a new tire and chain cleaning and gear adjustment. The couple days of rest and massage has help my knee. It’s a beautiful morning to climb Usery Mountain Pass. The desert is in full bloom and flowers are everywhere. Within 20 minutes of climbing I stop and take off my warm weather gear. There are beautiful views from the mountain pass of the valley below. It’s full of big cactus standing there looking like centuries guarding the mountain. I turn north onto the beeline Highway and start climbing up Sugarloaf Mountain Pass. My left knee starts to ache then throb and then I hear a pop. I climbed the next pass with one leg and then decide this is really stupid. My knee swells to the size of a grapefruit. It feel like somethings is torn inside the knee cap. I feel disappointed but I need to except that this might be The end of this journey but it has not sunken in yet. At least that is what my body is telling me today. I call my buddy Jim and he comes and rescues me from the desert. I will spend the next couple days packing up horse and finding a flight back to Wisconsin. I want to thank all of you for your good karma and support. I reminded myself that I have nothing to prove and that it’s been a great trip from San Diego to Phoenix. And maybe someday I will be all healed enough to try it again. I have a lot to be grateful for today. Signing off
Freebird and Horse