Another week is done and we are in Shiprock NM staying at the Bethel Christian Reformed Church. The congregation gave us Navajo Tacos for dinner. Before church the women taught us how to make the flat bread for the tacos.
We we had a very interesting day Saturday July 6, well really it goes back to Friday July 5 in Gallup. We were staying in Rehobeth touring the campus there when the 5:00 storm blew in and this time it was a monsoon. I don't know how much rain they got but the next morning when we were quickly packing, dressing eating breakfast and packing our lunch, we were told that a culvert had washed out an no one was allowed to go across. It was decided we would take Saturday off and Sunday after the road was fixed would be our travel day. Wow I could have slept in! So just as my mind was winding down a new announcement was made that a friend who knew a friend in NMDOT had convinced him that bikes would be let across, we would have to dismount and walk across 4 feet of mud so the ride was back on. The result of all this is that we had a smooth highway mostly to our self, The hard rain cleaned most of the radial tire wire off the shoulder too so there were fewer flats. We had a 98 mile day yesterday so it was nice to speed down the hills with lots of space, that was the longest 27 of our riders had ever gone - Harv and I included. Harvey actually rode around the Bethel Christian Reformed church a few times so that he could claim he rode a CENTURY. FYI, a century is 100 miles, in one day on a bike. Just another thing we have learned. it is a major milestone apparently.
There are a lot of Christian Reformed churches along the hwy we were on, Tohatchi, Naschitti and a few others, they were out with water and snacks for us.
We had a short week this week due to the jump by bus to Payson AZ. We didn't start till Tuesday, we traveled from Payson to Heber AZ. We stayed at the high school in Heber and it was our introduction to the storms of the monsoon season. Around 5pm (after everyone had set up there tents) supper was on the table a dark shelf of cloud slid across the sky, the distant thunder became ear splitting booms with crackling lighting and a strong wind that made the tents that weren't staked down roll across the ground. After everything was messed up the clouds moved on and the sun came out again.
On Wednesday we went from Heber to St.John's AZ, the same thing happened there around 5, not as much rain this time. The kids swimming in the pool didn't even stop and take cover, I could hear the diving board continue to bounce as Harv and I lay in our tent holding the four corners down so the tie down strings wouldn't snap off.
Thursday was 4th of July, luckily we were warned that the town of St John's has a tradition of shooting a canon 13 times once for each colony at independence. So at 5 am we heard and felt the ear drum compressing BOOM! Then 13 more over the next half hour.
On Thursday we rode to Zuni NM. We stayed at the new Zuni Christian Mission School, it is beautiful but the nicest thing I remember is the warm, private showers. If you are looking for a charity to support this school would be a good one, all employees take on many rolls to make this school a vital part of the Zuni Pueblo. I stopped in a jewelry shop and bought myself a dainty turquoise ring. We had a small sprinkle of rain without much wind this night
On Friday we rode to Gallup NM where we stayed at Rehobeth High school's sportsplex. This k- 12 has a wonderful history of the CRC serving the Navajo population for over 100 years. It was a very beautiful school that started out as a residential school way back in history. They served us a great meal and most of us stayed indoors. We did also, and after the big downpour that happened we thought we made a wise choice until we found out that all of our stuff got wet anyway because we were close to a door that was not exactly water proof. They separated the men and women, but couples could stay together and go with either group. Joyce chose the women's group thinking there would be less snoring. It was pretty quiet, so she may have been correct, in that assumption, although, there were a few snoring, including Joyce.
I still cannot figure out how to get pictures on here using an iPad. If you have any ideas, leave me a comment. Thanks.. Harvey and Joyce
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