We arrived in Superior after about 73 miles. Steve's phone indicated a Dairy Queen. We were eager for root beer floats. We couldn't find the DQ! At the motel, the deskperson said the franchisor closed the DQ for failure to adhere to policy. Michele and Steve went across the street to the dollar store and bought ice cream and root beer. We made our own floats in the setting sun.

The doormat at themotel reads "Patriots Welcome". This sort of bumper sticker patriotism tends to set me off. Bumper sticker patriots measure patriotism by whether somone wears a flag pin on the lapel or flies a flag on a pole. Real patriots do things for their country: pay their taxes; join the Navy; do volunteer work; educate themselves on issues before voting, for example. Steve is more charitable -he suggested maybe the doormat was on sale when the motel operator needed a doormat.

We had a good day cycling. We parted from Steve's parents, who have treated us wonderfully. A thousand thanks to them for making us so welcome in their home! Steve led us down a bicycle trail from Scottsdale to the ASU stadium to get back on our mapped route. We had about 30 miles of urban biking to get out of the Phoenix metro area. From Phoenix, we followed Hwy. 60 up a mild grade past Superstition Mountain (of the Lost Dutchman Mine fame) to Superior. Although there was some headwind, the air temperature was moderate so that the climb was pleasant.

Some discussion about the planned stops this evening. Michele and Steve settled that we will do a short day with a hard climb tomorrow, then two 80-mile days in a row, and then another short day to get to Silver City.